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  1. #16
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
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    Nerang Queensland
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    Spent a great day with Vern (TTIT). Started off visiting his woodworking club with a great bunch of blokes, checking out their equipment, layout and the extensive inland timbers they have.

    Emerald club members.jpg emerald club.jpg

    Next visited a members farm and his workshop before heading out to his private quarry site to look for petrified wood. Scored a few chunks (the dark ones below) plus some of some yellowish jasper like stuff that I hope to get identified. Both will polish up well but I also hope to make some pens from the petrified wood (I have diamond equipment for that at home).

    petrified wood.jpg

    We then proceeded to cut up some desert timbers at Vern's place the club was throwing out . Reminds me of when I visited Will Nelson in WA digging through his bin . Boy has Vern got a bandsaw that I would love, plus the jigs to go with it, to slice up logs.

    Then off to dinner at the local club with all the members and their wives. What a great welcoming mob
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

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  3. #17
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
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    Called in on the Mackay club this morning
    mackay club morning tea.jpg


    mackay club2.jpg mackay club1.jpg

    and their big bandsaw is up and running

    mackay club big bandsaw.jpg
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  4. #18
    Join Date
    May 2007
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    North of the coathanger, Sydney
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    68
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    9,417

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    Cool
    another travelogue

    enjoy the trip and keep safe
    regards
    Nick
    veni, vidi,
    tornavi
    Without wood it's just ...

  5. #19
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
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    66
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    Was going to stop at Townsville but got on a new freeway(?) and next thing I knew I passed it whoops . Been there before so nothing really new to see and times ticking away

    Took a photo of the range behind the army barracks.

    near townsville.jpg


    Then stopped for a cuppa at the Hinchinbrook Island lookout

    hinchinbrook island lookout.jpg

    Now at Tully on my way to El Arish (via Mission Beach) to visit JohnG
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  6. #20
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    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
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    Mission Beach was a lovely quiet little spot but I'm sure livens up at night with the backpackers.

    mission beach.jpg

    Called in to JohnG's place nearby and he filled up my back seat with his "scraps". Beautiful decent boards of Northern Silky, Acacia, Red Oak, Rain Tree and a decent hunk of Maple I had to strap to the side of the trailer. Perfect for some pepper grinders, bowl or two and boxes - thanks mate some amazing grain in it.

    Currently staying behind the pub at Mena Creek, north-west in the range behind Mission Beach, so cooler night. Head towards Cairns today but may stick to the hinterland.
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  7. #21
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Townsville. Tropical Nth Qld.
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    Quote Originally Posted by dai sensei View Post
    Was going to stop at Townsville but got on a new freeway(?) and next thing I knew I passed it whoops . Been there before so nothing really new to see and times ticking away

    Took a photo of the range behind the army barracks.

    near townsville.jpg


    Then stopped for a cuppa at the Hinchinbrook Island lookout

    hinchinbrook island lookout.jpg

    Now at Tully on my way to El Arish (via Mission Beach) to visit JohnG
    Yep, straight past my place, so you missed out on my wood pile as well. I live 1K past that big hill.
    Crocy.

  8. #22
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    Apr 2005
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    Nerang Queensland
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    Quote Originally Posted by Old Croc View Post
    Yep, straight past my place...I live 1K past that big hill.
    Sorry, I only had Mobyturns number and he didn't answer, so just kept going. Next time maybe

    Quote Originally Posted by Old Croc View Post
    ....so you missed out on my wood pile as well...
    As I am on my way to Darwin, I don't actually want any, although I'm sure I would have enjoyed seeing what you have. You would have been welcome to some of the stuff I am carrying too. JohnG loaded me up, fantastic stuff, only to be given away to other woodworkers as I want the trailer basically empty for Savannah Way (although I couldn't resist keeping some of the gifts I've been given this trip). There are a few knife and gun makers that I know are very happy, amongst others.
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  9. #23
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    Jun 2005
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    Townsville. Tropical Nth Qld.
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    Quote Originally Posted by dai sensei View Post
    Sorry, I only had Mobyturns number and he didn't answer, so just kept going. Next time maybe



    As I am on my way to Darwin, I don't actually want any, although I'm sure I would have enjoyed seeing what you have. You would have been welcome to some of the stuff I am carrying too. JohnG loaded me up, fantastic stuff, only to be given away to other woodworkers as I want the trailer basically empty for Savannah Way (although I couldn't resist keeping some of the gifts I've been given this trip). There are a few knife and gun makers that I know are very happy, amongst others.
    Mmmm, I was sawing up a few purple gidgee logs, hell its hard stuff.
    Always next time.
    Rgds,
    Crocy.

  10. #24
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
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    66
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    Cairns proved to be wet and windy so decided to spend most of my time up in the tablelands albeit very wet so far . I wanted to do a dive or three but such is life.

    Went the Mamu tree tops walk, hell of a climb to the top of the viewing tower if you are not good with heights (especially the climb down looking through the grated steps ), but the view was worth it . Sorry not many photos but the rain set in.



    tree top tower view.jpg spider.jpg tree ferns.jpg

    Then headed for Milla Milla and surrounding waterfalls. Too cold for me for a swim but backpackers that did it made it interesting

    waterfall1.jpgwaterfall2.jpg waterfall3.jpg

    Then stayed at Cliff Rogers' place to check out his stash and offload some timbers I brought up from home/Maleny. Nice and cool up there in the clouds .
    cliffs view.jpg


    Went to check out the crater lakes (Eacham & Barrine) that were great but by then the low clouds and pouring rain had really set in. Unfortunately I also discovered a burst water pipe in my camper, so it was wet inside and outside the camper , and had to head back to Cairns for spare parts. The Gillies Hwy may be 18km of twisting road bit wow the views were great, when I could see through the rain/clouds that is (sorry no photos, views were only quick glimpses).

    Scored the needed spare parts and fixed the pipe before heading up to Amos's place at Trinity Beach. Met up with a few other woodworker neighbours and distributed some of JohnG's timber for turning/knife making/guitar making/gun stock making.. They all said to pass on their thanks to John

    Next was back up the hill to Kuranda and stayed with Journeyman Mick for a few days. The rain unfortunately continued, so far u to 4" a day, but Mick managed to take me out site seeing along some 4WD tracks. The sun came out for 5mins, just long enough to do one of the walks to see giant strangler figs. These were monsters, and given the size of the now missing host trees, extremely old. One big enough to live in. We also went to visit the Barron Falls and I got a snap in the 5 second window between the clouds/rain.

    S Fig1.jpg S Fig2.jpg S Fig3.jpg barron falls.jpg

    Tried to go on the chairlift but with the rain now wet season like it just wasn't worth it. So tomorrow off again, but just around the corner to Mareeba where it should be a bit dryer to visit Powderpost Jim.
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  11. #25
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    Apr 2006
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    near Mackay
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    Pity your visit coincided with that big downpour the north got Neil, but glad you got to visit so many forumites.
    Good to see you found Journeyman Mick.
    ​Brad.

  12. #26
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    Apr 2005
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    Staying with Powderpost (Jim) at the moment learning segmental and more turning techniques. Today he had to take his wife for doctor check in Cairns so I got him to drop me off at Kuranda Village for the day.

    Got to go on the Sky Rail in mainly sunshine which was good

    Sky Power plant.jpg Sky Barron River2.jpg Sky Barron Falls2.jpg

    Sky Barron Falls.jpg Sky Barron River3.jpg Sky Barron River.jpg

    Sky Cairns View.jpg Sky Kuranda View1.jpg

    ky Kauri Pine.jpg Sky Cairns end.jpg

    I also got to visit the Venom Zoo

    Venom Zoo6.jpg Venom Zoo1.jpg Venom Zoo4.jpg

    Venom Zoo2.jpg Venom Zoo3.jpg Venom Zoo5.jpg
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  13. #27
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Rylstone NSW
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    [QUOTE=dai sensei;1952795]


    Then stopped for a cuppa at the Hinchinbrook Island lookout

    hinchinbrook island lookout.jpg

    As a youngster I grew up in the little town of Cardwell (just north of this lookout), and whenever I travel north, the view from here looking out towards Hinchinbrook Island always says "welcome home". Enjoy your trip

    Brosh

  14. #28
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    Apr 2005
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    Spent the last few days at Powderpost's (Jim's) place learning the intricate ways of segmental decorations and admiring the many other talents Jim has. I knew of his bowls, boxes, trinket boxes with timber threads, carving etc but I wasn't aware of his lures - amazing stuff. And of course being an old chippy there are those bits of beautiful furniture around. Here are a couple of shots of his turning workshop, and his cutting workshop (boy I wish I had this much room)

    jims turning shed.jpg

    jims cutting shed.jpg

    I always admire someone who can develop and built is own jigs, and I can assume you Jim has a few, but one I got to try today was his home made oval turning chuck. I rough turned a few bowls in Chinese Rain tree rain tree back in 2013 that subsequently dried into footballs with many areas of collapse. What was 25-30mm wall thickness turned into 15-20mm and warped more than anything I have ever experienced. As the grain was pretty interesting I thought the blanks could be save and returned on an oval chuck and Jim is the only person I know that has one. Today I got to try his successfully his chuck but I'll do a separate thread on that in the woodturning subforums. It's turned and sanded just needs a finish. I now know about sweet spots on a bowl, something necessary when turning and sanding an oval bowl
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  15. #29
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    Apr 2005
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    Nerang Queensland
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    Just finished the tour of the Lava Tubes at Undara Qld.

    lava tube1.jpg

    lava tube2.jpg lava tube5.jpg

    lava tube 6.jpg lava tube4.jpg

    lava tube3.jpg

    Tomorrow I hope I can make it to the volcano crater rim where the views should be great
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  16. #30
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    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
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    I had a great walk around the Kilkani volcano rim, 2.5km, although the 0.6km climb up was an effort in the hot sun.

    kilkan main sign.jpg

    At the top there is a cool breeze and fantastic views over the bushland below with all the other volcanos visible. The biggest volcano Undara, that formed the tubes I saw previously is more a dip on the horizon, so I marked it in the photo plus the tubes that can be seen via the greenery in the collapsed sections.
    kilkani crator view1.jpg

    kilkani - volcanos on view2.jpg kilkani crator view2 copy.jpg

    Seemed a long way down to the carpark, and it was LOL. Also a view into the crater, now just bush.

    Kilkani - view down to carpark.jpg kilkani view inside crator copy.jpg

    I wished I been here at Undara after the cyclone that came through, the tubes filled with crystal clear water filtering through the porous volcanic rocks (not falling in as such). Only happens once in every 20-50 years so once in a lifetime thing, see here for video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJhjl1B_-sI

    I stopped at the 2 towns as I drove on, looking at prospecting shops and museums, but nothing really special although I had great chats to the owners. I ended up not doing any prospecting, they told me you need to deer at least 3' down, and in the day's heat I was just not interested. I then set up camp at the old extinct town Cumberland free camp where the only thing left is the chimney of the old machines that ran the mining engines to crush the gold ore and the water ponds (that are now billabongs full of birds and small fish). Lots of others camping too so plenty to talk too.


    Cumberland Chimney.jpg

    Headed off again early as it was getting hot quickly. Stopped for morning tea at Croydon, another small gold mining town, before stopping again for a few nights at Normanton. Unfortunately the free cam run by the local council is closed with the access torn up with the heavy rain they got last week. Some campers there, rather than waiting until it dried out, attempted to leave straight away and just tore up the road and got bogged (4WD but with heavy caravans and little experience in 4WD). So I am booked in to the only caravan park in town open, the other is under repair, but crowded due to free camp and other caravan park being closed. Has a nice pool that will be tempting later if this heat keeps up.

    The local "Purple Pub" puts on a great feed I'm told so shall try that tonight. The free camp was on the river, but this caravan park is in the centre of town with a decent walk to the river, so not sure about fishing tomorrow unless I pack up and drive down. The beach/river outlet is 70kms away at Kurumba and I didn't plan to go there as it is in the opposite direction (so 140km detour).
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

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