Balley Hooley Train (Port Douglas).& Python.

Balley Hooley was the name given to the end of the line up Mowbray Valley, over one hundred years ago.  Balley Hooley is the given name to the historic little steam train which operates from Marina Mirage station.  It is historic because the two coal fired steam locomotives (Speedy & Bundy) that haul the trains are over 55 years old, being the very last locomotives that hauled the sugar cane from Mossman Mill before switching to diesel engines.  The track is over 100 years old.
The trip takes about an hour, leaving from the Mirage Marina passing through mangrove areas, the Sheraton Country Club, a couple more resorts to the station of St Crispins, which is adjacent the 12th tee of the Mirage Golf Club.
Our locomotive was "Bundy". We also managed to get on the Christmas special.

Steve waiting for the train.

 

Here comes "Bundy".

 

Apparently Santa was a bit warm!!

 

Off we go by the Marina.

 

Passed a resort.

 

 

We reach the end of the line.

 

The end of the line.

 

Turning Bundy round on the turn table.

 

Bundy moving into position.

 

Bundy going to hook up the carriages.

 

The two of us!!

 

Just pretty.

 

Pretty.

 

Coming back into the Marina.

 

Steve back at the Marina.

 

This is a Sugar cane harvester.

 

It looks scary!!

 

The Snake story.

Now some of you will have seen the story on face book, but others have not.

Steve has done a 12 hour day driving sugar Cane trucks, is tired & hungry, it's dark. So he goes to the shower block with just his towel round him & his wash bag.  Steve walks straight into the shower cubicle, takes his towel of, turns round to hang the towel on the back of the door, when he see's "Peter" (that's what I call him, Peter Python), on top of the door. Steve is unsure of what to do, as "Peter" is coiled like he was going to strike (obviously upset about sharing the shower).  Steve has no phone & no one else is around, they watch each other for 5 minutes, Steve decides to drawer the shower curtain,  he decides this is a bad idea as now cannot see Peter. Steve decides to splash water on Peter to move him along and this worked.  Steve decided he needs to look before entering shower or toilet in future. Peter was about two metres long & took his phone back to get pictures.  Peter Python was seen several times in the shower block, after the first surprise visit!!! Steve was very Thankful it was only a Python!!!

 

Python.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wet Season Apartment. ( Port Douglas).

Well what a busy time we are having. We are both still working. Steve had a few arguments at work (no surprise there) however from that he got better shift times, managed to miss a week of nights, got extra days off and a new truck!!!!! We had a day out last Tuesday when Steve was home, we went into the Daintree and up to the station, stunning scenery. This Tuesday we have moved to a two bedroomed unit for the wet season.

History of Port Douglas.

The Booms & declines of Port Douglas –

Ø  Gold was discovered on the Hodgkinson River in 1876, the rush was on to find a Port for its dispatch.  In 1877 Christie Palmerston carved the bump track down to the coast and Port Douglas was quickly settled by merchants.  In November of 1877, colonial treasurer the Hon. J.R. Dickson & Queensland Parliamentarian John Macrossen visited & confirmed that the town was to be named after the currant premier of QLD, John Douglas.  The inlet was to be called Dickson inlet.  Government offices & banks were established, a court house and the light house on Low Island was erected.

Ø  In 1882 there were 14 hotels in the town.  It was a boom period, Port Douglas over took Cairns as the main port for gold & tin mining fields.

Ø  Built in 1885, the rail link from the Tablelands was joined in Cairns & development in Port Douglas soon declined.

Ø  Tick fever ravaged the cattle herds & farmers turned to Sugar Cane, with the first crush at Mossman Mill in 1897.  A small rail line was built from the mill to Port Douglas Wharf in 1900, for sugar, freight & passengers.  The population grew to 331 with four pubs.  The export of sugar revived the port.

Ø  During the massive cyclone of 1911, sixteen inches of rain fell within 24 hours. Two people were killed, many house damaged, some never to be rebuilt.

Ø  In 1920 the business centre was moving to Mossman to be near the Mill.  The highway between Cairns & Cook town was opened in 1933 & Port Douglas was by passed.

Ø  The last sugar was railed to the Wharf in Port Douglas in 1958.  After this the Cane was trucked to Cairns.  Port Douglas reverted to a sleepy fishing village. In 1960 the population was 100.

Ø  Tourist began to discover the quiet paradise in the 1990’s.  Jim & Jo Wallace started Quick Silver tours to the Outer Barrier Reef in 1982.

Ø  In 1984 the new Cairns International Airport brought tourist from around the world, to the re-awaken Port Douglas. Christopher Skase built the five star Sheraton Mirage Resort on four mile beach in 1988 & Port Douglas experienced another boom.  Port has become a popular destination for Australians & International visitors, keen to visit the GBR & the Daintree World heritage Rain forest.  Property  prices are booming and many people are moving here to live in tropic bliss!!   

 

Steve at the Daintree Station.

 

The Rodeo & Show Arena.

 

The lush green paddocks.

 

I got a saddle, I just need a horse??

 

Bomb site.

 

Steve at the 1942 Bomb memorial.

 

 A pretty creek we crossed, with muddy water.

 

A different creek with clear gushing water.

 

See the water in the Daintree.

 

Oh yes we went back to Mossman Mill, as we miss living there.

 

Steve relaxing at The Pandanas Caravan Park..

 

This ugly Cane Toad was swimming in the pool, so Steve beat with his thong and left it sunbathing to finish it off!!!

 

Next we move to the Lychee Tree, our unit & Steve helping unpack!!!

 

The rest of our lounge.

 

 

Our outside area.

 

Our driveway/entrance.

 

Our ute doesn't seem to fit in the car port!!

 

Spare beds if anyone wants to visit!!

 

We head to The Mocka's Bakery, a part of the Port Douglas tradition since 1969, to have a Mocka's Pie.


                                         
                                                   Steve with his Mocka's pie!!! Yummy!!!!

The pool at the Lychee Tree tropical apartments.

 

Dee at the pool, Lychee Tree.

 

The pool for those hot days!!

 

We have had no rain since two weeks ago, so maybe the wet season isn't here yet!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marreeba & Port Douglas.

 Mossman Mill crushing finished 15^th November 13.  With 7580 hectares of sugar Cane harvested and just over 587,000 tonnes crushed in total.  This was the largest crop the Mossman Mill had handled for 12 years.

Steve is now camped up at Mareeba with the camper trailer, driving sugar cane trucks and delivering to Mareeba Mill.  However due to the heavy rain over the last week, it is extremely dangerous to get on to the pads (field) to pick up and drop of cages.  Work has been cancelled now for a couple of days.  Steve was on nights last week and broke down for 3 hours at night, in the dark and everything switched off (at 100kh) and he had no steering or lights etc.  One truck parked behind him and another parked in front of him, until the mechanic got the truck fixed again.

                                      

                              My little cabin in the Pandanus Caravan Park, Port Douglas.

 

Apparently the wet doesn't really arrive until January???

 

 

The wet is here and so is Dengue fever!!

 

Today we both had the same day off so headed back up to Mareeba to check on the camper trailer and whilst there, went to Jaques coffee plantation, which over looks the Great Dividing range.

The Jaques family have a long history of growing coffee in Australia, developing the world's first mechanical coffee harvester, with many trials & tribulations battling to grow the perfect coffee.  Now at the 3rd generation of coffee growing, the plantation is furnished with 85,000 Arabica coffee trees on rich soil, boasting a smooth & vibrant flavour unique to this location.

 

Arabica Coffee trees.

 

Coffee trees in flower.

 

 

Steve enjoying his coffee & cake.

 

Me & Mr Bean!!

 

A Bustard hanging around for coffee!!

 

Christmas lunch!! Whoops I mean Helmeted Guinea Fowl.

 

 

Another stunning look out coming down one of the ranges.

 

 

What a place to have a new house built.

 

 

Who lives in this house?

 

Well the guy that owns AMart stores that's who, its one of his weekenders!