Now on the final leg Cairns - Brisbane.

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Hi all
We arrived back in Cairns last Wed 15th after a good flight and found our van back on site , all ready for us. Two lovely fine days followed. We spent them cleaningcar and van, getting provisions, and swimming in the pool. Days are 30 degrees and quite muggy now here. Linda and Denis arrived Saturday night to join us on the next leg. We had the tent up ready for them nearby.
Then the rain came!!! We're not near a rainforest for nothing. At least the tent hasn't leaked - it's certainly been a good try out for it!
Chris' cousin Donald and Patti Hargrave arrived from Noosa (where they're on holiday), on Sunday, to check out our rig. It poured with rain (in fact they were diverted to Townsville until the rain eased enough for them to land at Cairns). We still managed to show them enough, and have a good time too. Their cabin was a more suitable place to have dinner for 6 as the rain continued!! Donald took our car for a short drive on Sunday, and they decided to buy our rig. We will hand over to them in Brisbane , late October. Chris is pleased to sell to someone we know, as we still are more than happy with the whole rig.
Once Donald and Patti left on Sunday we headed up to Kurumba with Denis and Linda. We looked around the shops, and revisited the Barron Falls lookout, then went to the Butterfly Scantuary - the biggest in the world by area. An informative girl showed us around, and even into the lab , where they harvest the eggs and control the lifecycles of the future stock of butterflies.
Tuesday we were up early , and down to Cairns wharf for our day out to the Great Barrier Reef on Ocean Freedom. The day was overcast, with the odd shower, but we all had a great time, snorkelling on the reef in 2 different places. There were lots of different corals and some interesting fish. The water temperature was 27.4 degrees.
Today we again left early and drove north, stopping first at Port Douglas. We continued on, crossing the Daintree River by ferry, and drove up to Cape Tribulation for lunch. The road is now tarsealed all the way there. We had lunch in the same place as we did 10 years ago, on our way up to Cape York. We continued on for a little way on the 4WD section to Lat S 16.1' 40''. Luckily the weather has improved today.
Tomorrow we leave Cairns and start heading south.

Regards
Lynne and Chris

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Photos

shaking on the deal
the new owners of our rig - Donald and Patti

Barron Falls lookout
with Linda and Denis

Christopher the crocodile
Pt Douglas marina mall

Daintree National Park
pretty drive, with weather improving.

Cape Tribulation lunch spot.
same place we had lunch on our way to Cape York, 10 years ago.

lattice work tree
we did a board walk through the mangrove forest at Daintree N.P.

tea tree
we stopped at the same icecream place too.

our birds nesting beside the van
2 birds take turns in sitting on 2 eggs

Comments

[mardi]

keeping in touch
Hello to you both, glad you are back and on the road again......bet you are happy the rig has been sold/one less worry. Would you believe we are still at Gary,s block.....and NO Kama hasn,t had the baby yet.! We ended up moving our camp up near the shed...good and bad move as after all this rain we got bogged in...could,nt stay there especially with Shelby as there was so much mud about plus Kama is now over due so we are staying with my neice in Proserpine (where she will have the baby) while the guys work more on the shed til.......!!!!! When you do get closer to Bowen just text me to see where we are........otherwise have a great time re visiting your fav spots.........untill then enjoy.......Mardi n Bap

[allen moore]

New Launch is on Order!
Hi you lot, Whats this about 27 deg water temp. Next time I am going over when the Mac's go. However nice to see the rig is sold, so on that basis I have ordered your new Launch so that it will be ready for you when you arrive home. Cheers to everone

[allen moore]

Deposit required.
Hi, forgot to mention, all I need now is your deposit cheque for $100,000, I send a photo of the vessel. Cheers, Allen

[Lckiwis]

Rain!
It seems that the Mac's are not to be outdone, they have brought the rain too! Such a pity when we are in nice places. Tonight at Horseshoe Bay, Bowen, eating prawns and fresh pineapple, temp 29 degrees, enjoying a nice wine. All good , except we're missing the sun, most of the time. Hope it's better tomorrow, as we're staying here for 2 nights, and have a lovely beach a few steps away. Cheers, Lynne and Chris

[penny]

catchup
You sound as though you have been having rain a bit like us. Yesterday and hopefully today will be the first rain free days we have had for sometime and long may it continue. Hope you enjoy your last leg of your journey with Linda and Denis. How great is it that Donald and his wife Pattie are buying your rig - takes all the stress out of it!!! Donald doesn't seem to have changed at all from your photo and would know him anywhere. Had Ollie and Ricco for the weekend and they were very good. Ben is having his second birthday today with a little party that seems to have grown to 16 in number the last I heard. Poppy the new dog is settling in and once we have taught her a few more manners she will be fine- I do think she thinks she has died and gone to heaven. Look forward to seeing you back in October. Love Penny and Stu