Down...over...across

Is there anything sweeter than sugar? Driving through North Queensland today, bound for Airlie Beach, the so called ‘Dry Tropics’ are not all dry. Having endured the driest November in a hundred years, most of the landscape is painfully parched. Dust seems to be the only outcome for a farmer ploughing her fields in the midday sun. Approaching lunchtime, however, the picture changes in an instant. Brown is replaced by green. Water flows through deep channels. Pipes carry moisture into thirsty fields. The Burdekin Shire boasts wonderfully fertile irrigated land. Green acres as far as the eye can see, disappointingly, boasts just one crop, sugarcane. There is one thing sweeter than sugar and that is water. The Burdekin is blessed with a vast underground aquifer that brings the land to life. The western diet is increasingly criticised for including too much sugar. Sadly, this incredibly fertile district, which could be producing vast amounts of nutritious food, is only satisfying...

There are many words that start with the letter F. The F in FNQ means Far North Queensland. To say FNQ is a special place is a complete understatement. Incredible scenery, wonderful weather (okay its occasionally a touch wet and warm), no traffic and friendly, happy people are hard to beat.   A week in Cairns is not enough. Ten months and we have only scratched the surface. Cairns for us in 2019 was never plan A, but sometimes plan B, C or even F, results in adventure, challenge and surprise. The reef draws the tourists but stunning waterfalls, Green Island, the Atherton Tablelands and Cook’s town (Cooktown) were unexpected highlights. Rusty’s Markets (an amazing weekly fresh food market) and Mungalli Dairy (providing the creamiest bio-dynamic milk) were our culinary delights.   Now belongings are boxed, the removalist truck has departed and we are heading south. Cardwell, two hours south, is not just a half way stop to Townsville. Cardwell’s picturesque shorel...

After seven and a half years Richard yesterday completed his eighth posting in the Navy. So tomorrow is uplift . Uplift is a word every ADF member knows too well. The packers arrive, the truck moves out and the road trip from Cairns begins. A road trip down, over and across. Down the east coast of Queensland, New South Wales, ACT and Victoria to catch up with four generations of Quadrios and Allertons. Over the blue waters of Bass Straight to Tasmania to have Christmas with family. Across Victoria to South Australia and then the Nullarbor to HMAS Stirling, Rockingham WA. We will share the driving. Wendy will be chief photographer. Join us vicariously on our journey as you follow our blog. All we need now is a bit of Bruce (Springsteen that is) to get us on the way!   The highway's jammed with broken heroes On a last chance power drive Everybody's out on the run tonight But there's no place left to hide Together, Wendy, we can live w...