Karumba (FNQ) - Gone Fishing Trip - 17 July 2005 to 2 September 2005

This page: Gold Coast to Goomeri [17-18 July 2005]

Depart Labrador, Gold Coast, Sunday 17th July 2:48 PM for 3 - 4 month trip to Karumba, Far North Queensland.

Since the SA Reunion trip of 2003-04 the Supertramp has been parked (except for the 2 week trip to Millmeran) while we have been renovating our small flat in Labrador on Queensland's Gold Coast. Although not completely forgotten the Supertramp has also received its share of maintenance, additions and further renovation.

The project is pretty much complete now with the addition of a Quintrex 3.75 metre Dart aluminium tinnie. The boat is powered by a 15 HP Honda 4 stroke OB. Is carried on the prime mover with a TJM/Rhino Rack boat loader and trailerd on a Ezy Fold trailer that we carry on the "A" frame. Transport racks for the trailer engineered and fabricated by yours truly.

Storage has been improved (with a boat comes more stuff) with the addition to the prime mover of a set of metal roller drawers and the removal of the rear seats that have been replaced with a continuation of the roller drawer system with storage under. Also and Engel 40 SS frig/freezer to bring home the fish.



And so it was that there remained just one other thing to do, go fishing! North to Karumba and try it all out. A booking was made for August and September at the Gulf Country CP, everything was serviced and we departed for warmer latitudes on Sunday 17th July 2005. We had intended to take the Pacific H'way/Bruce H'way to Gympie then turn inland along the Wide Bay H'way to the Burnett H'way however as we got away late (2:48 PM) decided to head to our good friend's (Petra and Lawrence Pearce) place in the Lockyer valley for the night. While servicing the wheel bearings on the prime mover I had noticed a cut in the side wall of one front tyre and had intended to replace it with the spare. "She'll be right for the short trip to the Pearce place and I can change it there in the morning." I thought. Never put off what you know should be done there and then. It went down just 1 klm from our destination. Would have been easier to change it at home than on the side of the road. Not only that but the next day had to run around and find another tyre to replace it with. A replacement was found and we got away around midday and made it to Goomeri where we free camped that night in a large clearing just as you enter the town from the south. Goomeri is right where the Wide Bay H'way meets the Burnett H'way. We figured that was a good place to stop and that we were back on track for a fresh start in the morning ........