CAIRNS (Continued)

Tuesday, 30 July 2019

Lake Placid

Lake Placid

Waterfall into the Barron Gorge

Rafting in the Gorge

Cattana Wetlands

Pied cormorant

Crocodile trap, complete with part of a chook

We have spent a fairly relaxed week, with some mixed weather conditions but mainly warm and sunny.  Fortunately, the nights are no longer as cold!

Our activities this week have included visits to Lake Placid, the Barren Gorge (where we watched Raging Thunder launch their rafts for some white water rafting in, hopefully, crocodile free waters), and a bit of retail therapy, along with one or two or three ice creams.  Sunday was a bit cool and cloudy, so we decided on a drive to the southern suburbs (not an area we know well) and stopped at the Mt Sheridan Plaza, which has only been open about 8-10 years.  Don’t feel any need to rush back.  We also stopped at the Coconut Grove Holiday Resort (the other Big4 in Cairns) and had a wander through the grounds.  We felt we had the much better park at Crystal Cascades and would have been rather upset to pay Coconut’s fees for dry grass and dirt.

Yesterday afternoon, with the temperature rising and clear skies, we headed to the Cattana Wetlands for a walk around the lakes/ponds.  This area has been further developed since last year, with new signage and a new pond with a circuit track.  This track  hasn’t been concreted yet and only after walking about twenty metres along the narrow gravel track covered with leaf litter, we decided that discretion was far preferable to valour, given the large snake population in the area, and quickly retraced our steps to the concrete!  Another new addition this year was the crocodile trap; obviously there for an obvious reason!!!  These wetlands, with their paperbarks, waterlilies and bird life, are well worth a visit.

FAREWELL TO VISITORS

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

On his feet

Black sapote - didn't look appetising

Cooking breakfast

Friday was the day for Kathryn to return home to the cold weather – and work – so the morning was spent with a quick walk to feed the fish before taking her to the airport.  The remainder of the day was spent recovering from the hectic week.

Saturday was Jack’s last full day in Cairns, so he had the choice of activities.  Shopping and a bike ride in the morning, followed by a swim in the heated pool at Tobruk Memorial Pool.  However, when we arrived at the pool, only eight other swimmers were in the complete complex; evidently the weather is too cold for the locals to go swimming!  The Flowrider was also empty of riders and it didn’t take Jack long to decide on 30 minutes of exclusive use.  It wasn’t long before he was kneeling with outstretched arms and then the assistant helped him get started on a stand-up board.  This was also the day when the black sapote was finally ripe enough for the much anticipated tasting.  Unfortunately, the chocolate pudding fruit didn’t live up to its reputation.

Sunday morning breakfast of hash browns and bacon before packing the suitcase and tent, together with tent poles and pegs!  Another quick bike ride for a final check of the caravan park and we were off to the airport.  We had no problems checking him in for the flight home, via Brisbane and were in the large departure area with an hour to wait until his flight.  However, Virgin neglected to tell us that their flights weren’t being announced and it was pure luck that the departure board was checked 15 minutes before the scheduled departure and we noticed that the flight was boarding.  Turned out Jack was the final passenger to board!  However, all turned out well, the plane took off and Jack eventually arrived home and could demonstrate his whipcracking skills.

The weather remained clear and sunny, with very cold nights (11 degrees!!!) right through until Monday.  We enjoyed a relaxing day, catching up on “housework,” checking out a local plant nursery and a walk along the creek after lunch.

Monday night was much warmer, owing to the very cloudy skies today.  It also didn’t take long for the heavy mizzle to start.  Les had been contacted by an old friend, Ian, who was in Cairns for a few days and we collected Ian and Kerrie before lunch, took them to Limberlost Nursery for lunch and then back to our caravan for coffee and some chat.  A very pleasant few hours

JET BOAT & BIRTHDAY

Thursday, 18 July 2019

Pancake breakfast with Great Aunty

Spin in Bad Fishy

Wet and happy

Birthday lunch

Sparkling dessert

Jack and paperbarks at Palm Cove

Palm Cove, with Double and Scout Hat Islands

Windblown!

Entrance to Chinese Friendship Garden

Chinese friend

Australian friend

We had a wonderful start to Tuesday, especially where Jack was concerned – pancakes supplied by the caravan park!  What a nice change from sausages, and they seemed to be appreciated by the many happy campers – and no doubt the local school was happy with the donations.  Jack was joined by his great aunty on Tuesday afternoon for a spin around Trinity Inlet in the Bad Fishy jet boat and the boat driver decided to celebrate the three crocodile sightings by making sure all the passengers were thoroughly drenched by the time they returned to the pontoon.  Wednesday was a rest day, with fish feeding in Freshwater Creek before lunch and a swim at the Lagoon in the afternoon (and an ice cream, of course).

Today was a special day, with a birthday being celebrated, so we (accidently) took the scenic drive to Palm Cove to enjoy a special family lunch, before a look at the very windy beach and a walk along the foreshore.  We even managed a quick stop at the Chinese Friendship Garden on our return to Cairns.

PORT DOUGLAS & CAIRNS

Monday, 15 July 2019

Enjoying the view

Things to make from a coconut!

Man shopping in Port Douglas

Four Mile Beach - and a coconut

Millie and her dad

Female family members

Working hard

The coconut has sprouted a nose!

Flowrider

Flowriding the easy way

Olympic pool

With beautiful clear, blue skies on Sunday, we headed north once again along the Captain Cook Highway to Port Douglas – this time to meet up with Kathryn, Laura, Tye and Millie.  This was the first time we had met my great-niece.

Unfortunately, the same people who have been following us all week also followed us to Port Douglas and the weekly market.  To say that parking spots were at a premium would have been an understatement!  However, the market was well worth visiting, with lots of interesting stalls to keep our shopaholic grandson happy – his grandfather even bought himself a man bag to complete his tropical ensemble.  We joined the others for lunch before a walk along Four Mile Beach and a swim at the Paradise Links Resort.  When we returned to the caravan, quite a deal of effort was put into opening the coconut that Jack found on the beach.  Unfortunately, we discovered the actual coconut had started to sprout and the liquid had turned into a rather strange spongy consistency.

The weather today was just as nice, perfect for Jack’s Flowrider experience.  The Flowrider is at the Tobruk Memorial Pool, the tropical home of the Australian Swim Team.  After having all the legal disclaimers signed and receiving instruction on how to ride, Jack had thirty minutes to hone his wave riding skills – and didn’t do too bad a job of it, either.  Ten minutes after his rides had finished, there was a large power failure in the area and all the water disappeared (as well as the very loud music!).  We collected Kathryn from the centre of Cairns; she will be staying at Crystal Cascades for the next few days.

CAIRNS & MAREEBA

Saturday, 13 July 2019

Bavarian dancers

Maypole dance

Introducing tourists to Bavaria

CIAF exhibit

It's a rooster!

Missed again...

Nanny said "No"

Dad didn't hold the tail tight enough

Even the big ones fall off

Last Thursday evening we were treated to entertainment at the caravan park – the Cairns Bavarian Dancers performed and German sausages, complete with sauerkraut, were also provided.  The dancing and music made a welcome change from the usual country/rock/hillbilly music that is the usual fare for caravan parks.  The locals even managed to coerce a few of the tourists into joining them for a couple of dances.

On Friday, after the rain finally disappeared, we headed to the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, along with all the people who went to Kuranda with us on the Skyrail!  We enjoyed the art work this year; although some works were similar to previous years, there were some new and different works.  Some very talented artists in the region!

Today has been hot and clear, just right for our day at the Mareeba Rodeo.  I think this was also Jack’s first experience of a side show alley and a lot of time was spent inspecting the different games to be played and rides, although the rides weren’t high on his list – apart from the one which went upside down and Nanny said, “No!”  He was also quite intrigued with the old style show exhibits/contests, such as vegetable and fruit growing, cake making and decorating, school work, etc.  Of course, the chooks in the animal nursery were also a great hit!  We spent a couple of hours watching the rodeo as well, mainly bull (or calf) riding with the riders ranging in age from under six to adult.  Apart from one very large (and angry) bull, all the animals were well trained and left the arena immediately the riders were disposed of.

Jack was glad to get back to the caravan for a swim, only to find the pool was full of kids!