Rollingstone

Saturday, 1st September 2012

Thursday evening we attended an “interesting” concert with the billing in the Cairns Festival Programme as: “Fantasia – classical masterpieces featuring music of Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, Kreisler, Chopin, Lizst, Rachmaninov, Sarasate, Cote Porter, George Gershwin and Ravel.” Obviously, neither the violinist nor pianist had read the programme and must have assumed they were to play contemporary 20th Century compositions. We did hear one each Chopin, Rachmaninov and Debussy piece in the second half. The pianist wasn’t bad and we gave the violinist an A for effort and A+ for self-confidence! There were a number of times when she had trouble playing/sustaining notes in the high register (not good for the ears!!!) and did lose her fingering quite badly in one piece. The modern music was interspersed with poetry, which was an interesting touch. There would only have been about 70 people in the small theatre and half of those didn’t return after interval – like us, they were obviously expecting an evening of classical masterpieces.

Friday was prepare to move day, with a good grocery shop in the morning to fill up the frig and cupboards, re-arrange the caravan boot, remove the screen on the back of the awning (too hot to take the side screen off until late in the day) and generally have a good clean up. After lunch we thought it would be rude if we didn’t say goodbye to the ice cream lady (and have another ice cream as well) before visiting Lenards for some chicken products. The frig and freezer are now full.

The day was very hot, in the low 30’s, but very clear and not as humid.

Saturday was a beautiful, clear, warm morning to pack up and say goodbye to Cairns. With most of the packing down last night, it was simply a matter or raising the jacks and hitching up – we were actually on the road at 8.00 am!

Apart from some roadworks near Gordonvale and at the Cardwell Range, the road south was very good, with the exception of a small section just north of Ingham. To break the journey, we stopped at Cardwell so we could have a walk along the foreshore. Unfortunately, after Cycle Yasi, the foreshore doesn’t really exist anymore, although a lot of work is being done to restore it. We actually stopped opposite the old post office and realised that it is now a free museum, so never ignoring free attractions, we decided to check out the history of Cardwell, with the emphasis on communications. Leslie tried to send a text using a morse key, but with little success – another message lost in the ether! Cat had a lovely time answering the ringing telephone, helping to sort the mail and offering assistance to the mailman. Behind the old post office was the old court house (complete with “execution book”) and the one cell lock-up. All in all, a very interesting half hour.

We continued to Rollingstone and the Big 4 Caravan Resort – that’s all that’s here! We decided to overnight here as “everyone” goes to Rollingstone and we have never been. It is absolute beach frontage, as is our site. Beach frontage also means beach frontage winds, and a crocodile warning sign!!! The caravan park is very dry and the beach sites are really sandy, but okay for a night. The amenities are good, there is a very nice pool, a large grassy camping area and a couple of very large lakes/ponds. These have “no swimming or fishing” signs and I have a sneaking suspicion they may be sewage ponds. The large reed beds are, no doubt, hiding numerous snakes. Not sure I would want to stay here for too long.