Atherton Tablelands

Arrived at our house sit in Atherton, North Queensland approx 80kms from Cairns in the Tablelands. After spending a couple of days with Les and Kay (owners) we were comfortable with what was required to look after the property and Cleo while they were away.  Cleo is the 18 year old cat who is certainly Queen of the House! We have certainly learned our place as she has attitude plus and I quickly delegated the giving of her daily tablet to Hels - who quickly realized the best time to administer is when she is fast asleep!

Cleo (AKA Precious) what she says goes!!

Les & Kay are a great couple who share many of our interests including outback travelling.  They are travelling to Perth via outback tracks including the Old Ghan Line and Anne Beadell Highway sleeping in their swag - Hels had to tie me down when they left as I was tempted to stow away in the back of the ute to go with them on their trip!!

Parked up next to the house, our camp for a while.

Hels took this artistic shot of the front yard from the veranda.  We spend a lot of time here enjoying the ambiance & drinking coffee.

Although its cooler here than we had envisaged, they have a lovely fire for those cool nights, only for Cleo though!!!  I am enjoying the opportunity to do those little jobs on the car and van which have been difficult to do when travelling full time.  It's also good to potter around the garden and I can't wait for the grass to grow so I can jump on the ride on mower. We are close to the Herberton Range National Park (Mt Baldy) so getting back to walking each morning, sometimes to the top of Mt Baldy and the "Widow Maker". Whilst I am enjoying the stay, Hels was ready to get going again after first week!! I am also

Early morning looking over Atherton south and Lake Tinaroo

Made it to the top of "The Widow Maker" - what a view over Atherton and the Tablelands

The Tablelands has many markets during this time of the year so we have managed to get to some close by including Yungaburra, Tolga and Atherton markets.

Hels with new bag over the shoulder ready to get a bargain at the Yungaburra market. This stall was selling sea snake bangles.  Hels refrained from buying it at the Yungaburra market but when the favorite bangle was still available at the Tolga market it was just too tempting.

We were also fortunate enough to be in town for the Atherton Show, held over 2 days.  We hadn't been to a show since Todd and Briony were in Primary school so the opportunity to attend a country show was not to be missed.  I could even get seniors discount!!!  Over the 2 days we saw the usual sideshows along with art and crafts on display, consumed a donut or two, the coffee and donut deal was too good to refuse.  The weather was favorable and even able to bring out the old shorts!  Spent a reasonable amount of time watching the events on the main oval, these included El-Jays free style riding display (motorcyle & pushbike), Cattle judging, which involved the High School students from the area being judged on their cattle judging skills, and finishing off with the Grand Parade.

One thing which stood out at the Atherton show was the back drop of the Herberton Range which in my mind made the experience of a country show even more fitting.

The side shows and rides with Mt Baldy in the back ground.

This was a team log chopping event, should have got some fire wood chopped. 

The Grand Parade

Would have been the best dressed in the Grand Parade.

El-Jays freestyle riding, El-Jay rode the motorbike up the small ramp onto the platform, that's not bad as would have been nearly a 3m vertical wall.

From Atherton we are going to take in day trips to see the local sites of the tablelands.  We have already been to Cairns on the Gordonvale - Atherton road, 230 corners over 53 km and 700 m in altitude.  I asked Hels to count the corners but after counting 10, I was told it was 230 given to her on good authority and didn't need checking.