Internet service prior to today has been essentially non-existent. Quality lodgings that claimed they had free wifi were unable to deliver and didn't offer any remedies. Anyway, I'm way behind on my postings, so I'll pick it up here, but there are several more to follow.
After leaving Airlie Beach, we drove north to Cairns. Along the way, we saw a large flock of Magpie geese.
We also stopped in Townsville to visit Reef HQ (click here for their web site), which is devoted to helping its visitors better understand the Great Barrier Reef. In addition to great aquarium displays, they give talks on various aspects of the reef. We first listened to an excellent one on all of the dangerous creatures that can ruin a reef visit. This goes well beyond sharks to include jelly fish, fish with poisonous spines, sea snakes, and a type of seemingly tame seashell that can harbor a nasty little stinging inhabitant. The second talk was on their sea turtle hospital. This included a chance to see first hand a few of the turtles they are rehabilitating. One of the funniest things I've ever seen has to do with the fact that these creatures have a very sensitive shell. They absolutely love to have their backs scratched with a stiff bristle brush. This guy shimmied side to side and showed no end of pleasure with the scratching. It was quite funny.
Unexpected was our finding this rescued sea turtle being brought to the hospital. We encountered this as we left Reef HQ. It had come onshore twice--something it should not do. They were worried that they wouldn't be able to do much for it but were preparing to try. One of the biggest problems with these creatures is that they love to eat jellyfish, and they have trouble distinguishing them from plastic grocery bags that are in the sea. Staying away from these bags would be a good idea for all of us, as my daughter and others have repeatedly advised.
You may have been hearing about the cyclones that are hammering this region of the world. There have been severe problems in many areas, though we have not been directly in their path. We have been subjected to quite a bit of rain on selected days, and the seas have been rough. So, the reef outing we had planned from Cairns was canceled. The pictures I intended to take with my underwater camera will not be, so here are a few shots from Reef HQ just to satisfy your possible need to see gorgeous sea life.
Another thing we have been seeing is sugar cane. I've never seen so much growing sugar cane in my entire life, and I've seen quite a lot in Hawaii, California, and elsewhere in the past. The crops here are outstanding, and the heavy rains and wet season just now are really making everything green.
When we stopped for coffee at a town park, there were displays of cane crushers, planters and other equipment that has been used for decades in this industry.
Most fields have a very narrow gauge railroad alongside to transport the cane to processing plants. I wish we could have seen one of the engines, which are small as well, but they won't be out for awhile yet. Here is a car, though, used to haul cane.
We also visited Paronella Park (click here for their web site). The park exhibits the grounds and buildings created by a Spanish immigrant who, after making his fortune in AU, decided to build the home of his dreams in the rain forest and near a waterfall. (By the way, we were in tropical rain forest for most of the past several days. More on that later.) I was reminded a little of the Hearst Mansion in California in that the place captured this Spanish gentleman's desire to have an elaborate and unique home. For details about his story, check online.
Many of the buildings and grounds have been damaged by storms and the years of wet tropics, but they were fun to see nevertheless. Our guide started with us at the little cottage the couple used.
You can see how much deterioration there has been since the 1930s. When newly built, they must have been quite impressive and elaborate.
This spot was once the site of a grand ballroom, which burned some years ago.
There were fountains and elaborate plantings everywhere.
The falls were gushing because of all the cyclone-related rain. Crocodiles inhabit the stream below the falls.
We loved all the vegetation, especially the unusual flowers and the many magnificent trees one finds in the forest.
This is a trail between rows of a kind of kauri tree that the Spaniard originally planted. These are not the same kauri as in New Zealand (a kind of wood that some of you know I've worked with), but they are magnificent--very, very tall and straight.
Their bark has an interesting mottled look from scars and things growing on them.
Fish came near the area below the falls to be fed.
And we were reminded frequently about the possible presence of crocodiles.
As we left the park, we encountered lots of banana crops too.
More to follow.
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