Work travel accomodation
Late May and early June 2026
Searching for Red Falls.
It comes and goes but I do get periods where most of my work is from the surrounding area. If I get enough customers in the same district then a road trip happens. My last post about Attie Falls contained photos that I took on the way down to Townsville to meet customers.
So in late May I found myself in the Townsville region for work and in my time off decided to go searching for Red Falls near Charters Towers.
Fletchers Creek Hotel.
Ever conscious of rising business costs I tend to find the cheapest accomodation as possible when I am traveling for work. There is nothing cheaper than the free public campsite at Fletchers Creek. Take care of it people, there is a reason why we cannot have nice things.
Late May trip - Red Falls
Red Falls on a very sunny day.
After a glorious nights sleep at Fletchers Creek (it was down to 8 degrees celsius) I set out searching for Red Falls and by lunchtime I was looking down on this stunning location.
The reason why it is called Red Falls.
The falls get their name from the red rocks that make the waterfall and line the banks of the river.
As you looked up at the waterfall from the base the middle had very little water flowing over it. The left had a little more but it was the right side that was flowing quite strongly.
The right side of Red Falls.
I spent the afternoon at the Falls reading a book in the shade. What a way to refresh. That said despite it being very sunny there was no way I was getting in that water. Way too cold for a FNQ boy.
I will be back to get a better photo.
I never got the photo I wanted but that gives me something to look forward to, another visit to try again.
Early June trip
Gillies Lookout
Early June and I am once more on the road. This time visiting customers in Atherton and Chillagoe. As I made my way to Atherton via the back of Lake Tinaroo I saw the dirt road into Gillies Lookout was open after a very long closure. So I went in for a look, at the lookout, as you do!
It has been years since I have been in there so now that I know the road is open I will drop by again at a time more conducive to photos. Hopefully the bush fires will be gone as well.
Lake Tinaroo
No time to stop and enjoy Lake Tinaroo as I had a meeting to get to. That said the water did look lovely and calm. The people at the Scouts camping area way over the other side of the Lake were certainly enjoying the canoes on the water from the noise they were making.
Heaven at Ravenshoe.
With my meeting finished in Atherton I headed out to Ravenshoe to camp in a favourite spot of mine. Unfortunately someone else has also discovered it from the rubbish I found on my arrival. I cleaned it up and took it out with me when I left.
First job was to set up the tent and unload the bike. These new orange pegs I purchased for the tent are worth every cent of what I thought was an expensive price tag. So much easier to get into the ground and none have bent so far. They are even lighter!
Searching for firewood and getting distracted,
It would be another cold night so I went for a walk amongst the trees searching for firewood. This forest is stunning so it turned into quite a walk.
The things that amuse me.
As is the way with me I get drawn into the little things and the pattern of the bark on this tree forced me to stop and take a photo.
Sunset approaching and backlighting the ferns along the creek.
With the sun dropping I decided to head down to the creek to make myself a cup of milo and gather some water for tea.
This water is so clean.
This water flows all year round and is very clean. I might be crazy but I have been drinking it now for over a decade…..and I have not been sick yet!
The last if the light, time to get cold!
I sat by that creek for a couple of hours just listening to the birds and the flowing water. The things I love to do and places I love to be are for now free. But for how much longer and how good was it 50 years ago?
My bush television.
With the last of the sunlight fading it was time to head back to my “hotel” and put the bush television on in preparation for another cold night. I read my book until there was no more light.
The unmistakable landscape that is Chillagoe, November 2023.
There would be no more photos from this trip as the schedule got very tight the next day. In the morning I would head out to Mt Garnet and then cut across to Chillagoe via Ootann Rd. Once finished that meeting I now needed to be back at Atherton for another meeting with a customer.
To get back to Atherton I headed out to Petford and then cut back in to Irvinebank, Herberton and onto Atherton. A great day of work and riding through stunning country but sadly no time to slow down and take photos and enjoy a beautiful sunset. I would arrive back at Cairns well after 8pm as it was.