Day 54 – Friday 11 September
I met the family (Jodi, Scott, Jack & Harry) at
the airport at 10:20 and we had a busy day catching up.
Jack and Harry
wanted to do everything associated with turtles, ropes over water, pool, food
and drink.
Day 55 –
Saturday 12 September
Today I taught Jack
& Harry how to cook pancakes - for breakfast. Five year old Harry was
the most eager pupil and liked the idea of turning the pancakes.
We all ventured into
the Cairns CBD and enjoyed what Cairns has to offer.
Jack & Harry in Kuranda
The local pizza
place provided dinner. Today was also a significant day in that it was
the first time this trip that the TV had been turned on and a show was watched.
Day 56 –
Sunday 13 September 2015
Jodi, Scott and the
boys headed off to Kuranda to visit the Rainforest Attraction, which included
some indigenous culture and the cuddling of a koala and a kangaroo. The
boys were over the moon, but they had a couple of jealous aunties back in
Melbourne.
Shirley and I bludged.
Dinner was steak or sausage sandwich.
Day 57 –
Monday 14 September 2015
Just for a change today was a
quiet day, except for a walk with the troops at Crystal Cascades. The
weather was not kind to us as showers were the pattern of the day - just like
yesterday.
I cooked up a batch
of spaghetti bolognaise for dinner.
Day 58 –
Tuesday 15 September 2015
Jack and Harry
arrived around 7:30 as they had worked out how to tell if Grandma was awake and
out of bed. Pancakes for breakfast was the order.
I then delivered
Jodi, Scott, Jack & Harry (hereinafter called JSJH) to Freshwater
station for their scenic train ride up to Kuranda. Shirley and I took the
opportunity for a coffee on the grass behind the caravan. I hope you like
the view we had.
View towards Kuranda (roughly west) from our Caravan
Soon after Shirley
and I drove the 25 km to Karunda and joined the family. I then had my first
game of golf in 2 months - mini golf with the boys. I put my first shot
out of bounds. We had a lot of fun.
After lunch Shirley
and I drove back to camp while the others came home on the Skyrail - a
cable-car that comes down the side of the mountain over the top of the
rainforest. The three guys enjoyed it - Jodi was not so sure.
We all got the
courtesy bus and headed to the Red Beret pub for dinner.
Day 59 –
Wednesday 16 September 2015
Jodi and family
headed off to Fitzroy Island for the day, giving Shirley and I a free
day. We used it to head out for a quiet lunch.
It was a magnificent
day in Cairns - our best day yet - around 29 degrees and mainly sunny.
Red-tailed black cockatoo
Day 60 –
Thursday 17 September 2015
Shirley and I packed
up camp and moved to Port Douglas (again). We were running ahead of
schedule and stopped for a coffee at a local attraction that had a magnificent
"red-tailed black cockatoo" on display. Apparently there are
two who rotate shifts, one who loves people (female) and one who loves nipping
people (male). The photo is the latter.
It was another
magnificent day - weather wise.
We took the
opportunity to catch up with good friends Fran and Colin who were staying in
Port Douglas with their extended family.
For dinner we
decided it was time we had meat and three veges - so we did. Rissoles,
mashed spuds, carrots and zucchini. By the way I have had fresh local
pawpaw on my cereal for the last three days. Very nice.
Osprey About to Feed Its Chicks
Day 61 –
Friday 18 September 2015
I was up at the
usual (early) time, had breakfast, then drove to Cairns to pick up JSJH.
On the way I was lucky enough to get a photo of the Osprey about to provide
breakfast to its chicks. It was quite an impressive sight at the top of
the power pole. This is the same nest that featured in an earlier posting of
the blog, on the way home from the Cape York trip.
On arrival back at
Port Douglas the JSJH cabin was not ready so the boys hit the pool and water
features - including eight water slides.
After lunch they
returned to the water for another couple of hours.
I think they are
going to sleep tonight.
Day 62 –
Saturday 19 September 2015
Scott and I took the
boys to the beach while Shirley showed Jodi the shopping centre. All
parties thought they had a "good deal". The water temperature
at the beach was 24 degrees and the conditions were officially listed as
"Fantastic".
We had a good time
for a couple of hours - Shirley bought shoes - then we threw some sausages on
the BBQ for lunch.
It was a quiet
afternoon, interspersed with a few swims and water slides.
Dinner was Thai with Eltham friends Fran & Colin. JSJH had dinner at the pub over the road with Fran & Colin's two daughters, husbands and two kids each. Shirley was the driver. We all had a good time at our respective venues. All of us slept well.
Day 63 –
Sunday 20 September 2015
It was a slow start
to the day with the BBQ being gunned up for a breakfast of bacon and eggs.
Scott and I chose to
stay home and do chores while Shirley and Jodi and the boys went to the
popular Port Douglas Sunday market.
We gunned up the BBQ
for dinner, first chops and veges, then pancakes, strawberries and ice-cream
for dessert.
Day 64 – Monday 21 September 2015
Jack and Harry appeared at 7:15 am ready for more pancakes, this time with strawberry jam, for breakfast.
JSJH then headed of to the local crocodile tourist attraction and had photos taken with cassowary, crocodile, python just to mention a few. They had a good day while Shirley and I rested.
The evening was a visit to the cane-toad races at the pub in town. Scott was selected to be the “jockey” on the first race. His skills at cane-toad encouragement were lacking and his mount came third. It was a fun night.
Jack and Harry re-appeared at 7:15 am again ready for more pancakes with strawberry jam, for breakfast.Jodi took them to the beach while Scott and I strolled around Mossman Gorge - my second visit in three weeks. After that it was a swim in the pool at the caravan park, plus a few water slides. Jack and Harry were happy to have their photo taken.
After lunch and some rest Jodi and I took the boys back to the beach, a lovely shaded spot so late in the day. With the easterly beach and the tall palms and a high tide the shade extended down to the edge of the water.
Day 66 – Wednesday 23 September
It was a quiet day for Shirley and I as JSJH headed off to the Daintree and Cape Tribulation for the day.
We enjoyed the passing parade of five goannas, between about 750 mm and 950 mm in length (not that I ran a easureing tape over them). Shirley and I then had a wim and a relaxing ice-cream.
The family soon arrived home and Jodi and Shirley immediately disappeared into town to check out a market. They reappeared oon after with one kg of fresh prawns – it was a great entrée. Of course here was still time to rush down the street for a swim at the beach.
The boys did not mind going to bed as Pa (that is, me) had made a couple of promises.
Day 67 – Thursday 24 September 2015
The morning soon came and the boys stated with promise number one –pancakes for breakfast (again). Promise number two cost me $10 – the price of a pedal car for an hour. They survived that without any major mishap.
After that Scott took them for a swim in the pool – promise number three. Promise number four cost me $5 – a tractor tyre for one hour on Port Douglas beach. It was a great investment. They fell off plenty of times, but never got hurt.
We came home for a rest and pulled a chicken apart for our fresh rolls. After lunch Scott and I again did the chores while the ladies and the boys went shopping. I cooked scones for afternoon tea.
Above: Jodi enjoying lunch
Below: Boys enjoying themselves
Jodi and I were the sole interested parties to head back to the beach for one final swim. Fish and chips for dinner. We were just completing our last mouthful when the rain started.
Day 68 – Friday 25 September 2015
Casual rain last evening turned into a downpour overnight and based on the water in the bucket by the caravan I estimate we had 60 to 80 mm.
Jodi, Scott and the boys packed their bags and loaded them into the car for the Kelly taxi back to Cairns airport. I think the boys had a pretty good holiday.
On my return to Port Douglas Shirley decided to do one last “shop” in Port Douglas – so I did some “organising” and some reading.
Dinner for our last night in Port Douglas was based around oysters – for me anyway.
Tomorrow we head south, pointing towards home. It is time to see other family, and friends – particularly our newish granddaughter Riley.
So far we have driven 6457 km plus the 1677 km of the Cape York trip, over 67 days. That works out at around 121 km per day. Our average accommodation cost has been around $36.40 per day.
We continued our walk through the Roma township and I was amused with the name of the establishment below.
Today we travelled a mere 398 km.
Day 72 – Tuesday 29 September
We continued south and stopped for a milk shake and a walk around St George. We were amused by the paraphernalia around/on/in/under the house.
Today was a journey of 418 km.
Day 73 – Wednesday 30 Sept
We continued south, passed Walgett and on to Gilgandra, which is designated as the place where the Aussie call “cooee” originated. It is an interesting story and well worth some research.
Then it was back on the road again.
We stopped at a highway rest stop and were amused at the lighting system for the toilet. The idea is to aim your headlight at the silver panel at the foot of the pole. The light is reflected upwards to the reflective panel at the top of the pole.
That, in turn, shines the light through the transparent toilet roof. Ingenious!
The samples on the facing page are a few of the items that impressed us. A Google search shows a lot more.
It was a great afternoon – and was the highlight of the trip home.
This post is complete (last
update Saturday 3 October)
Go to previous post (Atherton Tablelands) …
