Day 24: Lazing away in Cairns (and a confession) (25/06/12)

Today was supposed to be the day we were to get up and go off west towards Darwin. Instead we got up at leisure, had breakfast at leisure, and generally faffed around for all the world as if we were on holiday and had not one single important thing to rush off and do!

The reason for this is the substance of a confession this blog has to make to you, dear valued and patient reader. Because, while you were ardently and/or yawningly waiting for the bits that would be really interesting, such as our trek across the north of Australia (and/or the first bite of the oft-mentioned crocodiles), we had been secretly hatching other plans altogether.

It came about because Mr Branson’s airline had callously cancelled Renske, Miriam and Adam’s flights to Darwin. Instead they could take extra time and fly there in a roundabout way. Sadly, the upshot was that Miriam and Adam pulled out altogether. Renske re-routed her arrangements to come to visit us in Cairns.

So, we said smugly, we can’t be in Darwin while our senior daughter visits us in Cairns. So, what to do? Force majeure dictates that we bow gracefully to the inevitable and stay in northern Queensland. What noble sacrifice a parent can thus display in foregoing a treasured objective for the sake of his/her offspring! We patted each other on the back. This self-congratulary mood was of course not quite in keeping with the facts. We had noticed, as we entered a slower phase of our journey, that it was actually more enjoyable to take our trip at leisure, to stop and smell the roses (or frangipani, or ylang-ylang, or helleconias) on the way.

The start of our walk just behind the caravan park

Cassowary fruit - toxic to humans, loved by cassowaries

Freshwater Creek, flowing from the aptly-named Crystal Cascades

Joke on a bridge over Freshwater Creek

Joke with unknown tropical flower

So having our offspring-visitations re-arranged on us was no burden, because we have decided that Darwin (is/might be/may well be[choose one]) no longer on the itinerary. Instead, after Renske’s visit, a week later than originally scheduled, we go to the Gulf, and then swing south instead of west.

Perhaps that Sydney Opera House concert Joke is still dreaming about may come about.........

After a day of doing very little, a good meal is always appreciated

All praise to the cook!

Day 23: We meet up with the Cairns Church Group (24/06/12)

We had been looking forward to this day a little bit, because we had heard so many positive things about the Cairns church group. We hoped that our own experience would be positive as well. We were not disappointed. We made it to the hall where the service was to be held in Trinity Beach (accepting Selina’s judgment that the stated suburb of Smithfield was incorrect) There were about 40 people there and the service got under way with a Wes Bredenhof sermon on Philippians 4:8-9. The theme was “The call to a new life”, and it was well presented and well read. Due to lack of musical accompaniment we stumbled a bit over a psalm at the end, gave up, and sang a psalm with a more familiar tune.

Coffee at the Cairns Free Reformed Church

Lunch is served

Lunchtime chatter

Doin' the dishes

Coffee followed and we got to know the people somewhat, although names always are a problem on first meeting.. Loss of short term memory is a common complaint among older people and only precedes other losses by a few years, such as keen eyesight, acute hearing and sphincter control.

But I digress. There were a lot of interesting characters present, and many stories of adaptation to a new environment, etc. There seems to be a certain vitality present amongst the group, which should stand them in good stead as they confront the inevitable hurdles they will find along their way. We hope the Lord will richly bless them in their endeavour.

Lunch was served, and then a bible study/sermon discussion was held while the kids of appropriate age were given catechism instruction.

Discussion

More discussion

Young and old

Then the proceedings were wound up for the day. The hall is rented by the hour and so they make best use of the time in this way.

In the afternoon, Joke and I explored the Barron Gorge, following the road alongside the river until it ended at the hydro power station.

End of the road at Barron Gorge

Barron Gorge in late afternoon

Surprise Creek Falls - lower end

In the evening we joined in a singalong at the caravan park which featured a pair of Tasmanian singers. (Never heard of 'em!!)

The entertainers - Rino and Jade Morea

The audience - grey nomads, most of 'em

Where the sausages were sizzled and et.

Hmm, dunno what to make of it!

 

Day 22: We escape our tribulations at Cape Trib (23/06/12)

Time to go out for a drive. As we had not crossed the Daintree River 6 years ago, we decided we would do that and explore up to Cape Tribulation. Off we went, revisiting Holloway Beach on the way. That was our first tropical beach in 2006, and set the tone for the trip at the time.

Between Esplanade and beach at Holloway Beach

Holloway Beach with the Trinity Reserve behind

Joke has mixed memories of Holloway Beach, but a beach is a beach...... :-)

Then we went on to Palm Cove to see how the other half live. Very pretty, lovely beach, but the people generally put me off. You generally live a totally different lifestyle as a caravanner. Never mind, to each his own.

Taylor Point, south of Palm Beach

Jetty at Palm Beach with Double Island behind

Palm Beach and its citizens

The weather seemed to be ambivalent about putting on a real good downpour. While it was dithering we scooted along unwetted.

On the road to Port Douglas - Macalister Range from Rex Lookout

Setting up for hang gliding at Rex Lookout

Leaving the showers behind

As we drove along the James Cook Highway (mysteriously pronounced James Crook by our Selina, along with Port Dougl-ass), Joke glanced sideways into the Mowbray River and saw a crocodile lazing in the shadows.

Not real, you say? Well I could hardly take my hands off the steering wheel to take a picture!

Our only real live one to date.

We crossed the Daintree on the ferry..

The Daintree Ferry

The cable mechanism

"Don't draw attention to me, you idiot! I didn't buy a ticket!"

..and drove on past the lookout over the Daintree River..

Left: Mt Alexander foothills and Snapper Island

Right: The Dagmar Range with the Main Coastal Range behind

Front centre: Yours truly and the Missus

The mouth of the Daintree

..until we reached the Daintree Discovery Centre. This was an excellent place to visit. Very well laid out, very well documented with both written and audio guides. And the rainforest canopy is just marvellous to observe. It’s mayhem in there, as everything climbs and grows over the backs of everything else – such a riot of forms and shapes. It was good to be able to identify things using the guides – which also alerted us to things we would otherwise not have noticed.

Daintree rainforest

What is it?

Everything is trying to catch a ray of sunshine

Hitching a ride on the big tree - and creating a nice pattern too.

Large fern from above

The rainforest canopy - where the winners live!

Just a nice tree

Elkhorn

It was getting late when we wrenched ourselves away and drove on the last 25 kms or so to Cape Tribulation. For such a remote area, it was very busy. We had a quick look on the beach, took a picture or two, and then headed back south.

Cape Tribulation

Joke on the beach at Cape Tribulation

Mangroves on beach at Cape Tribulation

Paper bark tree

Daintree River in the late afternoon

We needed to do some grocery shopping, and we had noticed that they don’t have long hours in Cairns, so we needed to get back to Mossman before closing time. Which we did, just.