In flood from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
It’d take a brave soul to kayak over these falls. The river supposedly at its highest level for over three decades.
Ken's Blog
In flood
March 31st, 2011Hitting the Highway
March 30th, 2011Road ahead – quick update from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Over the last few months the blog’s featured Cyclone Yasi, crocodiles, koalas, cane toads and encounters with local media. Together with some of the more interesting characters I’ve met on my travels. All in Far North Queensland, high up on Australia’s east coast. The Wet Tropics. The acclimatisation phase. Preparing for the journey down to Sydney, then on to Melbourne.
Over the next few weeks the story of the road south will unfold. The journey west up into the high hinterland. A brief detour into a region known as the Atherton Tablelands. Tropical storms. Through the towns of Kuranda, Mareeba, Atherton, Herberton and Millaa Millaa. Before returning to the coastal Bruce Highway at Innisfail.
Then it’s south along the eastern seaboard through the cyclone hit coastal communities of Mission Beach, South Mission Beach, Tully and Cardwell. Tales of sheltering in ditches, Prince William. And some of the interesting characters I inevitably bump into. Then on to Ingham. Mostly camping. Next Townsville and a few days staying with an Aussie family. Before returning to the road.
Certain charm
March 29th, 2011
I’d joked about floods, cyclones, crocodiles, Dengue Fever, intense ultra violet, monsoon rains, venomous critters, stifling humidity. Offered a certain charm, I’d said. Truth was. Well that was it. True. Once mastered, an environment that more than amply rewarded you for your efforts. Not least, the satisfaction of having mastered it.
Granted it does take time to properly acclimatise. Quite a bit longer than I’d imagined. At first quite perplexed why anyone would want to live here. Some take months, maybe a few years to be truly comfortable. Others never succeed. Fundamentally a hostile environment. To be treated with respect.
Never, ever venture out without sunbloc. Nothing below Factor 30. Wear shades. Even on overcast days. When the UV is often at its most intense. Frequently rated Extreme. Burns in minutes. Don’t forget the DEET. No malaria but enough Dengue Fever around to make contraction a realistic prospect for the unwary. Laugh a minute.
WIN Local News
March 28th, 2011Footage from WIN Local News. Queensland. Recorded using my video camera so, alas, the black band you see an unfortunate but unavoidable interference effect.
Video of WIN News, Cairns. Download.
Permission to post the video clip above has been sought from the copyright owners but, as yet, no reply has been received. Appreciating that the world of TV news is a hectic one, my venture is a non-commercial and charitable one, it is presumed that, as they haven’t said no, they are content for the footage to be aired. If I am mistaken in this assumption, I will, of course, remove the content from my website.
7Local News
March 27th, 2011Footage from 7Local News. Queensland. Recorded using my video camera so, alas, the black band you see an unfortunate but unavoidable interference effect.
Video of WIN News, Cairns. Download.
Permission to post the video clip above has been sought from the copyright owners but, as yet, no reply has been received. Appreciating that the world of TV news is a hectic one, my venture is a non-commercial and charitable one, it is presumed that, as they haven’t said no, they are content for the footage to be aired. If I am mistaken in this assumption, I will, of course, remove the content from my website.
Drive-thu coffee
March 26th, 2011Drive-thu coffee from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Drive-thu coffee. Great idea. Great beverage. And no need to worry about securing my trusty steed whilst grabbing a hot drink.
[With especial thanks to Ian and Judy at MuzzBuzz in Cairns]
Monika’s on Lily
March 24th, 2011Tantilising aromas of freshly baked muffins. Banana cake. My favourite. Prepared on the premises. And great coffee. A small cafe – "Monika’s on Lily" – owned and run by Monika. Of course. Helped by Mum Ela, together with Emma and Kate. Always welcoming. And very understanding. I’d mistaken Ela’s Polish accent for one of a neighbouring nation. Mortified at my mistake. Quickly begging forgiveness.
Always a quiet admiration for the Polish work ethic. Not afraid of hard graft. Long hours. Doors open six am. Cyclone flood damage cleaned up so thoroughly you’d simply never have guessed. Not even the slightest hint of dampness in the air. Add a family wedding for good measure.
[You can find "Monika’s on Lily" in north Cairns on the corner of Lily Street and the James Cook Highway – a kilometre or so south of the airport]
Far from home
March 22nd, 2011
"Mad dogs" she’d said. Greeting me as I’d emerged from the unrelenting torrential rain. Bedraggled. But warm. I’d been tempted off the highway by the chance to escape the weather. Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. Curious to know what it’d cost to visit. Unwilling to give up easily on footage of a croc close up. Even if that had to be in the relative artificiality of a farm.
No need to enquire. Antonia quick to offer a generous discount. Simply for having the gumption to ride along the highway, she explained. As welcome as the coffee that followed. I was keen to press on after a short respite from the weather. Campsite to find. But planned to return the next day. When there’d also be somewhere secure to leave my trusty steed. In the care of a fellow Lancastrian. A Scouser. Been Down Under since the Eighties. But her accent unmistakable.
Nostalgia
March 21st, 2011Secret longing for Soda Stream, Wagon Wheels, Radio Rentals? Even Egg Nog? Maybe not. But a time when things were, well, less fraught? Shops mostly closed by five pm. Bit more time to spend with family and friends. Perhaps get involved with your local Lions Club. Then Australia, Queensland certainly, is the place for you.
But hurry. Times are a changing. Utilities being sold off. Privatised. De-regulation gathering apace. Dairy industry couple of years ago. Growing "’ealth and safety" culture. Mobile dog grooming. Dubious hallmarks of a sophisticated society.
Koalas – the Action Movie
March 21st, 2011Koalas – the Action Movie from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Koalas. No need for stunt doubles. This is about as energetic as they get.
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