Saturday, January 3, 2009

Friday January 2nd, 2009 - Cairns to Townsville

This morning we awoke early and prepared to set out from Cairns. We drove through areas of sugar cane, bananas, rain forest and some cattle land, all the while – never too far from the ocean! We had heard of a brand new Rainforest Canopy walkway a little south of Cairns, so after a bit of research we set our course – with Townsville – 354KM away. We headed south along the Bruce Highway through Edmonton, Gordonvale, and at 9:15 we headed in land a bit to Josephine Falls which was part of the Wooroonoonran National Park. We walked from the parking area into the three viewpoints for the falls. One of the park wardens warned us about the slippery rocks that were around the pool; apparently many folks love to climb over the rocks to bath in the pools. We promised we would not likely partake in that activity – though it was tempting given the 31 C temperature. It is a beautiful waterfall with a vast array of plants and a few unique animals like this little gecko and this rather large spider.
On our way to our next stop we saw a sign ‘Bananas for Sale’ – we stopped at the wayside stand and there were bags of bananas at $2.00 per Kg and papayas for $1 and limes for 50 cents. No attendant at the stand, just a box for you to drop your funds in for goods purchased – on the honour system. We picked up some bananas and papaya, paid our $3.00 and went on our way. While we were there a truck pulled up, a gentleman got out, dropped some coins in the box, picked up his bananas and drove off. Delightful.
We then got back into the car and headed back to the Bruce Highway, then a few kilometres further down the road we again headed in land to the Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walkway. This was named for the Mamu which is an Aboriginal tribe in the area. It is a new and beautiful facility that just opened in September of 2008, set up by the Environmental Protection Agency. The park is comprised a 2.5 km trail which includes a 40 m long Cantilver viewpoint, a 350 m long elevated walkway that runs up to 15 m high and meanders through the rainforest from the ground up to the canopy level, and a 37m tower with a top viewing deck and spectacular rainforest views. We spent about an hour and a half wandering through the park and then enjoyed a cup of coffee with Susan who runs the coffee wagon just outside the park. Throughout our walk, the sun had been shining and the temperature soaring. No sooner had we got back into our car, but the skies opened up and it poured rain. This did not stop Barb from taking a picture of this fabulous tree. It is a tall tree with red spikes at the top! If someone knows the name, we would be very appreciative. We have not seen this anywhere else.
Then we were on the road again. We picked up a salad and stopped at a wayside stop between rainstorms.
By 6 PM we arrived in Townsville and headed for the coast. We drove down The Strand and found a nice little motel room for a reasonable price. ‘The Strand’ is a shoreline walk that starts just a ½ a block from our motel and goes about 1.5 km SE along the shore of Cleveland Bay (the Pacific Ocean). The town has done a very good job of making a wonderful family oriented area. At the north end is large wading-swimming pool that is a beautiful, warm, ocean filled saltwater pool. At two other places there has been a swimming area roped off into the bay. The beach is lovely and sandy, and well utilized during daylight and evening hours. There was also the odd sculpture or two; this one is ‘silver coconuts’ which are located – where else – under a coconut palm. We were walking down The Strand as the sun set, just in view of a lovely wharf, when we suddenly realised that a string of blue lights came on. This picture was taken on our return walk a few hours later. There are also little blue lights at every intersection of the walkway through the length of The Strand. As we walked along The Strand we noticed a long of the young people riding on what looked like a skate board – except that it has only two wheels and bends in the middle. It is propelled forward by rocking back and forth between the feet (we think). Someone told us they can be found on the internet, or bought locally for $150 AU. We figured our grandchildren would have great fun with them. Anyway – this is a one night stand – so we will say good-night – post this in the morning, then head out further down the East coast of Australia.

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