Palm Cove

Tuesday, 12 August 2014

 

Kellie and us

Bird watching - a bush stone curlew

Doves beside the caravan

Friar bird

I think I saw a bird!

Windy Palm Cove Beach

Still windy

Beautiful melaleuca trees at Palm Cove

Waiting for a face plant!

Last Saturday afternoon, we had the pleasure of spending and hour or so with Kellie, the daughter of some friends back home.  As Kellie has lived in Brisbane for many years, it has been some time since we last saw her.

Sunday – the rain returned with a vengeance!  There really wasn’t a lot to do, except relax and watch the water.

Monday – and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky!  Needless to say, obtaining a free washing machine was worse they finding a bargain at the Boxing Day Sales; definitely a free for all!!!  With the washing safely on the line, we headed for Smithfield to sort out a Telstra problems (why does one only have problems with Telstra?) and spent nearly an hour on the phone there explaining the same problem many times to many different people.  I had received an account for $0.97 for an account I don't have (don’t ask!).  The third person I spoke to eventually offered to credit the amount and would send an email confirmation.  All done, email received which said the amount would be credited off NEXT month's account and I would have to pay the amount owing or be charged $15 late payment fee!  I now have to pay $0.97 for an account that no longer exists, which will then be credited next month so we have no way then of recovering the $0.97.  I should have just paid the $0.97 …

So stressed after this, a chocky was definitely needed.

Tuesday – and another clear sky.  We had decided that if the morning was clear, I was to wake Himself early so that we could participate in the weekly (Tuesday only) bird watching activity at the Botanical Gardens.  We arrived ten minutes before the due time and waited with about fifteen other people for the guide to turn up.  Eventually, after 9.00 am, a staff member arrived to tell us the bird watching had been cancelled for today.  At least we did get to see some sunbirds, friar birds and golden oriels, and it was also a good opportunity to take some photos of plants in the immediate vicinity.  One can imagine the mutterings about having to get out of bed early – and all for nothing!

With the weather being so nice, we decided then to go to Palm Cove for a walk along the beach, have lunch and browse the shops.  There was a bit of a sea breeze churning up the water, and while the school group undertaking swimming lessons in the sea didn’t seem worried about the crocodiles, they were dressed in their stinger suits.  There weren’t many people about and with a number of empty shops, we felt that Palm Cove would probably benefit with a bit of a spruce up.  It was a Tuesday though, so perhaps people were busy doing something else.

Our vehicle seems to have a mind of its own at times, and on the return to Cairns, it just drove straight to the Esplanade and parked right outside Movenpick!  We felt it would have been very rude not to say hello to Steve and buy an ice cream.  While we were enjoying the treat, we notice a family playing in the mud while their mother (presumably) photographed them.  She obviously wasn’t concerned about the amount of rubbish in the mud – broken glass and other things.  We didn’t wait for the face plant!