2017

far north queensland

a few months in lucy the hi-ace, heading north with nic via carnarvon gorge. crisp inland nights and perfect sunny days. living in uncle rod’s remote off-grid shack in silver valley, running the genny for an hour or two at night time for light to cook by. walking in the hills, reading, riding the honda several kms to the nearest ridge to make phone calls and reply to emails. cabin fever. getting odd jobs in town with the locals. landing a to-good-to-be-true job on a ‘punkin’ farm, living on site picking punkins (favourite fruit picking job so far) and repainting a tiny old cottage. learning the ropes with a one-armed one-legged harley-riding legend called jaimie. freezing nights in the atherton tablelands. indulgent pub meals and state of origin to warm the cockles. jaunts down to the coast to eat coconuts and mingle with derelict beach bum hippies and indigenous park dwellers, always happy to welcome newcomers, to spend time sharing stories and trading histories. life is more natural in fnq