Tuesday 19th September 2006

A Ferry Tale on the Daintree

Cape Tribulation beach

Cape Tribulation - Visitors by boat

Well yesterday was a bit of a record for us as we not only left the caravan park on our days journey a little earlier than we had planned, but we arrived home about 3 minutes earlier than expected as well. This must be the first time we have been early at both ends of a days activities.

We were up before 6a.m. and in the Patrol and on the road by 6:50a.m., beating our schedule departure time of 7a.m. by ten minutes. Our aim was to drive straight up to Cape Tribulation before our first stop as we had been to all the (well a good number of them) tourist sites up as far as the Rainforest Discovery Centre on our drive up there last Sunday. We made it through Mossman, onto the ferry over the Daintree River without being eaten by any crocodiles, however the girls spotted a roadside stall selling bananas as we drove off the ferry and as they were only five dollars per kilo we had to stop and purchase a kilo each. With the bananas safely packed on board we were on the road again and continued through the Daintree Rainforest, past the Daintree Discovery Centre and on through Cape Tribulation until we came to the car park of Cape Tribulation beach where we stopped for about 20 minutes or so.

As we walked down the path to the beach we noticed some people looking into the rainforest and on investigation we discovered that they were looking at cassowary that was foraging on the forest floor. Although he didn't pose for us we were able to watch him (or it could have been her) for a short time, but it was difficult to get photographs due to the density of the foliage he was in. We continued onto the beach which would be just like you could see on pamphlets advertising tropical resorts, with the exception that the water was a little brown, not the crystal clear blue that we might expect. It appears this is caused by the shallow water and large tides that stir the bottom up as they roll in to the beach. At the end of the beach we strolled up on to a boardwalk which follows around the headland a little to a viewing platform which gave a view of the beach and of Cape Tribulation itself. After a few photographs we made our way back to the patrol and set off again in a northerly direction towards Cooktown.

It was only a few hundred metres before we left the sealed road and started on our journey through the Daintree Forest on the Bloomfield track. After about seven kilometres we came to a sign that said four-wheel-drive only passed this point, and that was just prior to Emmagen Greek. This was the first of quite a few creeks that we had to cross in which there was water flowing and the roadway was made up of some fairly rough loose stone, however although a four-wheel-drive made it easier we did not find any need to engage four-wheel drive to get through the creeks.

The rainforest around these creeks and on the mountain sides was really quite magnificent and made this journey along the Bloomfield track well worth while. Along the way we crossed Tachalbadga, Collins, Woobadda, and Thompson Creeks as well as climbing some very steep grades on the side of some mountains, and of course that meant traveling down the other side.

About 32 kilometres after leaving Cape Tribulation we came to the Bloomfield River and an aboriginal community called Wujal Wujal. From here we continued North passing through the small towns of Bloomfield and Ayton, then Ceder Bay National Park before arriving at Rossville. This was a 34 kilometre stretch of road which varied from freshly graded reasonable roadway to two concrete wheel tracks winding through the forest and the creeks. From here it was only another 13 kilometres through Hellenvale until we reached the Cooktown Development Road which is commonly known as the inland road which travels from Mareeba through to Cooktown. This section of road from here through Cooktown was some of the best Queensland sealed road we have traveled on since arriving and crossing the border into Queensland down south of Charleville. This last 28 kilometres of roadway took us through Black Mountain National Park and on to Cooktown where we arrived at about 12:20 p.m.

After arriving in Cooktown, we did a bit of a cooks tour of the town and imprinted the views we saw in digital images, then it was time to stop in a local park as after all the exercise and bouncing up and down in the patrol coming through the rainforest, the girls decided they needed food. This was accomplished in fairly short time, maybe assisted by the glass of white wine they used to assist in the digestion of the smoked chicken and salad sandwiches. Then their next priority was to visit the local souvenir shop in their effort to assist the local economy, which they manage to do without any major difficulties.

By this time it was near enough to 2 p.m. and time to leave town and head back towards Cairns once more. On the return journey we used the Cooktown developmental highway to Lakeland Downs, then continued on to Palmer River roadhouse where there was extreme pressure placed on the driver to pull in there because the girls had seen a sign that stated there were ice creams for sale. It would have taken a braver man than the 'Other One' not to give in to their demands (although they claim they were just suggestions).

On the road once again, with chocolate covered ice cream in hand, we continued south until we reached Bobs Lookout where we made a very brief stop to take some photographs. This was the last stop on our journey for the day and we continued on down south through Mount Carbine and Mount Molloy to Mareeba where we turned east and traveled through Kuranda and down the mountains through Smithfield, then on through Cairns to the caravan park where we arrived at about three minutes to 6 p.m., which was about three minutes earlier than an hour schedule for the day.

We had traveled almost 600 kilometres during the day, much of that fairly slowly and on some very windy and sometimes rough tracks and we had been on the road for about 11 hours. The drive, particularly through the Bloomfield track was a great success and well worth the days effort. However our main aim at this time of the day was dinner and bed, so the website took a back seat for the night and had to be completed in the morning. Happy hour really was happy and maybe it was the shortest one since cousin Judy had joined us. Tomorrow is to be a quiet day as we catch up with things to be done before moving on down to Townsville on Thursday.

Wednesday 20th September 2006

Our last full day in Cairns was a very quiet one as far as tourist activity went, however we just didn't seem to get time to complete any of the things that we wanted to before heading off to Townsville. The anticipated sleep in only lasted until around 7:a.m. and then as the sun was out early it was a case of lining up for use of the caravan park washing machines so we could wear clothes again... or maybe that should read clean clothes. While 'One of Us' was having her shower and making herself beautiful, the 'Other One' was slaving away in the laundry, well at least for a few minutes, fighting women for washing machines.

With the washing in control (Pammy says that was because she took over) there was time to stop and watch Steve Irwin's celebration of life on Channel Seven which was a very moving event. The girls almost emptied a tissue box and although people may think he was crazy for doing the things he did, he has done more for the preservation of wildlife and has a greater impact on the way people see natures animals than anyone in the past. We wish his family all the best in the future and by Crikey, we will be visiting his Australia Zoo when we get down there.

It was time to start on the website for the previous day and this simple task turned out to be a major undertaking. The days entry itself was a long one as we had been so far and seen a lot, but even when the page was completed, the task of uploading it became a real drama even though it should have been very simple. Well it was then time to put on the Sherlock Holmes hat and find out why they were not loading onto the server and after trying everything we could think of and testing all sorts of methods it still wouldn't upload, so it was time to contact the hosting service. As we would be using a mobile phone and that costs money to hang on waiting, the communication took place via MSM Messenger and also Skype voice to brother Rex who was able to ring a 1300 number and talk to the technicians at the hosting service. As it turned out we have included so many images and other content that the website has grown beyond the authorised size of the hosting service, even though the control panel still told us we had room to spare. Once the cause was discovered, the Hosting Service staff offered a very suitable solution and within an hour or so we were back in business again. Well I don't know about business because that might imply we might get paid for the website and that is certainly not that case.

While all that was going on we also visited the local shopping centre, filled the Patrol up with fuel again and topped up the girls supply of white wine. Then it was Happy Hour which was shortened a little as we had to attend the caravan park cafe/restaurant for a buffet evening meal. The girls insisted we take a bottle of Brown Brothers Croution Riesling with us but you can be sure that bottle didn't return. Notice there is no mention of a bottle of red. (The 'Other One' has no intention of mentioning Wolf Blass Shiraz Cabernet!!)

By the time we had wined and dined, it was time to call it a day so we all went our own way and did what we had to do, that reads... the girls went to bed and the 'Other One' had to complete the website for today and numerous (well some) other things before he could retire for the night Tomorrow morning it is pancakes for breakfast then on the road with the caravan as we head for Townsville for three nights.

It was a moving day today... That was after we packed up the rest of the caravan gear and then had a pancake breakfast provided by the caravan park. This was enjoyed whilst we were sitting around the swimming pool. Once again we sat with a couple of fellow West Australians, One was almost 93 and the other one was well into her 80's. They were an inspiration as one of them drove around Australia in a Volvo car when she was 75 years old and they stayed in YOUTH HOSTELS... What amazing ladies.

After breakfast we managed to get out on the Bruce Highway by about 9:30a.m. with the caravan securely hitched up and following the patrol down the road. Our journey was not all that eventful as we drove through Innesfail and continued on down the highway until we came to Tully where we turned into the town centre and stopped briefly while the girls gave the 'Other One' a lesson on what a 'Big Boot' really looks like. Understanding the meaning of that information he kept his mouth closed and just did as he was told for the rest of the day. After driving up through the main street, we then found our way back onto the Bruce Highway and turned south once again. At this time 'Miss Bossy' (navman) kept telling us to do a 'U' turn for some reason, wanting us to head back towards Cairns. I accept that women change their mind, but when an electronic device with a female voice tells the 'Other One' that she wants to return to Cairns, he feels that his opinion doesn't seem to count for much these days. Fortunately 'Miss Bossy' has a switch that allows her to be turned off so he did gain some revenge and felt good when he pressed that button.

After Tully we continued south to Cardwell where we made a quick stop to take a photo of the Cardwell 'Muddy' crab which also featured in our trip up the Queensland coast in 2004. It was then on past Hinchinbrook Island and down the highway until we came to a short range of hills that had a lookout at the top where we pulled over and took the short walk along the side of the hill to a point where we could see out over the plains and river to the North, to an area we believe is Hinchinbrook.

Back on the road again again for a while then we turned off the highway into Jourama National Park where we drove over a couple of creeks before we stopped in a very pleasent camping area and enjoyed a salad sandwich for lunch. Then it was back out to the highway again and the rest of the days journey was made without any further stops. This took us through Rollingstone and Toolakea before arriving in Townsville.

As we arrived in Townsville, we found 'Miss Bossy' chucked a tantrum again and refused to show us the way to the caravan park, so she was calmly (trust me) turned off again and we navigated our way to the caravan park by previous memories and a little luck. We arrived at the caravan park at about 3:31p.m. and booked in for the next three days. After setting up the caravan we graduated for our Happy Hour to the porch of Judy's cabin that had a great view out over Rowes Bay to Magnetic Island and there was a cooling breeze blowing through the palm trees on the beach front.

Dinner consited of BBQ chops at the caravan after a drama or two with lost keys and a lost person trying to find the caravan, however all worked out in the end and an additional glass of white wine soothed away the previous trauma and by about 9:30pm we were all ready to relax and look for our respective beds. Tomorrow will be a quiet day with a look around Townsville and a climb to the top of Castle Hill (in the Patrol) so we should be full of life and ready to party when Happy Hour arrives tomorrow evening.