Have camera will travel

We actually set the alarm to make sure we are up and ready to go by 8, as we have been a little lax and sleeping in.
It looks sunny outside, it is hard to tell, as I can’t see much of the sky through all the palm trees beside our balcony. But who cares, we are in Australia, and it is not snowing or below freezing – sorry I couldn’t help it 🙂
Today we are going on our 4 wheel drive Cape Tribulation and Daintree tour.
We got picked up at 8, and we were off north toward the Daintree. We stopped at Mossman for a quick toilet break for those who got on the Land Cruiser at Cairns, and then off again toward the Daintree River. Time for morning tea and then on to the boat for a ride up and or down the river, to spot crocs. We saw 3, the first one was almost hidden, and he was said to be the meanest, about 5 meters long with a mean disposition, and named Albert. I suggested they throw something at him to wake him up, but that got me a dirty look (well more like a are you stupid look).
So on we went looking at all the mangrove trees, and different palm trees. We spotted a second croc, and she was way smaller, only about 3 meters long. She also ignored us, so we moved along.
The third and final croc was Scareface, and he was about 4.5 meters and about 80 years old, with hardly any teeth, but he could still gum someone to death. He was on the shore and ignored us as well, they must all be very used to the boats stopping and tourists taking their photos.
From there we went up to the ferry landing, and got back on our Land Cruiser and off into the rainforest we drove, all the while looking for Casaury birds – Mathew (out guide), said only about 15% of the people wandering through the Daintree see these birds. They are smaller than and related to the Emu or ostrich, but way brighter in colour, a brilliant blue head, black body. We are in the 15%, we saw 2 of them – ya!!
We stopped and went for a walk in the rainforest and saw a couple of spiders, one was about as big as my hand, and could get as big as a dinner plate. The rain forest is so neat, we didn’t really see any birds.
Now for lunch, a bbq t-bone steak and salads, done perfectly. We stopped for about 1 hour, looked at some kangaroos & wallbys that are being re-abilitated.
Back in the land crusier and off again. Now to a fresh water stream, so some people can have a dip. I took photos of surrounding area. we had Billy tea (tea made in a pot on an open fire (actually a gas fire, as there is a ban on all fires in all parks) – tasted like tea. We also got to try about 10 different tropical fruits – all of them wierd looking, but most tasted ok.
After about 1/2 hr, back on the cruiser and off back southward. We stopped at Cape Tribulation, so we could put our feet in the Coral Sea. Jelly Fish were abound, so nothing more than our foot in the water. Nice looking beach. While we were on Cape Tribulation Beach, we were actually in 2 world Hertiage sites at once – the DainTree Rain Forest and the Great Barrier Reef. Looked at some big bugs, and then off again.
We stopped on the side of the road and looked at some big green bugs that spurted something that smelled like peppermint. Cool looking bug. And off again. This time we stayed on the cruiser and went across the Daintree on the ferry, and onto Port Douglas. SInce we were the last ones picked up this morning we get to be the first ones let off. Thank goodness, the other still had 1 hours drive back to Cairns.
We dragged ourselves up to the room and raced for the shower. It is so humid, that we are soaked. After a cool down, and a download of the photos, we wandered up to the main street to look for something for supper.
We stopped at Rattle & Hum, and had a pizza. Thin crust with a bunch of wierd stuff on it – whole olives, and sun dried tomatoes & other stuff I don’t remember – it was good.
Then we dragedd our sorry butts back to the hotel, grabbed our suits, and went for a cool down in the pool – o so good. When I looked up at the sky through the palm trees, I could see Orion (upside of course). A fine ending to a great day. Up to the room and more tasting of Australian beer.