Cairns - Take 2

Mick & Susie

We arrived in Cairns again for a quick stay over so we could finally get on boarded the HMAS Endeavour.  We also had Shaun, Hayley, Shannon, Mitchell and Connor with us again because they also got into Crystal Cascades again so they could organise the hospital, see Donna and get flights organised for her and one of the boys to go home.  That night we organised enough tea for Shaun and the kids and ourselves.  Susie and Mick had leftovers so they ate with us.  That night it poured in Cairns.  87mls in 5 hrs in our part of Redlynch.  I woke up at 4am to find I had a wet head and that my pillow and the mattress was slowly getting wetter.  There was the finest of crack where the water was constantly dripping.  Not really a very enjoyable way to wake up.  Swapped ends, new pillow and towel over wet mattress so we could finish our sleep.  It will be a drying day for the caravan stuff.  What a pain.

Shannon, Connor, Shaun, Mitchell and Hayley

We left for town to visit the Endeavour and to also go to the movies to see Cars 2.  We decide to go to the movies first.  When we arrive the queue was a mile long.  We got part way down to finally see that the movie was sold out.  We decided to stay in the queue and buy the next session and go to the Endeavour first.  It took us 30 minutes to reach the front of the line.  What a joke.  I told them that also and offered no apology.  Rude and terrible service annoys me.

Anyway of to the Endeavour we did trot.  It was really cool.  Climbing on board to see the replica ship.  The lower deck was crapped and made for very short people.  Nigel had to crawl on his knees to get through to the offices quarters.  As we climbed the steps to Joseph Banks and Captain Cooks quarters we sat in and area for the botanist, medical staff, and artists.  All six men passed away before the journey was completed.  What a hard life they must have had.  The cots that JB and CC slept in were that tiny that at their 6ft height there was no possible way for them to fit in.  JB let his two grey hounds sleep in his cot while he slept on the floor.  What a long journey it must have been.

Aye Aye Captain!

The square block(pig iron) next to light is the only  original
 piece from the Endevour.This piece of ballast was recovered in
1970 with the cannon.

Midshipmen / mates' mess and officers' cabins. 
Not a lot of head room

Marines' bunks

Joseph Banks sleeping quarters



The Great Cabin

The quarter deck!

Back to the movies after a quick bite.  This time I went up to get lollies and popcorn only to be told I have to line up in the queue again.  It didn’t matter that I already been in the queue for ½ an hour I was not allowed to get the popcorn.  Didn’t she get a mouthful.  What atrocious service.  She gave it back to me and I promptly informed her that I would be speaking to her manager.  Nasty witch... that’s the last time I ever go to the movies in Cairns.......hhhaaa jokes on them....  Came back to camp to enjoy a hearty meal of red claw, prawns, Spanish mackerel and scallops.  Yum Yum.  Company was great also.

Said our good Shaun and the family and wished them the best for the remain trip home and parted company with Susie and Mick.  Hoping to catch them further down the track.

Port Douglas

Arrived in Port Douglas to miserable weather.  Cloudy and drizzly.  We looked around the town collected a few groceries and went to the Flagstaff Hill Lookout.  It overlooked the 4 Mile Beach (which is only 3.98miles really).  We found Imagine but with no luck Elisa (friend from high school) was not working there that day so hopefully I will catch up with her another day. 

Our next morning we caught up with Julie Baker from the kids school.  She had been holidaying with her family and was catching her flight back to Geelong later that day.  It was nice to catch up with her and have a chat about local Geelong.  Jordan and Austin also enjoyed seeing Mrs Baker.  From our catch up we drove to Mossman Gorge where we did the boardwalk and circuit walk.  It was very pretty in the lower Daintree National Park.  Knowing it is the old rainforest in the world makes it even more special.  The water at the gorge was that rainforest green.  Clear and inviting.  No bathers this time but a paddle in the shallows was still lovely.  The trees and vines were amazing and the buttress roots were just beautiful.  

Butress Roots.

Quiet reflection

Our afternoon took us on a journey down the Daintree River with Bruce Belcher. He has been running the tours on the river for over 20 years. We saw many amazing creatures including a green tree python, amethystine python, azure kingfisher, 2 frogmouth owls,a Brahman kyte and several crocodiles. One in particular was called Scoota a 3 metre croc. It was a very interesting afternoon and the kids really enjoyed seeing crocs in their natural environment.

All aboard the crocodile hunting boat

Green tree snake

Our first croc in the wild

Azura Kingfisher

Scooter the 4metre croc

Croc spotter!

Croc captain - Bruce Belcher

Ginger flower

Our following day took us to Cape Tribulation.  We caught the ferry across the Daintree River then stopped at Mt Alexander Lookout.  The clouds were still low so the visibility was not all that fantastic.  We completed several walks include the Jindalba Boardwalk.  We almost got to see a cassowary and her chicks but the boys were being too loud and scared them further in the scrub.  The man in front was not impressed with the boys and neither was I.  I really wanted to see them also...oh well maybe next time.  We stopped for lunch at a seaside eatery on Thorton Beach then continued our drive up to Cape Tribulation.  When we arrived we were a little let down.  All it was were 2 information centres and nothing much else.  The beach was pretty but nothing spectacular and the boardwalk around Myall Beach was very knocked around, by far the lower Daintree was in better condition than this part of the coast.  We sat on Myall Beach and walked along Kulki Beach and visited the lookout.   When we arrived back at Glenngary Caravan Park we found the family from Taralgon there also.  We first met them at Cairns.  We chatted for ages and told them all about our trip to Mossman Gorge  and how lovely it had been and that we were a little disappointed with Cape Trib.  They had a similar experience at Cape Trib also.  Sean, Donna and the kids were very nice and we made plans to catch up for drinks before we left Port Douglas.

Mt Alexander Lookout

Vines growing on ancient trees

Jindalba Boardwalk

Thorton Beach

Kulki Beach from Lookout

Ferry crossing on the Daintree River

The vessel we will be going out on (taken the day before)

Our final day in Port was a trip out to the Reef.  The kids were looking forward to it and I was also.  The weather again was miserable.  We were picked up in a coach and taken to the marina were we boarded Quicksilver VI.  On boarding we were given the option to get off and rebook because they were expecting lots of rough seas with 35km winds...they were even dishing out sea sickness tables for free.  I think it was evident that this trip could be interesting....particularly with Jordan as we know that windy roads make her sick.  We got almost 40minutes into the trip when the one of the cabin crew rushed over with a cold neck cloth and ice in a cup and a sick bag for Jordan.  She had noticed here turn a shade of green and knew what was next.  Luckily the cold cloth and ice worked as she was able to keep her breakfast down.

Quiet before the storm!

When we arrived at the reef we decided to eat lunch first which was lovely.  Lots to choose from.  After lunch we boarded the pontoon on Agincourt Ribbon Reef were we kitted ourselves up with snorkels, flippers, face masks and life jackets for the kids.  Austin and Jordan were excited about getting in but Kaleb was very unsure.  He did get in but was not very sure of the water at all.  He hated the face mask and snorkel so ditched them early.  He same a small way out and got to swim with the fish.  Jordan, Austin and I ventured further out but the seas were pretty rough so we stayed close to the pontoon.  We saw amazing coral but wish that we could see the vibrant reds, oranges and pinks.  If only the water did not filter out the red UV light!  The fish were amazing and we got to watch the fish feeding up close.  That was spectacular.  We took a journey in the semi submersible which was a little rough at times and so a larger area of the reef.  Nigel went in for a second paddle this time having to wear a stinger suit because they had found 3 jellyfish in the water earlier.  Oh didn’t he look a treat.   Our journey home was a good one up until about 15 minutes out when Jordan again turned green.  Still not sick just queasy.  We all had a lovely day out on the reef.  It would have been amazing if only the weather had been better.  Oh well that’s the luck of it.

Arriving at the pontoon

While getting the kids ready for bed we got a knock on the door.  Shaun had call by to ask about our day on the reef and to tell us about their day at Mossman Gorge.  The poor bloke had his wife Donna taken to Cairns hospital with a dislocated ankle and with 2 breaks.  He had to hold her leg still for over 2 hours while waiting for the ambulance.  His whole family were a little shell shocked by the incident.  I think having us there to talk to was a big help.  We felt bad because we had recommend that they go there for a look.  The last time we tell someone that. As if!  We loved Mossman Gorge...this time it goes with a warning.... wear suitable footwear and take it easy on the tracks they are very slippery. 

We’re off to Cairns again tomorrow.  This time we will be catching the Endeavour.  We keep missing it at every port but not this time.

Cooktown

We got off from Cairn to head for Cooktown right on 10am.  It was going to be a long journey for the kids because it will be one of the first long journals in awhile.  We took the journey via the inland trek was around 360kms.  We made several stops along the way including Mareeba to look at the Diesel Ford Territory, Mt Molloy for lunch at the rest stop and Lakeland Roadhouse to fuel up.  The trip was different and very interesting with spectacular scenery.  It was very pretty.

The step Queen Elizabeth II used when visiting Cooktown

Captain James Cook Monument

Site of the Endevour being beached

We stayed in Cooktown for 3 nights. Our first day in Cooktown we took in the sights. Visiting many of the landmarks. We saw the spot the queen stepped onto the shores of Cooktown, the place where Captain Cook run aground the Endeavour. We visited the JC Museum and saw the anchor and cannon form the Endeavour and went to the Grassy Hill Lookout for sunset. The kids played on the musical ship which was really interesting also. The entire ship was made from recycled plastic and the instruments included a xylophone, drums, and wind pipes. Really amazing and lots of fun for the kids. We had lunch at the Bowls Club and Nigel had to wear the most attractive shirt because he was not allowed to wear his singlet. It was the ugliest thing out!

Nigel and his very UGLY shirt



Confusius say F#@$ U pointed out by Austin

Sunset over Cooktown - Grassy Hill Lookout

Willie Gordon our guide

Our next day we took a drive up the bitumen to the outer edge of the Hope Vale Aboriginal Community.  Here we meet Willy Gordan our aboriginal elder who took us around their land to show us rock art and to learn about bush medicine. Gurrbi Tour was very interesting.  The stories and information in which Willy share with us was really amazing.  We saw the birth site of their tribe and follow a bush track to other amazing sites.  Willy was great with the kids and took them around the area to show them other interesting things.  It was a very amazing day.  We all thoroughly loved it.  We were going to drive into the community but decided against it when we realised we had JB cans in the Engel.  The thought of a $75,000 fine and the car being impounded was not one we wished to deal with.  We drove to Isabella Falls where we decide the car did not want to tackle the river crossing so I waded across the river and took some lovely shots of the waterfall.  I completely forgot the crocodiles live in the rivers in this area......but thankfully this is not one of them...all safe to swim in. Phew.

The birth of a baby

The site of the birthing area.  Chosen because of the rainbow serpent head at
the opening of the cave.

Jordan doing a magic trick with Willie

Isabella Falls

Our journey out of Cooktown took us back down the same path we came.  We stopped off at Black Mountain.  A very strange mountain made entirely of granite rocks that have weather to turn black.  Hence its name.  They really are very striking against the landscape.  It is believed to have bad spirits so the Aboriginals’ do not visit the area.  When we turned towards Mt Carbine a big black cloud loomed in the distance.  As we drove closer we headed straight into miserable weather for our next few stops.