BOIGU TO BATHURST HARBOUR AUGUST 2007
The
plan was to fly a Cessna 172 from Kyneton Victoria, to Daru Island, the nearest
port of entry to Papua New Guinea, on the Northern Coast of PNG, across Torres
Straight.
On
the return journey a flight to Hobart was to complete a lap of Eastern
Australia from the top and the bottom, and back to Kyneton, a distance of over
5000 Nautical miles.
I
was planning to take a pilot friend, but strangely (to me) many private pilots
baulk at flying single engined aircraft over water. Something known as
‘over-water rough’ where it is imagined the engine sounds ‘rough running’ when
out of site of land.
Strangely,
the same group generally agree that if an engine fails in a twin, all the
second engine can do is take you to the scene of the accident!
Sadly,
the ‘twin theory’ is far too often correct, as asymmetric flight in a light
twin is very difficult to correct rapidly
if
one engine suddenly goes quiet!
I
once watched a very senior instructor being taken for a flight review by a CASA
officer in a twin Seminole. Just
after take-off, at less then 1000 feet, the test officer ‘pulled’ one engine,
and the instructor was too slow feathering the ‘dead’ engine. He corrected OK, but lost a lot of
height, and the CASA guy failed him, and they returned and landed a few minutes
later.
The
instructor had logged nearly ten thousand hours, and he didn’t fail his repeat
test!!!
Of
course an aircraft never ‘knows’ if it is over land or water, and whilst a
successful forced landing is realistic over much of this vast country,
mountains and forests could be at least as hazardous as a ‘ditching’!
Over
water flight has advantages including
more stable air, generally no turbulence, and of course even in marginal
conditions, the constant of sea level itself.
Some
80% of the trip would be over land including some pretty rugged terrain, and
some 20% over water.
A
non-pilot friend and neighbour jumped at the opportunity, on a cost share
basis. If I supplied and fuelled the aircraft and he bought the beer it would
be a pretty fair arrangement!!
Henceforth
referred to as ‘the pluma’, it was not only great to have good company, but
also assistance with maps and charts, re-fuelling and tying down, and flying in
cruise on long legs when I need a rest/sleep!
We
had planned to allow about three weeks for the trip, flying 3 to 5 hours per
day, with extended stop overs at interesting places.
We
packed, fuelled up, and took off at 10:30 (local) on runway 36 at Kyneton on
Thursday 2nd August 2007 in shit weather ( a technical term for low
cloud, scattered rain and showers, and head winds).
Thurs
2nd August, 07 up at
5am, did my treadmill walk, picked
Terry up 8.30am and down to YKTN.
shit wx, took quite a while to load up and fuel. Fueled up and rolled 36 at 10:30am. Lots of low cloud/fog to
the near west, improved about Sheparton. Flew AT 3,500, bit of head wind, then
nil wind but turb. Great sangers
on the way! Landed at Hay about
11:50am. Piss and coffee stop. To
gain entry to the clubrooms, key in the local CTAF frequency. Excellent. At Hay, all facilities including coffee, tea, milk, sugar.
Also clean toilets, and soft drinks on honesty basis in fridge. We put some thankyou remarks in their
visitors book. Aero
clubrooms have an excellent welcoming idea which I hope spreads—will suggest it
at Kyneton. Then back in the air, to Cobar. Cruised 4,500, Terry had a fly for about an hour. Landed at Cobar 3:50pm, just starting
to mist/rain. Got ride into town with lady returning—a
surveyor. Few drinks at pub,
phoned heather, hade a beer at the pub with longest wrought iron veranda in
NSW. Heather called 6pm. Subway
for tea, John called from Normanton.
Went to pub having poker draw, no luck. Made our camp at the humpy at airfield. Candles, and our swags!!. Quite a bit
of rain when we got back to our camp about 10pm by taxi!!!! Wrote a bit on my diary at night, using
the candles and torch for illumination. Cobar quite prosperous due mining—I think
I mixed it up with Wilcania—no comparison.
It
is important to collect trophies on adventures such as this. Trophies don’t need to be expensive
luxuries like Rolex watches or digital cameras. Trophies have no monetary value as such, but are
priceless. Things like photos,
brochures and the like. For
example a picture with Buzz Aldrin is a valuable trophy. Also a free ride into
town with a local, and more importantly a free ‘bed’ in a derelict clubhouse
such as at Cobar!!
Friday
2nd August 2007.There was steady rain all night at Cobar—7pm to at least
7am. Probably the best rain they’ve had for years, possibly 30mm. All the red
soil had turned to sticky mud.
Terry
had baked beans for bfast (pity the pilot), and I had conflakes in a mug with
water and skin milk powder—delicious.
It
rained all day, or until 2:30pm.
Terry in town, so rang him to come out, and we left YCBA at 3:30, for
Bourke, and if possible, Cunnamulla.
Over Bourke with 75 minutes to go to official last light, and getting
about 125kt ground speed, so headed on. Overcast, and some low scud, but
smooth, and we landed at Cunnamulla right on 5:30 (last light 5:56 local time).
Settled into the terminal. Cold
night, but had aircon for heat. Taxi into town $35 return, tea at (river name) pub. Enormous mixed grill (me) and Terry had
lamb cutlets—about 4 plus salads and chips. Both took a doggy bag for tomorrow!!—I had a piece of steak,
bacon, tomato and half a snag for next meal!!.
Back
to terminal about 9pm. Visited by
the local cops—after a while convinced them we were OK and would not cause any
grief. They took my name, but were friendly. There was a large pale green bullfrog in the mens bog!! Poor
bugger, hope he survived!!
Shit
trying to sleep on the terminal seats, but at least warm.
Sat
4th August. I got up at 6am, took pills, and went for a walk up and
down the runway. Very cold and foggy, but totally still, and later sun came out
and warmed up. Not a cloud in the sky!! I think shorts and t-shirt from here
on!!
Cornflakes
and skim milk (from pdr) for bfast, plus a tuna wrap. Today plan to leave early
for Charleville and o/nite at Longreach. We are now in the REAL
outback!!!! Landed Charleville
about 11am—Shell carnet fuel, nice café on airfield, made some of our soup,
biscuits and veg. Probably go direct to Longreach now. Flew about 6,500 all the way to
Longreach. Didn’t stop into Blackall.
Enormous runway at Longreach—could see the Qantas B747 and B707
parked. Will visit Qantas museum
and Stockmans hall of fame tomorrow. Took pics of UDG in front of Qantas B747.
Walked
about 5km into town-BUGGERED.
Couple of beers, then booked into pub—2 nites, 25/person/nite—paid them
$100 in advance for the two nights.
Chinese for tea almost next door, at the Happy Valley restruarant—shit
they come up with some original names—no valleys near Longreach, its as flat as
a shitcarters hat. I went to my room about 10:45pm. Very tired, should have a
good nites sleep!! Great shower, and washed jocks/socks under shower.
Sunday
5th August 2007
Had
a great nites sleep. Up early, 6am. Coffee on veranda, and wrote diary, and
loaded pics and started trip slide show.
Got a ride out to the airfield areas. Both went thru B747 and Qantas
museum tour. A fantastic place.
Spend several hours, over B747, thru museum and listening to videos of
B707 return to Longreach, etc. Lots of pics. Then later, visited Stockmans Hall of Fame—a great place.
More pics. Taxi back to pub. Collected soups/noodle packs from UDG first. Tea
at Chinese again—very good. Few beers in pub, then to bed by 11pm.
Big day flying tomorrow!!
Young bloke in bar from huge sheep station—182,000 acres, runs 28,000
merinos, would like to take up aviation as a career. I tried to persuade him to
do so—he’s only 18!!
Monday
6th August 2007
Out
to Airport by taxi. Made sandwiches first—corn beef and pickles. Spent more time in Qantas museum, Terry
in hall of fame. Got fuel (BP
carnet and packed up UGD. Pics of
UGD in front of Jumbo and 707. Took off about 12:30. Headed for Richmond. Enormous flat country—warm day, cruised
6,500, smooth. Overflew Richmond,
and into REAL tiger country, gorges, rocky outcrops and plateaus for miles. On
to Georgetown at 6,500 to 7000 feet, a bit of turb. Landed YGTN about 3pm, long walk into town, ant hills, nice
healthy Brahman cattle and steer calves.
To pub, booked in $50 for the night, 25 each!! Nice tea, steak sanga with an egg and salad and chips, $6. A
few cold beers, bed by 10pm. Got
local avgas bloke to refuel from drum—92 litres.
Tuesday7th
August 2007
A
big day ahead!! Great pub, very
clean. Ride to airfield withn publican-Bob. Terry made bveg and pickles sasndwiches!!
First
leg very long—173nm over some very flat sparse country, verry isolated with few
stations, but lots of tracks. Got quire hilly, flew at 6,500, getting a bit
over 100ktz, just!! Terry had a fly, and I nodded off for a while. He woke me
and we were abobe scattered Cu at 6,500.
It gradually became broken, and I decided to go down thru holes. Leveled out about 3,500, and it was
quite rough. Weather ahead lookede reasonable, but like possible showers.
Eventualls landed at Coen—this SURE IS THE OUTBACK!! Another plane came in , and I asked the pilot for some local
knowledge, sky towards QWeipa,93nm, looked darkening. He had just started work up here and was from Wagga, so no
local knowledge. Decided we had
plenty of fuel for Weiopa, esp as is was $2.06/l at Coen out orf drums!!
Off
to Weipa, with a good cross/tail wind—got bet 115 and 125kts most of the waty.
Landed
at Weipa at 2:30pm, lots of aviation happening, a 182 on the ground and a
Shrike Aerocommander, and another 2 Shrikes came in, plus a Piper Lance with
pax, and a ?Seneca with 2x Telstra pax.
Got BP fuel here from a tanker, BP carnet, $1.78/l. Tied down, ordered a taxi which
eventually came, and cost $40 into “town” (Albatross bay resort). A couple of beers here, no accom—too
dear for us anyway, then walked and walked and walked to Heritage resort—also
upmarkeyt for us, but have rooms at $137/nite. Then walked on, not far to caravan park.—Just agter 6pm,
opgfice closed. Rang bell, no answer!!
Eventually owner came down, and we booked in for nite $75 for a twibn
cabin—quite nice, and a beautiful park, obviously doing very well. Terry has
bought 6x stubbies and 6xcans from woolworths, for $38!!!!! Shit!! Back to Heritage for an entrée
for tea—I had “of the sae”—porawns and scallops with a bit of jasmine rice—very
nice for $17.50! Terrys thai stake
asndf salad entrée looked more
substantial. Asked waiter for a
pensioners discvount, and she gave us 10% off!!!
Back
to our cabin, pics on computer, and bed by 11pm.
Wednesday
8th August 2007
This
is a great park, full of 4w2heel drives, almost ALL Toyotas and casmpercansd,
and some very serious bopats. Located on the shgore of Albatross bay, and set amiongst very
nice rasin forrest. Phpnes Heather in am.
Had a hamburger and salad roll for “brunch” Went for my early morn ing walk—half hour, round the fl;ash
housing asrea and back to P.O. My passport/visa for PBG not here today,
hopefully tomorrow. Got very warm during the day—perhaps about 28 degrees—but
no mossies yet—small ants in our cabin, but harmeless. Went for a swim in the
park pool in early arvo—and did my laundry there!!! Terry also had swim. Had a
walk onto beach—heat from white sand very reflective. Must nwatch don’t get
sunburn, also crocs about. Met guy at lunch, who saw a friends dog get taken by
a croc while fishing a bit north of here!!
Internet
Kiosk in park office $2 for 20 mins. Ckeared my email, and sent one to woulfie
to copy to gleeso. very slow, 28 minutes to connect. Bought a phone card, called Heather late arfvo. Have one new lamb, terrys horse in our
place—happy will fix!!
Bought
chicken spiced tits, wings, and pork spare ribs, spuds, onions and tomatoee to
coopkm for teaq. Cooked up a storm
at bbq outside our cabin. Had a
few beers, and it was a reral
feast.
Blocj
of VB for $55, not bac, i.e. less than $2/can . Loaded more pics on ‘puter.
Aircon on in cabin ta nite, pretty warm outside. Bed 11pm and had as good nites
sleep.
Thursday
9TH AUGUST 2007
Up
about 7am, watched bit of local TV. Forecast for Weipa today is 31 degrees and
showers. Went for half hour walk. Some very substantial houses, thousands of
Toyota 4x4’s and very substantial boats. Wounder if the town is owned by the
mining company, or if there are freehold sites. The biggest bauksite mine in
the worls, shallow mining, and the raw material shipped to Gladstone QLD. Very prosperous area. Also very
expensive.
I
had corflakes, toast and pickles, and coffee for breakfast. Terry contacted PNG
High Commission, they will fax him a form to complete and fax back today. Should get my passport and visa today,
should be able to fly to Horn Island tomorrow. Swikm in p-ool
PO 3.30, my passport and visa png arrived. Phones heather in evening.
Egg toastee cangas, snags fiorntea,few beers bed 9:30
Friday
10th August
Up
early, went for my wqlk. Oacked up, taxi to aitport via several ABO SPOTSD!11..
Checked plane. t/o for hotn island 1bout 12.30, arrived aqfter 2pm., very
ropugh flight—downj low due turb, low cloud and slight springles. SHITHOUSE
landinmg at horn, Sangas in airport, phoned bcourtest bus to resort, booked in
129.nugt inc conteinental b/fast.
Few
beers in the bar. $4 can of VB. HaD TEA IN RSSTRURANT-$22—roast chicken,poortk,
lamb, battered fish etc. good value. Aircon in room, good speel—to bed about
9pm.
Saturday
11th August 2007
Continental
bfast vin restrurawnt. Overcsdst in am, but getting warm. Terry got a lend of a
bike, I went for my morning walk. Bouhgt a Horn ZIslandfn t shert. Had chinese
smorgasbord for tea at the resort. Went down to the Wongai pub, bit of a blood
house. Met barnacle Bob—enorous bloke, very much like big john from
whycheproon—full of shit. Bitched
to us about the locvals getting free money eg $25,000 eac for the waters being
dirty and unable to catch fish due to CycyloenLasrry—which happened well down
the qldf coast OVBER A YEAR AGO!!
Also, 35 living in one house almost next door to the pub, getting$6.500
a fortnight in social service.!!
Reakons hes making a forture here, but only 5% of his e]waalth—also had
muchb business back in Lylledale Vic>.! On way back, had cans of beer, told
by locals not a good idea, so skolled, and placed in biy. Asked Terry for some “jinglrs for this
asdvice!!!! (trtied for $10 first). Shades of down southg!!
SUNDAY
12th AUGUST 2007
Bfast
at resort. Got a ride out to
airport with resort bus at 9:30.
Checked theUGlyDuckling, and gooed some food cans etc from it, plus
terrys papers the passport intervies.
Got as youngpilot to copy me his Torres Strait WAC chart, so now have
detail of all the strait., An APTL
pilot, Kim Worth kimwth@aapt.net.au www.kim-wirth.com.au came out to my a/c
for a yasrn. Smartarse had told me I was flying to the northern mosdt airport
in Australia, Saibai Island, but it IS’nt. Northern most one is Boigu Island!! So, terry and I had a discussion re
Daru—either will need another week at keast here, or aslternate is bothn fly to
Boigi, terry stay there while I fly on to Daru, land a get our for a piss,
theyn fly back and pick him up, fly as bit inland over the PNG copast, then
return to eg Bamaga. So, will go
to 12:57 PMI tomorrow, sort out
customs, pqasspoet etc, stqay the nite thereA//, AND probably back to Horn in
Am for fly as awbove. Had tea out at Basrbacle Bobs pub—but bad either!!—but
beerr $4.20.can!!
MONDAY
13th AUGUST 2007
Up
early-had rained during nite, went for early morning walk, misting rain
(6am). Bfast at vresort, then
packed yp and settled up, ready to go to warf to catch boat to TI. Still misting rain as we went to warf,
and over on ferry. $10 one way, including bus to “town”—we got off ast
ppostoffice sto[p. No mail in yet—went to Customs, almost next door. Nice
Ausias staff, but got totslly pissed off at the reguklastionsd—csan’t fly
domrstifc to Boigu island, then continue on to Daru. Need direct
internastionasl flight top Daru, direct reuurn to Horn Is. Then domestic flt to
Biogu snf/or other islands. Seems like bullshit!!.. So, a bit dejected, but
looks like we botyh go direct to Biogu and return insteasd (Terrys Birth
certificate still didn’t arrive in the msil at 5pm!!). Fucking very hot on
Thurtsday Is, my back hurting quite a bit-like a stick upo my arse. No accom at
the first (nice) pun (115/nite) due to booked out for san inmquest!. Tried “motek a couple of foors up
street, got a room, Ok but not flash, $125/nite inc a bowl of fresn prawns
each!! At least aircon, Terry reackons too cold!!. Look round town, nothning much to see!! Just like fuckin Nauru, but people
qquite friendly-p-a real mix of abs, TS melenesians, asian,oz etc. Had a great lunch of bangers and mash
with veg abd gravy at the above pub for lunch—onloy $8.50, and the snags were
superb!! And beer here is only #2.80/pot on tap—i.e. 30 cents LESS than
ephhinstone!! (I didn’t have any till after 6pm)!!—aren’t I a fuckin
angel! Wireless Wi Fi came yp on
puter—Youthandrec—office just in fronty of motel—but no password, and girl
there had pissed off for the day
Nauru again!! Tried whatI
thought woiuld be a few obvious passwords, but no luck. Anso anither casme
uop==peenheehi. Asked over ast the
Torres Council Opposite, they have puters with www at 2.60/15mins, not no
wireless, told be to try the iland life café. Asked at Iland Like, no worries—let me mconnect, but he
typed the passwork!!..Sat outside to use it, a forklift unloading goods onto
ther footpath cicn’t help the rerception. However, called Heather and had a
nice long chat. All is well with her, and I told her our amended proposed
plans. Also called Woulfie for a
few minutes, and he said hed been in contact with heather too. Tried to email
him and Glereso a line sanda few oics, but would,fg let be send to hotmail or
iprimus acs—why?? Topped up my
skype accfount from visa.
Caught
up with terry back at motel about 4pm—checkerd mail again—no birth cerfificate.
Talk about small things anusing snaqkk minds(probablty nshould be big minds
lack the seice iof gumour needed to be niormwla)—terry hung his washinbg ti dry
on thenbladed s oif the ceiling fan, and I couldn’t hekp turning it on, and up
fast!!. Shit—we nearly fell apart
laughing. And soon s short video!! Oh Dear!1
Had
tea at the “Australia’s Top
Pub” Shithouse—hamburger with the
lot—no egg, roll as month old. Terry hasd fish—cooked thre shit out of! Mauri Rubby Player here—built like a
brick shithouse—pissed as as fart—asked to leave by the boss—not having
any. A bit of an altercation, cops
called—Brickshithouse walked outside and poised in middle of street. FGinally
disappeared. Then we later called
at other opub, and bugger me here he was asgainm eith lady proprietor trying to
evict him.He eventuslly left—no bloodlert. mBed about 10pm.
Tuesday
14th July 2007
Up
early, no breakfast supplied!!
Bloody hot, overtcast and a bit misty again. Down to Iiland like café, and man let me join wifi again. Called Heather, sdays she spoke to
Steve and he was on Boigu surveying years ago and nothing there!!—BUT it IS
still the top of Australia!!! Also caslled woulfie
Got
camera batteries from newsagent, took couiple of pics, then paid up asnd got a
ride to Po—no mail for Terry, then ride on to ferry. $10 for the trip to Horn
Island (5mins), plus a ride in their bus to the airport-only passengers. Pre-flighted aircraft, got things
orghanised, and sat for a rest in termijnal, hoping sky wuoild lift a bit.
Eventually borded UGD at 12 midday, warmed up, and took off on runway 08. Smooth takeoff, slow climbing to 500
feet. At 700 feet, visibility waas crappy, sky and sea blending together, but
still had a bit of an horizaon. 20
miles out, flew over edge of
Moa(Kubin) Island and it was totally in FOG!!. Banks Peak 1227 feet!!!!)
A bit eastward, and no fog, BUT then started to have rain showers!! Past Badu
Island to our west, then Mabuiag Island, still very prro vis. Difficult flying
to keeo a heading and wings level.
Maxm altitude 700 feet. And now almost no horizon, and continuslly checfking
AH, and our chart as no NDP on Boigu (ADAF still on HID, but too low for
sdignasl) Showers ceased, but still shithouse vis, and msaxm altitude 700 feet.
F\Down to 500 feet in light showers over Turnagain Island (a reef) --good name!!!!, further on over
several reefs and eventually saw Boigu. Climed to 900+ feet over ther island,
found airstrip in northern side—about 700 metres,a d due east-west, with all
crosswing. Great care in finsl
overt the reef, sbout 20 degrees flap, very rough near runway, landed deep,
asnd actuslly died a good landfing!!!
Very hard work—this makes up for my shit landing on Horn Island.!! :Parked, and met by nice AQIS officer,
then by Michael, local nurse, who proceed3ed to takle us on a full tour of the
village. Met people at “council”
to book motel room—new model, were probsbly first guests. Also Justin Brown arrived later, MLA
for this part of QLD—suspect here to asppesase locals about Beaties
asmalgasmation proposals. Michael took us round, introduced us to Jimbo (very
importsnt for beer later), stores, Tiapan, supermarket (ibis), showed us where
“pet croc” lives, then to warf to meet PONG traders with handicrafts. They had butchered 2x big turtles fior
the leat, left the shell and flippers and heads—see pics. Also cleaned out the
intestines, wqshed them and kept—looked a bit like tripe. Asked several locals for mudcrabs—no
luck. Then had a long chat to our
PNG friends—they will get us mudcrabs in am , so I paid them $40 for 1o litres
of fuel, mud crabs will be sa further $5 each!!..Confident they will return by
middasy tomorrow. Pook pics with
them, gotaddress to send a print to.
Overcast all day, hot, hope it clears a bit tomorrow, prefer direct to
Bamaga or further down.
Went
shopping at IBIS, I bought and ate an avo for .79. Terry later bought bread and cherry ripes at Taiopan. Bread
was from fridge, cold but not frozen, EXPIRY DATE 11th June
2007!!!!!!!—but tasted fine and fresh when toastede.
For
tea, we checked our supplies—canned thick soup, microwaved for entrée. Then
baked beans and steak and vey mixed, on toast for mains. 15 cans of 4x gtold from Jimbo for $25
bucks, then tea and cherryripe for sweets!! Not bad!!
b/f
tea, visited the pet croc—oh holy sdhit—what a monstyer, and not a very
cdonvincing enclosure!!!—sticks and wire mesh!!—in a stinking mangrove swamp!!.
Bed
by 9pm. Oh what a day—exhausted, but quite esxcilersated at reaching the most
northern a/port on OZ, and the most noirthern inhavited iskand. Can see OPNH ckleasrly across the
water—15 mins fior our friends in thei bioat (7 on boats, a long tinnie, with
modest yamaha motor!! PNG guys over here dsily, 3 generations have done so. All
brothers. Need a “pass’ to call in, awnd AQUIS ASLWAYS INSPECTS THEIR
HANDICFAFTS. CAN KILL TURTLES, AND
DUGONGS WITHOUT RSTRICTIONS.
Idi
Amin summounsed us from his 4x4 toyota, to explain why we were here, and
haden’t got ‘mission from his community counmcfil!!—all bullshit, but we
swucked eggs, best t go along with the locals. They love a bit of authority, OPBG
guys thuink they don’t kile being seen talking to white fella, and boigu locals
are jelous!! )h shit, and I
thought I waqs a racist.!!
Address
for PNG guy to send pic to: Inguag
Muna, BUZI Village, c/- BOIGU ISLAND, Quarantine Office.
Wednesday
15th August 2007
Delaved
another day in “paradise” due wx and mud cr ab o0rder. Had a long yard to our
PBG friends—interesting marriage customs—have to give a sister to a man whose
sister you want to marry, or a daughter is you have no sisters!! Can gace 3 or 4 wifes, but musg be able
to0 keep all the familt. Thus, our 3 “brothersw” friends all had different
mothers, and fathers, but swtilll brothers as part of the family clan. Christian arriages also occur, monogamous. Village is subsistence farming—yams, sweet
potatoes, pumpkins, fruit, etc. Have to fence with stocks by hand to keep ut
wild pigs, wakkabues, amd deer.l
Men are the hunters in the jungle, women must get the crabs and do the
cooking. Also eat turtle meat and
dougong. Sometimes cook in ground like “hungi” Nisty rain most of day, and poor vis over top png.v Mud
crabs arrived abour 3:30pm. Cooked them with ji,mbos pots and gas bcooker.
Another stay in the bmotel—no services, just like Nauru. Looked thru “sdtores”, POics of turtle
capture, Bawari Ngari who terry bought novelties off. Bought couple of snall carvings and some seed beads. PBG women very shy. NO BEER in
evening!! Mudcrab for tea, bed 11pm.
Turrdsay
16th August 2007
Up
early, packed up, oaid for miotel room—toold them it was shit and offered
$100-acceptred!! Dowqn to airport.
Veryordinary weather, but not raining at presemt. Nice AQIS man met us, inspected everything including a/craft
thoroughly, sealed and put stickers on souveniers. Open food tossed out, aircraft vsprayed. GUT THEN WENT AND GOT US A T-SHIRT
EACH, AND A GREAT TORRES STRAIT CALANDER!! Good trophies. Took off about 11:30AM, CEILING ABOUT
700 FEET ALL THE WAY TO HORN ISLAND, THEN SAME TO MAINLAND TOP OF CAPE, IN
SHOWERS. THEN AS ROUGH AS GUTS ALL THE WAY TO WEIPA, much turb, many showers,
and it just pissed down as we approached weipa. Qantas gut gave me active
rway—12, and made a straight i9n approach. Sat wx out for a while at a/port, then decided to
stay.Fueled up, 131 l at 1.78/l. Called resort for courtesy bus, arrived and
booked in a real rip-off. Beers, and barra for tea.
Friday
17th August 2007
Bfast
at motel, also snags and brtead for ‘ron. Free ride to airpoprt. Wsx average,
sitting it out a bit. Hope for ANolrmanton today. Took off bourt 1pm, 302nm to
Normanton.!! Initially, mwx preewrrt npoor, showers and lumopy. TGhen wx improved, but still quite turb
over land. Then tracjed out ton sea a bit, it became smooth, and able to climb
to 4,500 for quite a while. With just under 150nm to run, broke out the crab
claw meat, and a couple of sausage sandwiched from bfasr. Then on past KARumba on our syarboatd
side, and a very smooth ride into Normanton.l Many huge oputback rivers
draining into the guldf. Landed Normanton about 5pm and tied down. A long
flight without a stop. Very long runway-over 1,600 metres. Got a ride into town
with Bill, the a/poty clearner, tool us to the white mans pun-the nalbion. Had drinks here, the best country
pizzaI ever had, and stayed nite in their mitel room-$80 for a twin room. Did a
bit of flt planning and reakon as follows: Tomorrow (sat) to Winton (well over
300nm), Sun to Thargomindah, Mon to Cobar, and Hopeghully to YKTN on ATuesday,
They HOME for Tues nite and Heathers bdaym then wed to Hobart andthurs return.,
All subject to change due wx.
SDaturday
18th Auguast 2007
A
long day flting. Early morning
walk, no breakfast. A ride to
airport with publican. Amazing TRTOPHY at ba/port!!! Tried to ring Heather,
lost $4, then left a message.
Tried tgo get money back, the machine “fell apart” and we $55 in
jingles—beer and tea mioneyt tonight—poetic justice for Telstra—coreporate
arseholes. Took pics round town.
Got fuel. In air 10am. Long flt approx 301nm to YWTN. Generally very smooth, got to 7,500
about cu and below very high stratus. Terry flew for 1 and hbalf hrs inc
talking him through a long approach and joioning circuit. Winton all crap, miles from town, no
phone coverage, so decided to go on to longreach anxd re-dfuwl. Anithwre good fly—overcasta, slight
shower on approach. As called inbound, Kohn Lisney? Talked rto ujs, and we had
a yarn wirth hiom on the ground. A small world. Refueled, then on th Blackhall
another 90o odd miles. Derizzle but smooth, landed tere, phoned refueler and
got a $10 ride into town to the Barcooi Pub, which is excellent. $40 for a twin
room!!! Ezxcellent counter meals—I gad snags and nash and veg for $8.50!!..
Washed clothes and showered. Had
had to have an in-flight piss into my t-shoirt—very urgent!! Nibbles only in flight!! And water.
Sunday
19th August 2007
Up
early, coffe in common room. Has been raining ALL night. Will need to wait and
re-assess.
Got
a ride out to airport with pub lady in a 4x4 landcruiser. Tool off for Charleville, stit weather, very low, heavy rauin all way,
poor/very low vis. Almost turned back, but wx behind was worse!! Continued, and
wx improved as we aooproached YBCV.
Reefueled with the niose gut with independent blood supply, are our 2 pies each—home made from Blackall.
Took
off again for Bourke—200+nm. Decided if wx no good at 30 miles, would return to
YBCV. Cleared just on 3e0 miles,
and climbed to 6,500 and excellent wx, smooth with o/cast above. Founf the
??DINGO FENCE, DECENDED AND TOOK PICKS, SRIGHT ON QLD BORDER. CVlimbed again, and good flt into
bourke. Rain as we refuelled, and tied dowm. GPS batteries flat, must get new
ones in am b/f take-off!! Phoned taxi, to port of Bourke Pub. BEERS AND CHINESE AT THE NEARBY BOWLING
CLUB. NOTHER MONOR TRIPHY—GOR 10%
DISCOUNT FOR PENSIONERS ON OUR MEAL>> Pub $50 for a tewin toom inc a nice continental bfast.
Phoned Heather, we now have miobile coverage!! Curing nite, I woke up and
asked(in my sleep!!) IF IT WAS STILL YESTERDAY OR WAS IT NOW TOMORROW!!—TERRY
CRACKED UP—ANBOPUT 3am apparently!!
Monday
20th August 2007
Arranged
a ride to air[ort with poub man, Should be able to get back to YKTN today.
Met
couple of locals at bfast, told us yarn of outback guy without a/c licence, to
Sydney for new Cessna, etc etc—try sarticle for “outback’ mag. Getting wireless internet in
opub—pobh!!—looked at wx, clearing here, frost then sunny most iof vic inc
Faraday!! Shouold be fine flying. Good continentasl dfasts at pub, then ride to
airport with proproetor-[-who is then son of Barb and Graeme from thre AMNaldon
newsagency!@! Got new dirsa el batteries forn gps at iga.
Good
flight from bourtke , long flight, landed at hay for fuel, not not available.
Had coffee anf b/beans sanwwichesbhere—ham andnpickles and dried tomastoes.
Offr
again to KTN, long flt, but best wx of trip, arrived about 4:30pm, i.e. enough
range for bourke ton Kyneton non stip, with resevcde. Great to be home for the night!!. Had a couple of champagnes with tgerry and heather.
21st
Augustg 2007,
Heathers
birthday!!!! Cold morning, greatr to have a beief look rounf the “estate”
–lambs, veg patch, etc before setting off on final stgage of ourt
adventure. FDown tomkuneton, made
b beans sangers,weather pretty ordinarfy.
Took off for FLI via Kilmore—shit wx, returned to yktn. Aited couple of
hourts, then left again, wx shill shit, but improved a bit past Wonthaggi and
aabter low o/weater, abole to get 4,500 to FLI. Landed whitmanrk for fuel—NONW!! So on th Lady Bartron, landed at Hordon
Rorisons strip and tied down—too late tp go on, Stayed at L/B tavern
(Furneaux), lan and Jim and “Sim”? hosts. Good cabin. Goodf meal anda few
beers, early bed.
WEEDNESDAY
22ND
August 2007
Toast,juice,wheetuies etc in room, then
sim drove us to gordons plave, arranged to get 50 liytres abgas, also learned
that Bathurst Harbiout, NOT Bruny is ustralias most southern airpirt—change of
plans again. Fuel up, to send Gordon a cheque to Furneaus. Good flt to mainland tas, diwn coast,
callwd tower abeam maria island, towerrna great bhek[ direction us uinto
Cambridge, 150l fuel at Cambridge, bought tas wac, out in cords for Bathurst
harbiur (mellaluca)00another 68 mioes!! Tower again held departing, needed
4,500 to batyhurst hgarhour, very ruggard south west, snow on high peaks, carb
heat needed quite a bit.; Flwe abou t some snopw covered opeaks. Ebentually say
white gravekl strip of Bathurstm descended, and did a very short fieldf
landing—fupp flap, amost on stall, early touvhtown ansa heavy braking. We’ve MADE IT to ost southern strip in OZ!!. took pics, had a look around—a nature
park. Then shirt field t/odd, clim,bed tp 4,500, and headed to strachan on ndb.
Over strachan, changed to Wynyard ndb, still 4,500, wx pretty gpood, a bit
hazy. Landed wyhyard after a saab, on 09, ansd immediately fuelled, had enough
time to just get to KI b./f last light—108nm in 1hr 1o mins!! Wx good early, 4,45500, then down to
1500 due cloud then mist and rain, then island came into view, flew over it at
1,500, kanded 09 at ki just b/flast light. Bugger it, ni nobile coverage>>
Heather would be getting concerned. Walked to farm house, asked them to call
cab, but them DROve us into Currie, to the pub. Quickly called Heather on a
blokesw next G mobile, then she called me bacj poon pub pnone. Booked in, few
beers, then tea at KI Club. Seafood nbastket—pretty ordinary when we are so
close to a fishing port!!. Lig
double room, “Flying Arrow”!!!
Early to nbed, pub closed bdue lacknmof interest???
Our
lonmgest day—fuoll lap of Tas from Flinmfers Island,bottom of Tas. And back to
King Isdland!!! Only KI to YKTN to
go to complete our adventure tomorrow ansd WX is dforxcast as sunny Hobart and
Melb!!!
Thursday
23rd August 2007
Up
early. Continental breakfast downstairs at pub. Boss agreed to take us puit to
airport provided b/fore 1oam. Stopped at fishery process plant—no
crayfish. At airport bought cryovac scotch, cheese and salami. Salami== made by Greassy Harbour Gourmet
Meats—Blue Gum Drive, Grassy
Harbour, King Island,-- 7256
ph 64611356.--$4.00 at airport for approx 100g pack. Put Avalon in GPS,
tracked a few degrees left, excellent flt over water, passed over coast west of
Barwon Heads, over Geelong,, Bacchus Marsh and into Kyneton/ Home at last!!. Drained oil from UGD, and home about
4pm.!!
