Finally in Atherton

On Friday 9th August we arrived in Atherton. Booking into the Big4 Woodlands we found that they had mixed up our booking, but they found a spot for us and our "Return to the Tablelands" has begun.

We met Geoff and Mary Parry, and their daughter Louise in Innisfail, had lunch at the RSL, and Geoff and I "did the boy thing" (walking around the streets chatting to locals and other grey nomads) while the girls did the shopping thing. Innisfail is a beautiful "large country town" - and provides access to lots of places including Paronella Park and the Undara Lava Tubes. We will be back to spend some tourist time on the way back.  We parked the Kingdom out on the main road with Misty enjoying some "sleep in" while we all went shopping.

Innisfail is an 'art deco' city, with even the water tower getting in on the act. The Greeks and Italians all settled here back in the 1930's growing tobacco and sugar cane. The North Johnson River curves around through the end of the main street - and the South Johnson River meets it at the intersection. Three bridges criss cross over the South Johnson - linking the Bruce Highway to the city.

The Atherton Tablelands is where all of the Hannah's and Ellson's (my Mum's family) raised their families. Dad was one of 11 boys and 4 girls, and most of them lived at Malanda - 300m from the Malanda Falls. Mum spent time at Tolga, Yungaburra, Kairi (pronounced Kireye) and Danbulla - which is a 'region' and not town.

As you have heard, we have Mum's ashes with us, and once we make contact with a few remaining cousins and aunts, we will arrange a "dedication" to Mum by spreading her ashes over Malanda Falls. Being here on the Tablelands is a lot different to my initial images, as there is so much distance between towns, and to hear Mum's stories about her and Dad walking to dances and going to school 'miles away' just blows my mind. Gavin and Louise have been awesome tour guides, as they have lived here for 8 years.

Gavin is a "Special Ed leader" for the Tablelands region, and they graciously took us out to Lake Tinnaroo on Saturday and Sunday for some beautiful rest and lunch. We attended Atherton Baptist Church where we met some beautiful Kingdom people.

Mum enjoying returning to her homeland with a glass of bubbly and a strawberry.

What an amazing location - knitting, joking and toasting 'Living in the Kingdom'.

Looking across Lake Tinnaroo at sunset. There are ten separate camping sites around the lake.

Setting up the red claw traps - unfortunately they didn't receive our email!