Port Douglas Revisited

Tuesday, 25 August 2015

It's raining ...

Port Douglas Marina

A bit derelict

Some restoration required

One metre of watching crocodile

2 metres of warming crocodile

Over 4 metres of crocodile, just waiting

Cyclone mooring point

Sunbird nest

Rainbow bee eater

Hot and sticky

Chinese junk

Very popular for weddings

Old sugar wharf

Kapok tree

Last Saturday was our hottest day so far this season, sunny and humid.  We spent the morning wandering around the Esplanade markets, having our feet pampered once again (important to support the local economy), pampering our insides with an ice cream and adding to his shirt and shorts collection.  Lunch was at Cazaly’s before a quick walk (with the odd stop) through the DFO.

Not much happened on Sunday because the humidity increased dramatically overnight and we had a very soggy and very steamy day.  The curlews came to visit to get out of the rain for a while – and have a chicken snack as well.  They have now nested (ie deposited two eggs on the bare ground) not very far from our caravan.

Yesterday, with the humidity still very high and only the odd bit of mizzle, we decided to spend the day at Port Douglas, passing a large number of caravans heading south.  We spent a couple of hours or so wandering through the shops, adding to the shirt collections, but discovered our favourite lunch restaurant has been turned into a smelly hamburger joint.  The afternoon was spent on board the Lady Douglas, a little “paddle steamer” that does one and a half hour tourist cruises around the inlet.  It was very enjoyable on board, especially with the slight breeze as we moved among the expensive motor vessels and yachts, wrecks and mangroves.  Refreshments were also provided – wine, beer, juice, fruit platter, cheese platter, biscuits, lamingtons (for the international tourists) and fruit cake.  A very pleasant way to spend the afternoon, with plenty to look at, especially crocodiles – ranging in size from 1 metre to over 4 metres.

This morning we watched in amazement as a neighbour hitched up and then blocked the roadway for nearly 45 minutes.  He hitched the car and van (turned the engine off, thank goodness), then unplugged the power cord, detached the hose, detached the sullage hose, put all them away, wiped the car all over, pulled down the old television antennae and put that and the pole away, lowered and secured the pop-top, socialised with friends who arrived to say goodbye, wiped the car once again, then decided he needed a comfort stop!

The mango trees are now in full bloom, with their strong, sweet perfume.  The high humidity continues today …