BlackBraes Mining Reserve – 23/09/11

Cadet Reporter:   Michael Gavin

Everyone caught up with an early breakfast and then farewells to Greg & Wanda, as they were returning home via the coast initially.

The travelling group is now down to 3 vehicles – Peter C, Tony & Jen, and Michael & Dot.   We headed up to Atherton on the Atherton Tableland – very windy and picturesque road, then via rolling hills and valleys on to Ravenshoe – the highest town in Queensland for a morning tea stop………sent SMS & photo to past group member Peter Daunton of luscious vanilla slices eaten by Michael & Peter C.  Peter D phoned to advise he and Sue were home – had difficulty finding accommodation down the coast, with the last day driving from just below Mackay to Brisbane.

We hear on the news major fire at Mareeba, nearby to Atherton and where Dot & Michael were 2 days ago…coffee and banana plantations under threat.

From Ravenshoe it was off to the Undara Volcanic Park, just before Mt. Surprise.  In our travel we come across the Savannah Way [ Route 1 Cairns Qld to Broome WA] again.  We travelled the Savannah way previously in various parts of NT. We were taken on a 2 hr bus tour to the lava tubes in the Volcanic Park …….the remains from volcanic action some 120,000 years ago.   the lava tubes were the remains of the red hot rivers of lava continuing to erode the landscape after the upper portions had set as a basalt crust some 5 – 10 metres thick.  In some areas the upper crust had collapsed and remnants of rainforest could be seen growing in these sections.  A most interesting geological site that everyone should see.

After 3.00 pm  It was then off to Blackbraes National Park to find a campsite.   The roads everywhere in outback Queensland, were predominantly unsealed, but were super wide [20m – 30m] with generally a surface that 90 – 100 k per hour was safe and comfortable.   Major roadworks were being undertaken to upgrade to the above widths on most Developmental Roads….we encountered this again this afternoon.

Dusk was falling with cattle,  kangaroos and emus appearing on the roadside.   “Eagle eye” Tony, now in front, located a little track that lead into a Mining Reserve, adjacent to the National Park…..we followed the track for about 1klm so as not to be seen from the road.   Tents up in the dark and baked beans for all for evening tea in the dark.

Bed followed group discussion.