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Published: June 12th 2010
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Cassowary
These birds are endangered. Like many other animals in Australia they look other-worldly. We had to switch sites in our latest caravan park in Cairns. Why? Because the huge tree above us came into bloom. And with the flowers came hundreds of rainbow lorikeets who feed on the nectar. We didn't mind them - they go to sleep (and go quiet) at dark every night. But what bothered us was the fruit bats we could see crawling around the flowers at dusk. They're so huge and we (okay, Barry) didn't want to have to climb up onto the motorhome roof to wash off guano before we take it back.
We spent several days in Cairns enjoying the town and the golf courses. The town isn't very busy at all. Everybody keeps telling us that we planned our trip just right getting to the tropics in winter. Sometimes we get really cloudy days but the temperature is always a nice 27 or 28C. We decided not to do the third snorkel, though, and went through the Cairns Botanic Gardens instead. They're really old and really beautiful. It was neat seeing plants that we grow as houseplants growing eight feet tall here in the rain forest.
We decided to spend our last few days
On Alert
They've become quite brave but they still stand up on alert if you walk too close. in Australia exploring Port Douglas which is an hour's drive north from Cairns. We drove the long route through the mountains two days ago. It was interesting seeing signs that read, "Watch for Cassowaries". In Australia cassowaries only live in the rain forest of Northern Queensland. Once we got through the mountains we drove through miles more of sugar cane fields, mango and lychee nut fields, and more bananas. And termite hills! They're gigantic, many are seven feet tall, and there are hundreds of them dotted along the road and throughout the fields of scrub. They're rock hard so must survive years of rains in the wet season.
Yesterday we stopped in the small town of Mareeba so Barry could golf. The golf course advertises itself by saying, "You may find it hard to concentrate on golf because you'll be so fascinated by all the kangaroos on the course". I didn't even drive the cart today; I was too busy taking pictures. The golf course is really flat so we could see all around. There had to be upwards of a hundred kangaroos, in family groups, skipping around under the trees. And as soon as it got to be
Scary Termite Hill
Nobody was home. We don't think so, anyway. noon and started to heat up they gathered under bigger shade trees, laid down and went to sleep. We were told the numbers of roos change from day to day because they come and go from surrounding fields. They do no damage to the course itself and the people in the clubhouse enjoy them being there as much as the players do.
We had our first 'almost' emergency of our entire trip while at the golf course. Long story short, we (this is the Royal we) accidentally locked my knapsack into the storage compartment with the golf clubs - the knapsack that contained the keys to drive the motorhome. The only thing that saved our bacon (and $140 to a locksmith) is that I had the key to the door of the 'house' in my pocket. We were able to get in, completely dismantle our bed, and get to the knapsack beneath the slatted floor. Whew.
We're in Port Douglas now where we'll spend our last three nights in Australia. Today was a fabulous day. My favourite thing to do is go to a market and we found a Saturday market in the nearby town of Mossman. This
Barry At Uluru
Uluru felt really magical to us. The colours are amazing in the early morning. afternoon, in Port Douglas, we took a paddle-wheel tour on the Dixon Inlet and saw three huge salt-water crocodiles. The temperature is a few degrees cooler than it is in the summer and crocs don't like to be cold. They climb out of the water and soak in the sunshine on the beach under the mangrove trees. Port Douglas is a gorgeous little town; we felt like we were in Florida or Hawaii today.
While we were visiting the beach near the centre of town Barry built an inukshuk out of beach rocks. He placed it where the incoming tide wouldn't reach it but far enough out that kids won't kick it apart too soon. He says it's his gift to Australia. The inukshuk is a welcoming symbol and in our case it'll be our parting gift.
We've had such an amazing time. We loved spending time with our friends, both old and new, and we know we'll see them all again in Canada. We've felt so comfortable in this country for this great length of time and hope we can come back again to explore the north and western coast in the next few years.
We
Riding Hannah
We had a hilarious time riding Hannah. She just wanted to get home for dinner. fly to Vancouver on June 15th. By the time we get there it will be 15th all over again and, although it'll be a really long day, we're going to get home to Fanny Bay that same day. I imagine we'll need lots of sleep but we won't be awakened by kookaburras or lorikeets (sadly). Cameron and his new fiance Jen are planning a September wedding so we'll have that exciting occasion to plan for.
When I started this travel journel blog I didn't know how to attach photos. Being in the Outback at Uluru and riding a camel at Alice Springs were special so I'm adding those photos now. I hope all you friends and family appreciate that now you don't have to pretend to want to come over to our house to see our travel photos!
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Jackie Scott
non-member comment
Finally!
I finally got your blog address and read that you are home already! So I read all of them anyway. They were wonderful and you did a great job doing it all. You are so clever with computers. Sounds like you had a wonderful time, a memory you will never forget - Bob and I still take out our journal every couple of years and read what was going on that day 17 years ago. Call us when you are well rested. love Jackie