Day 34: Down the pass to Cairns (05/07/12)

An even colder morning greeted us in Walkamin. We had now repented from our earlier flight from the more excessive warmth of Cooktown, and were yearning for the less excessive warmth of Cairns. All against a background of reports of Launceston temperatures daily in the minus Centigrade. Were we spoilt or what?

A group of about 40 birds flew overhead as we packed at Walkamin. We think they are eagles, but we might well be described as ornithologically challenged.

Not thinking too deeply on these things, we packed at leisure as we thawed out, had a chat with the manager, and moved off to Mareeba with the trusty caravan in tow. There we picked up our new side screen for the awning, did a quick tour of the town and headed for Cairns.

Kuranda, at the top of the pass, billed itself as an RV-friendly town, but there was no place to park the caravan. So we drove round the town without stopping (chickens flying, old ladies scurrying...) and headed down the pass. It was a bit of an anti-climax, really.

Qantas heading south for landing at Cairns International, brahminy kite (?) heading north for lunch date with field mouse.

Down in Cairns we headed for the Crystal Cascades Caravan Park. Back in familiar territory we set up and sat back to enjoy our well-earned rest after our 70km trip for the day!