Crabs, Cod and Barra

When Pats spoke to the last acting Principle, we were led to believe that there were crabs and barra galore - you know almost to the point that they would be jumping into the boat, well the barra anyway! This wasn't quite the case, but if you know where to fish and drop the pots in you can definitely get a good fresh seafood feed.

Here are the catches we have made since landing in Kowie.  Oh, and when I say we, I actually mean Pats!!

Our first fishing expedition was the second weekend I was here.  We headed down to the South Mitchell River with a couple of the other teachers.  Launching the boat was not the funnest of activities - especially when you are as paranoid as I am about crocs - I was not taking any chances!

First came the Barra. 

Then the Travalley.

We didn't have anymore success that day.  Although we did see three crocs sunning themselves on the bank, unfortunately I couldn't get a photo of them, as soon as they hear the boat coming they slip back into the water, one was about 4m and the other two were about 3m.  It was good to see my paranoia was not unfounded! 

We haven't been out on the boat since, that fishing trip also proved what Patrick had been thinking since he got here - our boat is to big for up here.  As there are no boat ramps, you just have to launch from the bank and the boat is to heavy and just sinks into the muddy bank and it turns into a mission to pull it out.

A couple of times at Shelfo Patrick has thrown a line in from the bank, but with no luck.  There is a great fishing spot a couple of km's down from where we swim, called The Junction.  To get to the best spot for fishing you have to walk through thigh deep water a couple of times.  The catch 22 is that unfortunately there is also a big salty that calls that part of the water home!  A couple of the teachers have fished there a few times and caught up to 8 Barra - so if you are willing to play Russian Roullete with the croc, it is 'the spot' to fish.  I don't think I will ever be game and Pats hasn't quite worked up the guts just yet.

On Friday arvo Pats decided to drop the crab pots into a spot he found on the way to Topsy.  After putting all the pots in, he checked the first couple and was pleasantly surprised.......

He had these 2 in one pot.....



And this badboy in another!  Not to bad for an arvo's work.

He put these pots back in and left them all in over night.  The next morning after an early breakie we went and checked the pots.  Unfortunately, all the bait was gone and no crabs.  But we did have a nice surprise in one of the pots.....

A good sized Cod.

So this morning after taking the dogs out to Shelfo for a walk and a swim, we made fresh home made fish and chips.  What a great way to end the weekend!!



Shelfo - My favourite place

Yesterday was a big a day.  It started with an early morning bike ride with a couple of the other teachers - originally we were going to ride down the Cairns Rd to the Doggit but then decided on a more scenic route, Poison Track (this is what the locals call it - not 100% why, but something to do with it being haunted or something along those lines).

This track during the wet season is pretty much a swamp plain.  Parts of it off the track are still slightly swampy.  This is where a lot of the wild brumbies like to hang out and graze.  There was a few that morning, but unfortunately they are quite camera shy and our little camera can't zoom in enough to get a good shot.  We definitely have to invest in a better camera soon.

Further along the track we came to Gooseberry Creek, although to me it looks more like a river and this is pretty much the end of the dry season.  Imagine what it will be like in the wet season!

Trying to be a little arty with the scenery!! 

After the morning bike ride, we headed over to the school to move the old library to Kowanyama State Schools brand new library.  This was quite a big job - bigger then any of us was expecting, so we were there for quite a few hours. 

After a well deserved BBQ lunch a few of us decided to head out to Shelfo.

Shelfo is my favourite place in Kowie.  It is the only place to safely swim - or so we are told and I am willing to believe it because it is just so beautiful and refreshing and it is only a half hour drive from town.

Pats relaxing in 'The Spa'

Our croc spotters!

Lifeguard Bronx



Our shady 'Coolabah' tree



Kowanyama Rodeo

Last weekend we were lucky enough to have a long weekend for the annual Kowanyama Rodeo.  We went down on the Saturday to watch the locals battle it out in the Rodeo arena.  Unfortunately for us all (bulls included) Kowanyama recorded the hottest temperature for the state that day, over 35 degrees.  So we pulled up the Jimny and Pats set up a couple of tarps and chairs to get out of the sun and enjoy the show. 

Our little set up looked very attractive to a group of the local kids, so they decided to come and join us.

It takes a bit to get used to, the way the kids just come up and sit all over you and think nothing of it - even if they don't know you that well!  But they are definitely amusing and always make the day interesting.

The rodeo continued the next day as well, we didn't go but there were quite a few casualties.  Over 6 people had to get flown to Cairns for treatment.  And Pats was thinking about entering next year - he may have to rethink this!

Cairns, cows and shopping

As you could see from our first post, Kowanyama does not have a whole lot of facilities.  So Pats and I decided to do a trip to Cairns to stock up on food and a few things that we forgot to get before making the move.  Now this is not a trip to take lightly, especially over a weekend.  Cairns is a 7 hour drive, while this is not exactly a massive drive, what makes it that much harder is that over 5 hours of this drive is on dirt roads that have quite a few hazards including kangaroos, dust, wild pigs, wallabies, brolgas and huge pot holes that have the ability to completely swallow the poor little Jimny!  However the biggest hazard on this trip are the cows, cows, cows and more cow.  You see Kowanyama is surrounded by cattle stations and these cows can appear out of what seems like no where or they could be safely standing by the side of the road and then decide to completely freak out and stupidly run across the right in front of your car.  Thankfully we made it to Cairns by 10pm Friday night without incident.  One of our colleagues was not so lucky a week later, his car was a total write off after hitting a cow, thankfully he was completely uninjured.  A very lucky man.

Saturday in Cairns started with breakfast on the esplanade then it was all about the shopping - but not the fun kind!  However it was all necessary and life back in Kowie is a lot better for making the trip.  We left Cairns mid morning Sunday with the poor little Jimny packed to the hilt.

We arrived safely back in Kowie early Sunday evening, completely exhausted but very happy we had made the trip. But in no hurry to do it again anytime soon!!

Kowanyama

Kowanyama is located about 600kms North West of Cairns, on the Western side of Cape York.  It is a remote Aboriginal Community with a population of approximately 1000.  Kowanyama means 'The place of many waters' and in the Wet Season this is true.  Kowie is one of the few places that in the Wet Season is completely cut off by road.  The only way in and out is by plane, luckily there is an all weather airstrip that is serviced by the regional airline Skytrans.

There isn't a whole lot in Kowanyama, a small convenience store, a couple of take away shops and the Coffee Shoppe (that doesn't actually sell coffee!)  The selection is not overly extensive and what is there is very expensive.

This is just a quick run down of our new home town.  There is lots more to tell, but this will do for now :)