Wednesday 10th July – 14,421 Km – Normanton to Croydon
Well, this morning nearly saw the end of my chauffeur's computer. I didn't know if I was going to scream, cry or throw the wretched thing in the dirt. Although I had been diligent in writing up this burble, because of lack of coverage I hadn't been able to upload anything. Any time we get to a town it is a quick refuel and/or lunch break and the race is on again Also because I am such a bozo with this 'stuff', everything my 'tutor' had taught me in Darwin had slipped around a corner in my noggin and I wasn't sure I would be able to find it again on my own. I eventually plucked up the courage to 'have a look', but that was after I had done every other chore I could find. Well, that was the start of my troubles. There are mimi spirits that play around with all my attempts to blog. Couldn't find how to upload a new blog to start with. I eventually found my tutor who told me it wasn't enough to log on to my email, even through it seems to be all connected, a separate log on is needed. Then the internet link wouldn't work, so half an hour was spent with tutor baffled with what was going on. My patience was hanging on by the skin of my teeth. I knuckled down, diligently uploading day by day only to find I had got my days and dates cross wired whilst transferring from journal to blog, I had also repeated the same day twice – at one point I transferred the whole day's journal into the heading and had to delete it letter by letter. If that isn't enough the 'C's still don't work unless you tap the key at least 3 times, and the 'N's double up on me. It is only 10:00 and I reckon I need a few more $2:50 pots.
We eventually set off – after chauffer reversed into a tree whilst trying to get close to the tap to fill up our water tank – only minor damage to tree :-). I think I am going to journal week by week, instead of day by day. It must have been designed by a species from another planet – I don't see why I can only upload one day at a time. Sorry, back to today – I am still stressed by this morning's activity. Chauffeur put on his Railway Buff's hat this morning and set off for the railway station in Normanton to see the Gulflander pull out for it's 5 hour trip up the road to Croydon. We passed it about 10Kms this side of Croydon and we had to pull over for a photo as it passed us. Then in Croydon we drove into the Historic Railway Station, for another photo/video. We had parked right outside and whilst chauffeur was doing the photo bits, I opened up the back of Djan and started making lunch. About 15 passengers disembarked, a couple of whom walked over to me thinking I was the local lunch van – I could have started my own little business! This Gulflander is a iconic North Queensland rail trip following the original 1886 route planned between Normanton and the new goldfields of Croydon. It is unique in that they laid steel sleepers on the bare ground and fixed the rails to them.
