Once here Steve finds work as a truck driver for Qube (owned by P&O). Once Steve has done his induction, we head north back to Cairns and finally to Mossman. Mossman is 14klm further north that the up market Port Douglas. Here we have set up home for 5 weeks or so, while Steve drives the Sugar Cane trucks. We have free camping, with power, water & on suite and we could move in to the house if we wanted to. Unless we start getting rain, we will stay in the Camper.
Mossman is a small town, the people are friendly and it is extremely pretty.
Innisfail seems all about Bananas & Sugar Cane.
Our camp site at Innisfail - Oh what lovely lawns we have!!
Does everyone know how much I love kookaburras?
Sooooooo cute!!!
As we left Innisfail, we had a heavy shower of rain... it was so exciting!!
Ok some information about Sugar Cane. Trucks carry between 20 to 24 tonne and a trains pulls about 700 tonne!!! Trucks only go where there is no train track. For every 8 tonne of sugar cane crushed, you get approximately 1 tonne of sugar. The spin off from sugar before it is crystallised & spun is called molasses and this is used for all sorts, animal feed, fertiliser etc. When the sugar is crushed and taken out of the cane, the cane is then re-used as fuel to power the steamer. It takes 8 hours from crushing the cane to getting the end product of sugar. Mossman is the oldest & smallest mill in Queensland and it is the only one that still operates steam equipment.
Sugar cane can be left in the field for 2 or 3 years as it sends down creepers. Also sugar cane can still be processed after the field has be burnt.
What a SWEET story!!!!
Steve driving on the weigh bridge with 20 to 24 tonne of sugar cane.(43.5 Gross weight)
Steve in his truck with Sam his trainer.
Sugar Cane Mill.
Steve leaving the yard & waving!!!
Steve get your hands on the wheel!!
One of the engines shunting around.
No comments:
Post a Comment