Atherton Tablelands

We survived our working week and made it to days off in one piece. Daph’s week got more interesting, dabbling in some lady garden embroidery, and increasing her average patient quota to a whopping 2.7.

Ern worked harder than Daph, picking up yet more clients in need of some sunshine. His wizardry is becoming legendary. As soon as the working week was done, we packed up the Kombi and hit the road. Aaaaaahhhh.

Camping at Lake Eacham, we were in the vicinity of Atherton, Malanda, and Yungaburra in the tablelands, recommended by the locals as must-see places to visit. There’s not much happening in these sleepy towns, but at least the scenic drive through the tablelands is stunning.

First stop Atherton. Ern was a kid in a candy store at the Crystal Caves, getting to crack open a forty-million-year-old geode and discover its hidden gems. Atherton done.

Next stop... Malanda. Our main reason for going there being the Volkswagen Crisis Centre to get a service on the old girl. For a place that specialises in Kombi servicing, it wasn’t situated in the easiest of places to get to in such a vehicle. Ern is ever worrisome about taking the Kombi off the bitumen. Daph, ever nonchalant and trusting in its capabilities, found the best route as per the map, regardless of road conditions. She always seems to find the dusty dirt track that gives the impression of going nowhere. Then, surprisingly, we find the place we are looking for.

Daph: “Left here.”

Ern: “Are you sure? It’s a one-lane dirt track!”

Daph: “Trust me.”

Ern: *Untrustingly, “OK.”

Ern hates every minute of it, blowing red dirt in the engine. Daph chuckles whilst rubbing her Atherton crystals, highly entertained by Ern’s discomfort. Ern looks tense.

Daph: “Rub my crystal.”

Much to Ern’s surprise, Daph successfully navigated them to the Volkswagen Crisis Centre. Ern was disappointed. Not because Daph succeeded in finding it, despite putting the Kombi in danger. But because he was expecting some whizz-bang mechanical haven, and not the tin shed on someone’s property that we found. Plus, the mechanic wasn’t there. He was in Cairns having chemotherapy.

Poor guy. Poor Kombi.

***

Onwards to Yungaburra, which apparently has the most heritage-listed buildings in Queensland. We were hopeful that our last destination was more inspiring.

It was lovely, but maybe these locals need to get out and see the rest of the world. Or maybe these places are amazing compared to Innisfail. Still, it was a cute pit stop, with a few quirky shops and cafés. Daph treated herself to more hippy clothes, and Ern bought a 1970s UFO book claiming to predict when aliens will visit Earth in the future. Apparently, it was in 2011.

They are among us.