I have a folder with heaps of newspaper and
magazine cuttings of places I want to go and see some day.
So when Geoff said we should go "out for a drive somewhere",
I dug 'em all out!!
We are looking for an old valve radio from between the 1930's
to 1960's (preferably a console/furniture-piece model), so looking
through antique stores in the Tablelands was also part of the
days plans.
We set off - with Geoff "maybe regretting his hasty decision
and grumbling just a little bit"!
And you can track our trip on the above map.
We took the Kennedy Highway which winds up the Range to Kuranda
- a nice drive, but I spent most of it gripping the door handle
and pushing my feet through the floor using the imaginary brakes
on my side of the car!
I don't like roads without edges - especially when there is a
few hundred foot drop off the side!
Then it was on to Mareeba, then Walkamin, Tolga and then into
Atherton.
The drive was lovely - so much "nature"!
Our first stop was at "Atherton Antiques" which is a
beautiful old shop full of beautiful old things - including a
beautiful old radio made in the 1950's but it was portable - very
nice, but not what we really want.
We spoke to the owners, and they have a big console radio which
is being restored.
It is a "1930 Monarch", and they are going to ring us
in about a fortnight when it is ready.
They recognised our surname (Brett - you are famous in Atherton!)
and she remembered my name was Sharon - she used to be the Doctor
in Trinity Beach!
The unit will be finished in about a fortnight, so we will be
heading back up here to check it out and make the decision to
buy or not.
So the radio was out of the way, so I checked my "list of
places to go" again! - and told Geoff to start driving!
We had a look around Malanda first.
I checked out a craft shop, and the stuff they had was nice but
not really what I am "into"!
They had a lot of wood carvings, paintings and things - no cross-stitch
or paper embroidery!
Then, because the guy who used to live next door to us now lives
at Millaa Millaa, we called in to see him - after passing through
Tarzali.
He took us for a walk around the town which took all of four minutes!
---The Millaa
Millaa Emblem--- 
The town Emblem is a "statue" of
a dairyman trying to push a cow into the stocks ready for milking
- as you can see from the photos, he is having a hard time!!!
- the milk bucket has been kicked over and it looks like the dog
is being a damn nuisance!!!
Our friend told us it is one of the most photographed attractions
on the Tablelands.
(two photos) --The
Millaa Millaa Falls--
(two photos) --The
Millaa Millaa Falls--
We then went to the Millaa Millaa Falls and that is as pretty as can be too! - the photos show this more than what I can describe.
---At the
Mungalli Creek Dairy---
I have always wanted to visit the Mungalli
Creek Dairy which is the only fully certified organic dairy for
2000 km ("How interesting", I hear you say!!) so off
we went.
Their cheese factory was not operating, so there wasn't much to
see.
We had a nice cup of coffee there - at an outside table with the
rolling hills and valleys in the background.
The area around Malanda and Millaa Milaa is the most beautiful,
peaceful countryside anywhere and I could live there in a heartbeat.
After going back to Malanda we went home via the Gillies Highway.
---A view
of Lake Barrine and the Teahouse
(two photos)
---On the
patio of the Teahouse---
On the way, we stopped at Lake Barrine for
Devonshire tea - love that jam and cream!! - shouldn't, but did!!
It was a nice sunny day but quite cool too - I was okay, but Geoff
only had shorts on, and though he had pinched my track suit top,
he still had cold legs!
Then it was down the Gillies Range - like the trip up, there was
lots of "squeezed door handles and braking" on my side
of the car! - once again, bugger the range roads that don't have
edges!
We got to Gordonvale, then back through Cairns to Trinity Beach.
It was a nice six/seven hour trip, and we had a great day!
Got to go and plan the next one now!