4 July 2011 - Pioneer Valley Showgrounds, Finch Hatton, Queensland

The toi-toi-like tops of the sugar cane

Today has been another magic day full of sunshine and the warmth of a northern winter. As I start this I am again sitting out under the awning, clad in summer wear, listening to the raucous chorus of the birds in the trees between the camp and the village. Numerous cane wagons sit full on the line waiting for the locomotives to haul them off to the mill. The toi toi like fluffy tops of the sugar cane in the field behind us catch the late afternoon sunlight, barely moving in the lightest of breezes. I shall be sad to leave this delightful spot, however we are now ready to move on again and will do so in the morning.

Last night we received a Skype call from my parents so I am now assured that we have all technical problems sorted there. I look forward to the more frequent and personal contact in the months ahead.

Today was yet another late start, as I am sure our mornings will continue to be through the next three weeks. Two o’clock bedtimes do not make for early rising, and I must be making up for the months of missing out on my previously normal ten to twelve hours of sleep. By August I should be dangerous, already feeling so much healthier than I was a year ago!

We headed off on a "dam day", to visit Kinchant Dam, south of Mirani and east sou’east of our camp here at Finch Hatton. Firstly we called in at Gargett at Celsa’s Trading Post, a shop full of bric-a-brac that apparently draws their custom from far and wide, probably those heading to the Pinnacle Pub for their world famous pies. The shop was indeed a treasure den, but no more or less than we have seen in many other places both here and in New Zealand. However I did find four books worth purchasing; more to add to our weighty library.

The art gallery next door which is also on the Must-do list for the Pioneer Valley, was closed and does not reopen until Thursday.

Kinchant Dam

From Gargett, we headed south east through Septima and acres and acres of sugar cane farmland, with the odd small cattle holding, crossing Cattle Creek which runs behind us here, and then on across the Pioneer River which the latter feeds into. As we neared Eton, just slightly west of Homebush where we stayed over night at the General Gordon all those days ago, we turned north and west again to the Kinchant Dam. This is simply a reservoir for holding water pumped up from the weir on the Pioneer River, with a very long low dam wall. The parklands available for public recreation are delightful and we found a wonderful spot under a shelter to eat our lunch. 

Butcher birds and honey-eaters came so near, hoping to share our crumbs, calling plaintively in such an enticing way that Chris gave way and sacrificed a good proportion of his lunch to these begging birds. A kookaburra set himself up in a nearby tree to watch the proceedings and I kept a watch on him. Anecdotes suggest that they are capable of flying down and grabbing one’s lunch in a flash, just as you raise it to your mouth.

Friendly Blue Honeyeaters

After walking along to the lookout, we drove on and back to Mirani, where we had lunched two days ago, and on back to Finch Hatton. We then took advantage of the lovely day and went for a wander along the river at the bottom of the camp and around the village, buying some stamps at the post office.

We met up with a couple of Kiwis, Stuart and Lisa, who have been here in Australia for seven years and travelling like us for two and a half of those. They are currently working on the sugar harvest as "DAs", or driver’s assistants to the locomotive drivers. They told us all about the work and naturally we were fascinated. Finch Hatton has us in its spell and if it were not for the fact that we requested Pauline to forward our vehicle registration sticker to the post office at Townsville (and the Tour de France being underway) we would most likely stay on, Chris taking up work here. Apparently they are short handed here, needing more drivers and DAs. Perhaps there will be similar work available around Townsville in an equally delightful spot.