QF824 - BRISBANE TO DARWIN - Reminiscing on previous trips between the NT and Qld

 Hello from Croker Island. 

I am back at Croker Island after extended leave in south east Queensland due to moving, Covid in the family and the floods. My return to Darwin was via QF824. Over the years I have flown this route many times however this flight was particularly pleasant and interesting. Not only due to the friendly flying conditions but also from my right side window seat, 36,000 feet up, I recognised many places we had visited on the ground over the years. This triggered quite a few memories.

Shortly after taking off from southerly runway we made a right turn with the Brisbane CBD and Story Bridge in clear view. The Brisbane River was still a bit muddy looking after the recent floods. Nearly a hundred years ago my great grand mother ran a boarding/guest house at Kangaroo Point in a rambling old house.

Flying over Samford I recognised where some of our extended family live. Somerset Dam and Kilcoy were easily recognised.

Then just to the west of Murgon I picked out a friends irrigation farm at Byee. The south east corner of Queensland was still green after recent good rains. 

After passing overhead Emerald, Capella and then Clermont came into view. Between these two towns I was able to picked out Langton Downs where we had done some contract grain harvesting back in the early 1980s. The green countryside from earlier in the trip was changing - obviously much less rain here.

Onwards passed Lake Buchanan and over Hughenden, where mum was born. If I was sitting on the left side I probably would have got a good view of Afton Downs and maybe even Cressy Station - both places where my parents and grandparents had lived. 

Just southeast of Normanton, there were fires burning - the monsoon rains have not got very far south this year.

From Normanton our route took us over water along the southern part of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The direct track from Brisbane to Darwin is further west, closer to Mount Isa, however when there are storms forecast the airlines often take a more northerly route tracking over the water to avoid some of the associated turbulence. 

From the right side window Mornington Island passed. Burketown would have been easily seen from the left side. Burketown ... 1991.... I recalled flying with Nancy and our young family from Arnhem Land to Cairns in a Cessna 206. We had stopped at Burketown to refuel. Just after take off, 6 year old Jayson, who was seated in the co-pilot's seat decided to grab the controls in front of him and give dad a hand flying the aircraft. Thanks Jayse .... but your timing was not great.

Just a little further on the left side would have been the Nicholson River. We won't forget in a hurry driving through this area in 2009 and visiting Kingfisher Station on the Nicholson River. We arrived just after dark. Nancy had just closed the gate coming into the homestead. We had just started rolling again when a startled kangaroo came flat out towards us from the right. At the last minute it attempted to jump over the bonnet however only succeeded in denting the right side of the troopy and then crashing into the windscreen right in front of Nancy. The force of the impact showered Nancy with lots of little pieces of glass. The kangaroo was no where to be seen however it would have had a few bruises. After our stay at Kingfisher we drove onto Burketown and where we were able to get the windscreen replaced. Thankfully there are a lot of these vehicles in the outback.

Further on the left is Borroloola. 1988 - We were flying back to Queensland from Arnhem Land in a Piper Comanche. The alternator failed so we landed at Borroloola. We had to overnight. The Boroloola pub was just over the road from the airport so we booked in there. It was very quiet when we booked in ........ however later that evening the Saturday night noise levels increased greatly. Borroloola hadn't lost it frontier reputation. In the 1800s huge herds of cattle were driven to the NT and the Kimberleys. Most came via Borroloola as the coastal route had much more reliable water for the cattle. 

Leaving the Gulf of Carpentaria we crossed the coast just south of the Roper River mouth. Just up the coast is the community of Numbulwar with Groote Eylandt just out of the picture to the right. In this area the Roper River forms the southern boundary of Arnhem Land. There had been good rains in January however nothing much since leaving the floodplains with less water than usual.

In 1987 cyclone Jason had impacted this coast. During the following dry season it took us two big days to drive the 300 kms from Gapuwiyak down to the Roper River. Lots of bugged vehicles, trees over the track washed out crossings etc. It was around midday on the second day that we finally got into top gear - and then only briefly! In those days we crossed at the Roper Bar - a concrete crossing at a rock bar. Now days there is a bridge.

Stepping out of the modern air-conditioned airport terminal at Darwin and being hit by the humidity, I was reminded of the first time Nancy and I flew to Darwin in 1984. The old terminal had no air bridges and no air conditioning, so the walk across the tarmac in the early afternoon sun and humidity provided us with a very 'warm' welcome to Darwin.

 

Dean and Kristy looked after our dog, PK. She was happy to see me.

I had a few days in Darwin before heading back to Croker Island. It was good to catch up with Jayse, Dean and Kristy. One evening we had a meal looking out over Darwin's outer harbour. As the sun set a storm rolled in from the east cooling the temperature and providing a great sunset.

Blessings till next time. 

Bryan