Dr Bob' last day in Kuranda

This was a really lost day with not much of any significance happening. 

Well that is not quite true, as Maureen was successfully picked up from the airport and also we had a wonderful spit roast dinner followed by plum pudding and custard.

Apart from this it was a matter of going shopping and packing up.

Tomorrow is another day as we will be heading north at last.

Dr Bob - Sunday: second last day in Kuranda

Check the oil, water etc.  Look underneath for anything loose - both car and van. Change fuel filter. Car wouldn't start. Prime fuel filter. Car would start. Fill water tanks. Make shopping list for tomorrow. Do the washing. Drive to Wilsons Lookout. Light the fire. Have tea . Go to bed.

Well actually there was a little more to the day.

Firstly, Duds and Lorraine were up early, had everything out of the car and repacked ready for the Cape before we could get our table set up. Not a swear word was heard, although Ian did say later that didn't mean there weren't any. Things  unravelled slightly when Lorraine tried to get the shower and toilet from the ensuite on to the roof rack. Apparently the whole episode was a breeze, and room was even found for Maureen.

Another little incident occurred whilst we were sitting outside a coffee shop, having coffee of course, when a tribe of Japanese students went past, ushered on by a very serious overseer or teacher,  into Foodworks a few shops down the road. A few minutes later a lost looking female Japanese student was passing the same way, and I thought I would be a good Aussie, so pointed to Foodworks and said "they have all gone in there". She gave me a big smile, along with a bewildered look, nodded her head and said something in Japanese, walked a few steps down the road which she then crossed and walked back the way she had come. Poor girl must have thought I was a bit weird!

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Dr Bob from Kuranda -again

Short note today: We all went to Port Douglas for the day. On the way we stopped at Thala Resort and the Osprey Restaurant for coffee -WOW what a place !!!!
They also had a large  number  of coconuts lying on the lawns for all the tourists to pick up and take home (it probably saves the staff the job). Quite a sight seeing all these grey nomads flitting around the coconut groves pinching coconuts, then it was on to the foreshore and the deck of the Tin Shed, overlooking the bay and mangrove lined shore line. 
We had salt and pepper squid with chips, prawn salad and mussels in a herb and tomato broth - some had a Strawberry blonde cocktail, another a white wine and others beer. We have circumstantial evidence that some of our close friends, whilst traversing the roads of Victoria, had McDonalds and coke, for their lunch -- (poor buggers). 
The women then had a little stroll along the shops, stopping at the "nothing more than $22" shop and trying on everything in the shop--half a dozen blokes standing around outside trying not to look bored.
After a couple of little stops on the way home it was back to camp to light the fire and open the coconuts.
Tomorrow is a special day as the Bills and Widdowson's are going to set up a table with wine and nibbles and the video camera and watch closely whilst the Dudley's try and get enough camping gear, food, water, clothes, bedding and alcohol to last them 3-4weeks, plus three people into their car,  as a practice run for next Tuesday!

A couple of old grey nomads sucking on coconuts!

Barron Falls

Camping spot at Kuranda

Dr Bob reporting yet again from rainy North Queensland

Yes it poured all night and there was a slight and intermittent drizzle up here in the mountain during the day, however we all went to Cairns - our separate ways.

Rob and Ruth: found our way to the CBA and picked up my debit card which we had organised from Mt Isa to be sent over-- the other one was rejected whilst paying for the diesel at Mt Isa (out of date).

Then it was down to the Esplanade and find the Information  Centre to get some info on Cape York but didn't get any more than we already had. However they pointed us in the right direction to find the Regional Art Centre, which was a little disappointing and the items in their shop very expensive.

Then across to the Pier Centre, what a big shock it turned out to be. When we were here about 12 years ago it was a new vibrant centre full of people and upmarket shops but now was dark with an absence of people and only a few uninteresting shops, although there were restaurants along the board walk.

Sushi for lunch then back to the car where the navigator fell asleep (had a very sleepless last night) so it was back up the mountain.

 I thought I would follow the signs to Barron River Falls lookout as we came into Kurandra, and whilst the navigator slept, I took the board walk to the lookout only to find out it was the same lookout we stopped at yesterday on the train!!!!

Barry and Sandra: straight to the Telstra shop were the errant iPad was resurrected by reloading Gmail and the last 15 emails suddenly appeared. Then a visit to Cairns Central shopping centre, a visit to Rays Outdoors for a gas fitting, fish and chips at the pub, then a drive down to Yorkies Knob to see if it had changed since they were last there as part of an ocean cruise. Baz and Sandy went to the same lookout as I did but managed to get a photo of a train coming into the siding.

Ian and Lorraine: at the time of writing no sign of them. Police will be called if they haven't returned after the pubs close. Whoops !!!!!! they have just driven in.

They went to the casino for lunch: 3 - lamb chops for $14.50 and a rib eye steak for $14.00 and no it wasn't 'seniors day'. More interesting Lorraine went to move the car, thus avoiding a parking ticket, whilst Duds kept on playing  the  pokies, but there was a communication issue because they both 

waited where they were, hoping the other would turn up, which of course didn't happen. Lorraine 

eventually found Duds wandering along the Esplanade looking some what non-plussed. 

Then it was off to Autobarn for those elusive fittings for the roof rack and a stop at Spotlight for a button for Lorraine's knickers which kept coming undone.

On the way home Lorraine devised a plan to do away with the rather windy mountain road --a bulldozer and many billions of dollars I think she was hoping for. (Every tree and bush here has 'heritage listing' so don't like her chances).

All in all, we had a fruitful day and by the time we got home the sun was shinning.

Until next time.

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Dr Bob reporting from Kuranda - Part 2

Thursday 

Today was a 'tourist' day -- yes it is a tourist town so it wasn't a surprise move.

Into town and down to Sky Rail to book our return trip - down on the 2:00pm train and back up on the Sky Rail. So in a tourist town what do you for 4 hrs whilst waiting for the train? You wander and look and browse and shop and drink coffee and have lunch and then catch the train. We only bought a kangaroo skin pouch for Lulu and a gorgeous print  for Ruth.

The shops are full of what  look like chinese made souvenirs and I have no idea how any of them make a living. We did see some lovely photos in a gallery: the photographer died at 49 years old and all photos were  done on film, so no photoshop and were amazing (amazingly expensive as well).

The train trip down was the same as last time except then we didn't have a man behind us who entertained HIS fellow passengers by talking for an hour and a half in a loud voice--most annoying, but at the end I did  congratulate him and shook his hand for his effort (but I don't believe he picked up the sarcasm).

Then a quick trip on the shuttle bus to Sky Rail and a fascinating ride across the tops of the rain forrest in a gondola, but only saw one bird for the whole trip and no crocs in the Barron River, which we crossed at a great height.

And believe or not it has rained today!!!!!!!

We also got back to a reassuring email from Jen, after her visit to a very expensive doctor. 

Bye from rainy Queensland.

Dr Bob reporting from Kuranda

Wednesday

We are now in Kuranda where we have booked in for 6 days. The Savannah Way was not what we thought it would be, so we have ended up here a bit earlier than planned.

It was only a few kms to the mango winery (Golden  Drop) where you can sample six drinks, including dry, medium or sweet wine, mango port and liqueur plus various other fruit liqueurs or/and sparkling mango wine.!!!!!!! -all for $5 if you didn't buy anything. Needless to say we didn't pay for the samples. We are planning to leave all our alcohol in the Dudley's van whilst up the Cape, but Ian is telling us not much more will fit.

Having set up camp in the caravan park, five of us went for a walk down to the river, but ended up in town, arriving there about 3.30pm just as everything was shutting up. By 4:00pm the place was empty. Apparently once the last train and sky-rail has gone the place becomes some what dead.

Barry waited for me whilst I did a few sciatic nerve stretches and the others walked down to the station to get a timetable. They walked back up the other side of the road, so we missed them,  and waited for half an hour or so whilst they were back in camp - can't trust anyone  any more!

Lorraine would like everyone to know that she managed to get 32 channels on her TV with out any help!!!!!!!

Let's see what tomorrow brings

Dr Bob reporting from far North Queensland

Tuesday

Actually we are in the same place as yesterday--Granite "Gorge".

Yesterday we all did the short walk, heaving and pulling the girls over the rocks, so today Barry and I decided to be macho and do the long walk which was much more difficult. As we finished we felt very self righteous; that is until we looked behind us to find a young Austrian couple and their two daughters, who were about 3 and 4 years old, trotting along behind us.

The afternoon was spent being tourists visiting the highlights of Mareeba - like Rivers for a pair of sandals and the Reject Shop for odds and ends. We did get to the information centre which had an interesting historical museum attached to it and of course had a cup of coffee at Coffee Works (too late for the tour).

Then it was home, light the fire, have nibbles, drink wine, cook tea, have a shower and go to bed!!!-- a bit like yesterday and in fact every day for the last month.