Mill Stream, Mt Hypipamee, Windy Hill Qld 2 August 2019

Herberton, Mill Stream, Mt Hypipamee, Windy Hill Qld 2 August 2019

From our base in Atherton, we ventured out and back down south to see some sites. First stop was Herberton where I was keen to see the Railway Museum that I had been told was going 'great-guns' by the cafe man at the Atherton end of the line. I was accosted immediately by another of the cranks and he must have a Certificate III in 'How to put the punters off' because I took two snaps and got away as fast as possible. It's almost like it's their private train set and they don't want anyone else to play with it - but it's OK for the public to leave generous donations to fund it, thank you.

Train museum, Herberton Qld
Some old Diesel engine that they have half finished, they even use this undercoat ed engine on their glossy brochure

Train Museum.  Herberton Qld
I basically got chased away and didn't even go in

From here we went down past Ravenshoe to the Mill Stream NP and went for a walk down to see the Mill Stream Falls about 350m but steepish to come back. They are cited as being the 'widest, single drop' falls in Australia, which seemed a bit of a stretch, having seen a zillion of them just in the last 10 years.

Mill Stream Falls. Ravenshoe Qld

Mill Stream Falls. Ravenshoe Qld

Mill Stream Falls. Ravenshoe Qld

We went to find the Lower Mill Stream falls, but took one look at the track descending down into the mists of the valley and thought coffee in town sounded like a nice alternative.

Somewhere on our track around we came across the Windy Hill Wind Farm. Build in 1999 and opened in 2000, it was the first of its kind in Queensland. There are 20 turbines (actually 19 as one appeared to have been blown up and burnt out) producing 12 kW, enough to power 3500 houses. This is as close as you'll get to many wind farms and they are big, ugly and noisy.

Windy Hill wind farm. Ravenshoe Qld

Windy Hill wind farm. Ravenshoe Qld

Windy Hill wind farm. Ravenshoe Qld
Judging by the tree, it is certainly an aptly named place

Our last sight to see was the volcano crater at the Mt Hypipamee NP. A pleasant 350m walk brings you to a viewing platform overlooking a very large hole in the ground. At some 80 metres across and 75 metres to the surface of the 70 metre deep lake, it certainly is just that, a big hole. We forwent the please of the added walk down into the valley of the headwaters of Barron River to view the Dinner Falls.

Baby fig tree. The Crater. Mt Hypipamee Qld

 The Crater. Mt Hypipamee Qld
No photo will ever do this sort of view justice

 The Crater. Mt Hypipamee Qld
The green is a thick covering of weed on the lake

On the way back to our van we stopped at Gallo Dairy to taste / buy cheese and drink coffee, oh and someone may have had to buy almond chocolates as well.

Esperance WA, Museum, Skylab, Wind Farm, The Dome, Radio valves

Esperance WA April 15, 2015

Overcast, windy and showering again this morning. The only thing to do was visit the local museum, at least it's inside. Actually it's inside the old Bond stores, and houses a vast collection of items. Everything looks like its at least been cleaned and tidied a bit before being put on display, and they obviously move things around a bit to try and keep it interesting. here are a few snaps

Early anaesthetic machine. Museum. Esperance WA

Stepping out in style. Museum. Esperance WA

Old farm machines. Museum. Esperance WA

Various petrol pums. Museum. Esperance WA 

Postage stamp vending machine. Museum. Esperance WA

'W' class steam locomotive. Museum. Esperance WA

One of Esperance's claims to fame is that it's where a bunch of space junk from Skylab landed in 1979, I found their display a little disappointing, perhaps all the best bits have been sold off by their owners.

No, it's not the actual Skylab. Museum. Esperance WA

Space junk from Skylab. Helium and water tanks. Museum. Esperance WA

They fined NASA $400 for littering... . Museum. Esperance WA

My favourite was this collection of radio valves, I've never seen anything like it

Radio Valves. Museum. Esperance WA

Esperance also claims to be the site of the first Wind Farm in Australia. A farm of 6, 60w generators were installed on the ridge behind Salmon Beach in 1987. These are tiny compared to todays ones. They have one cut-down in town and have left this one standing on the site

First wind farm in Australia. Esperance WA

Just down the road a bit are a series of beaches: 9 mile, 10mile and 11 mile. I guess they ran out of names after West, Blue Haven, Twilight, Observatory, Salmon and others. The coastline here is typical of WA, its quite a drop down to the actual water level and the beach, so they have these sets of stairs, which are all being replaced. This one at 11 mile is a cracker -

11 Mile Beach. Esperance WA

We were in the mood for another lunch out, this time we chose the old-world charm atmosphere of the Dome, which of course is all-new, but looks the part

The Dome (look up, its a alf world dome set into the ceiling). Esperance WA

Judy at The Dome cafe. Esperance WA

Their is this abstract whale-tail thing on the foreshore, near the site of the old Government James St Wharf.

The whale tail. Esperance WA

Speaking of wharves, there is the remains of one right outside our van park door. It was privately built in 1894 so they could load ships more easily and instantly became very busy. Unfortunately, Forrest and his mates, representing the Government, built their own wharf at James street and declared a ban on the use of the one at Newtown, which is what ours was called. It was just left to fall apart, which it has succeeded in doing over the next 100 plus years.

Newtown Wharf. Esperance WA

Crystal Brook SA Adelaide

Just after we left Port Augusta, heading east toward Adelaide, we came across a novel experience; a road down which we had not travelled! Last time we came her we came in via the Quorn road, so now here we are on a 'new' road. And a fine road it is as well, smooth and fast. We took a detour to Crystal Brook where surprise, surprise, the Crystal Brook Show was on. We went in and gave it the once over, stopping to evaluate the usual offerings of craft and hand made jams and sauces and other assorted tat. Outside we were fascinated by the judging of the strong-wool rams (my, but they are well endowed!) and then the Seniors shearing competition. In the ring there was a large collection of older, classic type cars and a bunch of current utes on show. A quick run through sideshow alley confirmed that nothing's changed ($5 for two shots at the duck shoot, $9 for a dodgem car ride) and they were as quite as they were in Darwin and Proserpine and wherever else we have seen them (I'm sure it's the same people).

Coming into Adelaide 6 hours after leaving Port Augusta was a bit stressful, having to be mindful of cars and trucks and buses and negotiating the usual older city road system. Finally made it into the Big4 at West Beach, and I have to say its quite magnificent as far as van parks go. It's huge, and tidy and clean and doesn't appear too crowded. We are only 1 row back from the beach, a very narrow strip of sand at the bottom of a man made rock wall. They must have had some big storms and seas as there appears to be quite some damage and not a lot of actual beach. There is however, a really good boardwalk that appears to run for miles in either direction. We walked up to the next beach for a bit of a look and its very pleasant.

It is however, quite cool, we even got a few spots of rain, so we have taken ourselves indoors for the evening. We'll do some serious sight seeing tomorrow.

Green! It's Green! Haven't seen anything like this for 2 months. South of Port Augusta, SA

Golden canola and a wind farm that went for ever.  South of Port Augusta, SA

West Beach. Adelaide SA

West Beach. Adelaide SA