An Alphabetical Stroll Through Bali and Australia-A is for: A BIG, FAT FINALE!! Link to new Africa TR (4/5)

[Steppesister]

What a journey! With every new paragraph I wondered if that was going to be the moment... from your foreboding comments on the weather, the maps, the washed-out trails, the jellyfish... no wonder people get nervous about coming to Australia lol!

It's certainly a land of wonder and danger! All worth it for sure!

Love these photos of the fungi. Also your Tarzan-esque shots!

Ha! We had a lot of fun exploring the jungles of the island!

Some great finds there!

There was such a fun variety!

This caused me much confusion until I saw your photos... assume you were talking about the stick insect lol!

They are so sweet! My kids used to have a few of them as "pets" as youngsters.

Ah, the joys of the Australian ocean. I absolutely refuse to go anywhere near the coast during stinger season.

I'd done a fair amount research on jellies, but didn't quite know the extent of their absolute deadliness. EEK!

That must have been so scary! Sounds like you were caught in a rip (for those unfamiliar with the term, it's what Aussies call the narrow areas of very strong currents that drag you out to sea and are almost impossible to swim against). You must be a pretty good swimmer to have been able to get yourself back to the beach. Rips are actually pretty common at Aussie beaches, but most of the popular ones will have flags designating the safest area for swimming.

Between ocean creatures and rips/surf, I've never understood the appeal of ocean swimming!

I've always considered myself to be a good swimmer but was just grossly overly confident (hence the no fins) and got into serious trouble.

He left??? I think if I called out to ask if someone needed help and I didn't get a response, I would consider the default answer to be 'yes'.

You'd sure think! I thought it was very very weird.

Wow what a traumatic experience. I'm glad you didn't seem to have any longer-term effects from it!

Well, I confess I have a bit of water fear and haven't been able to successfully SCUBA without some panic issues. That may or may not have anything to do with that. I really don't know.

Definitely very well deserved. And absolutely worthy of a glass of bubbly!

Most definitely! Celebrating life (literally) is never a bad thing.

At least you have different colours for different denominations now. I have no idea how you could tell the different notes apart before when it was just all green!

LOL! I can see that. I guess I always just looked at the numbers, BUT I hadn't even known that we had colors now at all. I haven't used cash in a very long time and very rarely carry it. I do need to get some now however for my upcoming trip, so I guess I'll find out!!

 

[Steppesister]

Named after Bob and Gina Secret, NOT because it's a secretive trail.

Kinda like Schweitzer Falls.

Nice shot. Although there's not mush room left for any more.

<slow clap>

Reminds me of the Florida mangroves.

That's great because


It is one!

Colourful!
I imagine, quite poisonous.

Everything in Australia is trying to kill you.

Do you remember the rhyme from when you were a kid?
Tarzan swings,
Tarzan falls....

?

Hmm, I don't. That one doesn't ring a bell.

AHhh-ahhh-ahahaha

Watch out for that tree....!!!!!!

Like momma, like daughta.

Good way to get around quickly, I would imagine.

Until you fall and break your neck.

Was it al dente?

<crunch, crunch>

Um... So of course you decided not to go...

well. not exactly.

And you swam in that anyway?????????????????

I did. But in my defense I didn't know exactly how nasty those little invisible beasties are!

Face protection from stings?
Streak of self-preservation?

They told me the snorkel mask would be enough.

As for self-preservation, apparently I need a bit more of that.

Oh, no...
Who goes snorkeling without fins???

<sheepish grin>

I know first hand how terrifying this is.
I've been there. Exactly that.

It's not fun, is it?

Yes. I'm completely familiar with this. I don't think I was shaking, but I do recall collapsing on the beach, completely spent.

You're very lucky too!

Yes. Yes you are. I knew someone who wasn't so lucky.

OH no! Seems every year, a few don't make it in our rivers and lakes as well.

Sharks?

Maybe? Probably? It's Australia.

Gorgeous. Love the yellow in there. Quite the contrast!

It was one that really turned out nicely.

I believe you. It's been 50 years or more for me, but I still have leftover water fear.

When do you feel it most?

Where's the fish?!?

It covers most of the plate. It was crusted so looks much like the rice/risotto it was on.

 

[Steppesister]

I'm glad that you had enough strength to get back to the beach. That must have been a very scary experience.

It really was. Not fun at all! But all's well that ends well.

 

[Steppesister]

Oh my goodness!! What an awful experience to go through! Glad you were feeling good enough to enjoy that meal. It looks delicious!

It was so scary and I learned some valuable lessons- along with a hefty dose of thankfulness.

That fish was soooo good! My parents went to Aus many, many years ago and still rave about the barramundi they got there.

 

[Steppesister]

So glad you ended your day on a positive note with a delicious dinner after what must have been a truly terrifying experience. Can’t believe that man left the beach after shouting out to you but glad you’re here to tell the tale.

IT was terrifying, but I celebrated my new lease on life with that excellent meal! So yummy! As for that guy leaving? Yeah, who does that?!

 

[Steppesister]

I would have been terrified if I was you! Thank goodness you made it back to the shoreline. Yikes very scary! Rip currents here are very dangerous on Lake Superior and every year someone dies getting stuck out past the current and they can’t get back to the shore!
I will dig up some pictures of our time at The Daintree Rain forest and the Great Barrier Reef and post!

It was very terrifying and I was so thankful I'd made it back without becoming shark food. I really underestimated my own ability and the conditions and it got ugly. But all's well that ends well.

YES!! Please post those! I'd LOVE to see them!

 

[pkondz]

Kinda like Schweitzer Falls.

I was wondering if you'd draw the line from the connecting dots.

That's great because


It is one!

Oh!

Everything in Australia is trying to kill you.

Hmm, I don't. That one doesn't ring a bell.

Can't say it on the Dis. PM me if you want to know.

Until you fall and break your neck.

Well... there's that.

I did. But in my defense I didn't know exactly how nasty those little invisible beasties are!

Now you know better... wait... you're not in Oz anymore.

They told me the snorkel mask would be enough.

Uh, huh...

It's not fun, is it?

No

You're very lucky too!

Never thought of it that way. Thought of it more as unlucky that I was in that situation.

Maybe? Probably? It's Australia.

True.

When do you feel it most?

When I can't see the bottom or thick seaweed.

 

[irene_dsc]

Yikes! Very impressed that you were able to convince Anara to try snorkeling after that, and also that you managed to also go snorkeling. Glad you got to actually see some of the cool stuff you went so far to see!

(And also very thankful you managed to survive!)

 

[Steppesister]

So glad you were able to get back in the water, sounds like you had a great snorkel.

Looking forward to reading about your rainforest adventures!

It was a nice time for sure and I was way more careful, starting with where I should have been in the first place!

Coming up soon.....

 

[Steppesister]

It looks like you had a very successful snorkeling trip in spite of the horrible weather. I love the pictures.

We tried very hard to make the best of things and not let it ruin the time there. Yes, it was a bit disappointing and certainly not what we'd hoped for, but we still enjoyed things as best we could.

It is very cool, especially when you can stay dry.

It was a perfect spot to just watch the storm go on and pass the time. I imagine on weekends during high season the whole resort would be pretty busy with local-ish folks coming over for some beach time from Cairns.

It looks like a very nice hotel.

I wrote in my notes that the room was basic and small, but was clean, had a nice pool (which we sadly didn't get to use), and close to the airport.

Are these fruit bats similar to the fruit bats in Animal Kingdom?

I do believe so, yes, although, I think the ones on the Maharajah Jungle Trek are Malayan Flying Foxes, and I don't know if that specific species we were seeing there. But yep, same thing generally at least.

 

[Steppesister]

Must've been an old man snoring somewhere.

Watched the videos... where are the ducks? Perfect weather for ducks... and no ducks! That's just not right.

No ducks. They'd have drowned anyway.

Maybe.
I'm not a huge fan of cheese breads. But if it's ham and cheese on a croissant, then yes. If it's ham on a cheese croissant, then no.

This was more of a ham and cheese sandwich ON a croissant, heated up, then drizzled with honey. Mmmm, mmm!

Sure. Makes total sense.
"It's so cool! You get a near-death experience and life flashbacks!"

Hey, gotta model resilience for the kiddos and teach them to face fear. Too much pansy-wansy these days. Take a little risk, rise, and conquer.

Convenient you made her that way. Smart.

I thought ahead....

So glad she went, then!

She was glad she did. I mean how many N. American 21 year olds get to say they've snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef?

"Well, my right leg is missing from the knee down, so while I didn't see a shark, I strongly suspect one was there."

Yes, there are sharks near Fitzroy Island, but the species you're likely to encounter, like whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, are generally harmless to humans and are more curious than aggressive.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Common Sharks:
  The most frequently seen sharks around Fitzroy Island and the Great Barrier Reef are whitetip reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks, and grey reef sharks.
  
  
• Reef Shark Behavior:
  These reef sharks are generally shy and non-aggressive, and they typically don't pose a threat to humans unless provoked.
  
  
• Other Sharks:
  While tiger sharks and bull sharks are found in the Great Barrier Reef waters, they are less common and usually inhabit deeper waters.
  
  
• Shark Safety:
  It's important to respect these animals and avoid provoking them, such as by feeding them or trying to touch them.
  
  
• Rare Attacks:
  Shark attacks are extremely rare in the Great Barrier Reef area, and most encounters with reef sharks are safe and memorable.
  
  
• Fitzroy Island Specifics:
  Fitzroy Island is located in the Great Barrier Reef, which is home to a variety of shark species, including reef sharks.
  
  
• Recent Incident:
  There was a recent shark attack on a documentary filmmaker at Fitzroy Island, but it was a rare occurrence.

Didn't want to get wet?

It was just too cold and we were shivering in there.

Four fish, front and center... A Do-not-touch, a Do-not-touch, another Do-not-touch, and last but not least, a Do-not-touch.
If memory serves, the Stonefish is the most venomous fish in the ocean.

ETA: Looked it up. Yes, the Stonefish is the most venomous fish in the world.

I never touch anything in the water ever. There are way too many critters who don't like to be meddled with. But I did NOT know the Stonefish was the most venomous. HUH!

More avocado!

Me likey!

I'm not sure...

Either it's a nice, candid photo of your DD, or...
"Mom! Why are you taking my picture?!?!?"

Both? I like how it turned out, and have tried and tried and TRIED to figure out how to even re-created that effect. No luck. It was totally accidental.

Now I know what you do after work. Put your head back and zone out.
Hopefully you're not driving at the time.

I do. And it's getting worse every day.

That is a ton of food!

It was definitely ample! And one of the best meals we had. Well, except for the Indian, the Korean, the feast coming up the next night after this, and the millions of meat pies we ate.

You got some cool shots! And don't worry about grainy and blurry.
You could get much better shots... if you want to invest in much more expensive camera gear, housing and lights.

No?

No.

I have other things to burn my money on. Gotta finally pay off my car, getting ready for new decking, and a big trip soon.

Even more cool! Never seen that, even in pictures.

It was super neat! The Reef is definitely a special place!

 

[Steppesister]

I was wondering if you'd draw the line from the connecting dots.

I did, I did!! I is smart!

Can't say it on the Dis. PM me if you want to know.

Hmmm.... okay.

Now you know better... wait... you're not in Oz anymore.

Maybe I'll get back there someday. I could visit @zanzibar138 and see another area I haven't yet.

Never thought of it that way. Thought of it more as unlucky that I was in that situation.

Nope, another lease on life, another learning opportunity, another challenge you overcame.

When I can't see the bottom or thick seaweed.

EEK, yeah I can definitely see that. Scary boo! I'd be afraid in that too.!

 

[Steppesister]

Yikes! Very impressed that you were able to convince Anara to try snorkeling after that, and also that you managed to also go snorkeling. Glad you got to actually see some of the cool stuff you went so far to see!

(And also very thankful you managed to survive!)

I'm so proud of her and happy I made myself get back in. It was definitely worth it! There was so many cool fish and animals to see!

 

[zanzibar138]

I've always considered myself to be a good swimmer but was just grossly overly confident (hence the no fins) and got into serious trouble.

I'm a very poor swimmer (and I generally dislike being in water anyway), so I always take as many precautions as I can. In Australia we have mandatory swimming lessons for school kids, so I learned, I was just never any good at it. When I went snorkelling at the GBR, I even chose to wear the flotation device! Just made me feel comfortable enough that I could actually enjoy the experience.

Well, I confess I have a bit of water fear and haven't been able to successfully SCUBA without some panic issues. That may or may not have anything to do with that. I really don't know.

I was mostly referring to physical health - I'm sure that experience would leave you with some mental scars!

 

[pkondz]

No ducks. They'd have drowned anyway.

"Today's special... duck a l'orange..."

This was more of a ham and cheese sandwich ON a croissant, heated up, then drizzled with honey. Mmmm, mmm!

mmmm... now that sounds good!

Hey, gotta model resilience for the kiddos and teach them to face fear. Too much pansy-wansy these days. Take a little risk, rise, and conquer.

And if ya lose one here or there... survival of the fittest!

She was glad she did. I mean how many N. American 21 year olds get to say they've snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef?

Yes, there are sharks near Fitzroy Island, but the species you're likely to encounter, like whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, are generally harmless to humans and are more curious than aggressive.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Thanks for that.
Although I note there was one attack.

But seems safe enough.

It was just too cold and we were shivering in there.

Just pee in the pool.

I never touch anything in the water ever. There are way too many critters who don't like to be meddled with.

But I did NOT know the Stonefish was the most venomous. HUH!

Yep. And it doesn't look like it. Usually venomous/poisonous animals are brightly coloured to warn off predators. You can barely see a stonefish!

Both? I like how it turned out, and have tried and tried and TRIED to figure out how to even re-created that effect. No luck. It was totally accidental.

Happy accident.

I do. And it's getting worse every day.

I have other things to burn my money on. Gotta finally pay off my car, getting ready for new decking, and a big trip soon.

There's always something...

I need to call up Bill Gates and ask for a small, unnoticeable loan... say... a few tens of millions of dollars.

It was super neat! The Reef is definitely a special place!

I bet! I'm quite envious.

Maybe I'll get back there someday. I could visit @zanzibar138 and see another area I haven't yet.

There ya go! Incentive.

Nope, another lease on life, another learning opportunity, another challenge you overcame.

I was too young to think of all that.

 

[Steppesister]

Z is for: Zigzagging Through the Daintree Rainforest​

We arose early in the morning with a new sense of zeal for zig-zagging through the oldest rainforest on Earth- the Daintree- in extreme NE Australia, just north of Cairns.

By 7:30, I was back from my walk for a nice hot latte to the same place we’d gotten dinner the previous night and Anara was just finishing up getting ready and packed up. The morning went so smoothly, in fact, that we were at the Cairns Airport picking up our car by 8:00!

Now, let's go going on our adventure!!

(A map to follow along)​

You might be asking yourself what we did for breakfast, and if you guessed gas station meat pies, then you’ve been paying attention! Of course, we took one last opportunity to partake in Australia’s National Food! We just didn’t know what kind of services would be available beyond Port Douglas and wanted to be prepared for the day. The drive up to that point was fairly straightforward and much like normal rural driving with a divided highway.

​

Past that was another story…. The divided highway became a 2-lane road (not really highway anymore) which went through acres and acres of sugarcane fields. We crossed many narrow gauge railroad tracks for the sugar cane trains. If you’re interested in the sugar cane industry in the Mossman area, north of Cairns, I’d encourage you to Google. In a nutshell there are over 4,000 farms which produce about 35 million TONS of sugar cane every year, but the future of this is in jeopardy due to some local mill drama. Anyway, we loved seeing this historical industry still thriving and the trains associated with the landscape. The harvest season is typically in June so we missed that by a couple of months.

Once past Mossman, the biome took a drastic turn from farmland to lush, overgrown jungle. The road turned zig-zaggy and narrower until we reached the Daintree River/Ferry Crossing.

​

For reference, from Cairns to the Crossing, it was about 1 ½ hours. Just before we got onto the ferry there was the “Daintree Gateway” area which had restrooms and loads of informational signs that we took quite a bit of time reading over. It was only drizzling lightly for a time, so we took advantage of staying somewhat dry.

​

I know these images are a bit hard to read but I’ve made some notes/captions under a few of them of special note. The one about being stranded in the Daintree due to cyclones was especially intriguing. (eh hmmm…) We also loved reading about the Cassowaries and hoped beyond hope to see one….

(That bit about floods and cyclones...)





(All of the animals we never saw a trace of )

​

The ferry crossing was easy-peasy and not expensive at all. I believe it included the entrance fee to the National Park as well so all that was taken care of in one payment. My notes say a return ticket was $47AUS which I thought was reasonable. The crossing itself reminded me of the one just north of Salem, Oregon (the Wheatland Ferry) in length and process and was fun to do. We searched in vain for the infamous Aussie Crocs, of which this river is rumored to have about a gazillion. I remain skeptical... (Of note, you can take a boat tour on the Daintree River and see loads apparently; we opted out. And truth be told, they probably weren't even running them with the bad weather, anyway.)

Our first stop was planned for the Jindalba Boardwalk Hike (more like a walk) but the rains had made most of it flooded and the trails were closed for the most part. We did manage to get out and walk for about 10 minutes before we reached the “Trail Closed” sign. Booo! But, I did manage to get some nice photos to give you an idea of the dense and lush forest of the Daintree:

(Such cool, prehistoric looking plants!)




(A gigantic spider.... that you can't see. But the plants around him are neat!)




(Creeping vines were everywhere!)

​

But a special sighting just before we got to the turnout of this first stop made up for the mostly closed trail.

There was very little traffic (because most people aren’t idiots trying to visit a rainforest during a cyclone) so we could toodle along and take our time to enjoy the scenery along the way. Luckily, our slow pace allowed us to catch sight of the BABY CASSOWARY crossing the road just in front of the car. While we only got a couple of seconds of seeing it, it was absolutely, unmistakably one of these amazing dinosaur birds found only in this tiny part of the world. I slowed WAY down and we poked along as Anara filmed the area just off the road in hopes of seeing the father bird nearby. (The males raise the chicks!) No luck; the jungle is just too thick to see much of anything that might be hiding in it. Nevertheless, it was fun to at least catch a fleeting glimpse of one.

​

Our next stop was at the Madja Botanical Walk where we learned a ton about the mangrove forested biome. Having visited and kayaked in Florida’s Mangrove forests, I was already pretty familiar with their life cycle and habitat, but there were some differences as well. The rain held off for this little walk for the most part, which gave a super nice respite from the relentlessness of it for most of our visit to the park. I took some photos of the mangroves and stages of the life cycle:

(A funky display of dinosaurs at the turnoff for this walk...)





(Mangrove flowers)


(Baby "shoots")



(Mangrove flowers after doing what they do)



(A "propagule"- basically a baby mangrove that takes root in the salty mud.)
​

Continued in next post...

​

 

[Steppesister]

Continued from previous post...


Eventually, the rain started up again and this time it was quite heavy. I’d remembered the sign at the Gateway and its warning to visitors regarding cyclones. ...

Out of the Madja Nature Hike I turned right aiming for Cape Tribulation which wasn’t too terribly much further and was our original goal for the day. But, about 2 miles or so after that, the road had been completely closed off- apparently, there was concern for it being safe anymore and we were told to turn around and head back. Disappointed a bit to not have made it all the way to Cape Tribulation, we relented to the fate of a mostly doomed rainforest visit and headed back towards Cairns.

It was a good thing we did. The rain was coming down in sheets and the road was staring to have pretty large waterfalls cascading over it. The water pouring off the cliff faces to our right were roaring and I now understood the danger of “being stranded” within the park with NO services available for spending a night in!! Worse, we’d miss our flights home possibly and that would NOT be good at all!

(Evidence of what heavy rains of past have done)​

The cars in front of us, as well as ourselves, started to drive with a bit more urgency, and I honestly became a bit nervous about making it out without incident. At some point, I felt the car struggle a bit and slow in a water-logged section (YIKES!) but we made it through in the end.

(The flooding was no joke!)​

With a bit of white-knuckling it we got through the worst and most narrow, waterfall-heavy area and could breathe a bit of a sigh of relief. To celebrate, we stopped at the Daintree Ice Cream Company for a treat. There was a big tour group bus already there but finishing up; it was perfect timing because that opened up a seat for us under the covered area to enjoy our goodies at. Anara got the 4 featured flavors deal, and I got a scoop of the Wattleseed just to say I’d tried it. I did. It was sweet and nutty, just like me.

(Another hanging bird nest there)​

The stop was somewhat more abbreviated than what I’d have done if it hadn’t been for the threat of having to spend an unexpected and extended period of time this side of the ferry, so in the pouring deluge we headed back to the car and continued on soaking wet. Eventually, the ferry welcomed us back on and we both sighed with relief that the road no longer had crashing waterfalls coming on to it. With a bit less anxiety we now felt free to make a couple of stops, the first at a little beach where we got out and took a little walk. The rain took another little break just long enough for us to enjoy some last glimpses of the gorgeous coastline Australia has to offer.

​

At one point, at a little bridge over a small tributary, we stopped and again looked for crocs. Again, zero luck. Maybe the cyclone chased them all away too...

​

From there, we drove back through the series of small towns and struggled to find a potty. At one point, we thought we might enjoy the Wildlife Habitat attraction, but it was too close to it closing so that was a bust. At least they let me use the restroom… so a small consolation.

This super cool Australasian Swamphen was grazing the side of the road:

​

And a bit further on, a lovely pair of Mongoose Geese:

​

We got the car turned in just fine and got an Uber to the tried, and not-so-trusty, Gilligan’s Backpackers “Hotel”. Or tried to. This time, when we’d called an Uber, we waited, and waited, and waited, and waited for one to be assigned or show up. Eventually, everyone at the Rideshare area got disgusted and started to wheel and deal. We’d struck up a conversation with a super sweet Hungarian couple and theirs showed up first. They said, just hop in and share ours; we’re going to roughly the same area! We did and only had a short 15-minute walk to Gilligans. Free ride!! (I did offer to Venmo, but they said, no.)

While I wasn’t thrilled with Gilligan's in general, it did have a nice, central location and was convenient for our last day in Aussieland. We’d have just one last day to spend in Cairns, but first we had to take care of dinner before going to bed on the early side. Sustained on only meat pies during the day, we were starved. Luckily, the CBD of Cairns has some fantastic dining options! We were both in the mood for Asian and settled on this place that we’d passed on our way to the hotel. We feasted on Udon and tempura bento and were stuffed to the brim and even had enough to take a bit home for a cheap breakfast the next morning. Mmmm! Japanese is soooo good!

​

Having learned my lesson the first time, I popped an Ambien and put in my earplugs- neither of which were able to drown out the thumping, but I eventually drifted off to sleep around 1:00 and slept soundly after that until 8:30.

Next up: One last day Down Under…

 

[Steppesister]

I'm a very poor swimmer (and I generally dislike being in water anyway), so I always take as many precautions as I can. In Australia we have mandatory swimming lessons for school kids, so I learned, I was just never any good at it. When I went snorkelling at the GBR, I even chose to wear the flotation device! Just made me feel comfortable enough that I could actually enjoy the experience.


I was mostly referring to physical health - I'm sure that experience would leave you with some mental scars!

The last few times I"ve gone snorkeling I've used the floatie vest too. I like having it and it allows me stay out a lot longer. I don't go under when I do snorkel (although I would like to learn or at least try!) but for now, they make it so much more enjoyable. No shame in self-preservation! (As if I've displayed any of that lately! LOL)

 

[Steppesister]

"Today's special... duck a l'orange..."

Love me some duck! Hmmm, wait a minute... I had duck the night before. This is becoming very suspicious!!!

mmmm... now that sounds good!

I looked back at my notes from that day and I actually ate the other half for breakfast the next morning.

And if ya lose one here or there... survival of the fittest!

Everyone loves an episode of Survivor!

Thanks for that.
Although I note there was one attack.

But seems safe enough.

Heh, there's 20 or 30x more than that lately on both our East and West coasts.

Just pee in the pool.

Plenty of rain coming down to dilute....

Yep. And it doesn't look like it. Usually venomous/poisonous animals are brightly coloured to warn off predators. You can barely see a stonefish!

Sneaky little fishies!

There's always something...

I need to call up Bill Gates and ask for a small, unnoticeable loan... say... a few tens of millions of dollars.

OH sure. I'm sure he'd be happy to just Venmo you a bit.

 

[pkondz]

the oldest rainforest on Earth- the Daintree-

Really! I'm very surprised by that. I would've thought Africa or South America. Huh!

You might be asking yourself what we did for breakfast

And you may find yourself
In another part of the world
And you may find yourself
Behind the wheel of a large automobile
...
And you may ask yourself
"Well ... how did I get here?"

Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime

and if you guessed gas station meat pies, then you’ve been paying attention!

But of course!

Bigger selection than I thought.

there are over 4,000 farms which produce about 35 million TONS of sugar cane every year,

Lots! Had no idea.

Love this.
"We need a sign... Something to represent the lushness of the forest, the variety of flora and fauna that in some cases may only be found here. It should demonstrate that this is the oldest rainforest on the planet!"

Worker: "I got you, boss."
<slaps paint on a 2X8 and nails it to a couple rickety posts>

The one about being stranded in the Daintree due to cyclones was especially intriguing. (eh hmmm…)

We also loved reading about the Cassowaries and hoped beyond hope to see one

From a bit of a distance. They can be dangerous, although fatal attacks are fairly rare.

(That bit about floods and cyclones...)

What immediately stuck out to me was... mud skippers! I've heard and read of them. Cool! Didn't know where they were in the world, though.

(All of the animals we never saw a trace of )

Humans are the most intelligent animal on the face of the planet...

And yet, some don't have enough sense to stay out of the rain, while the animals do.

The ferry crossing was easy-peasy and not expensive at all. I believe it included the entrance fee to the National Park as well so all that was taken care of in one payment. My notes say a return ticket was $47AUS which I thought was reasonable.

About $30USD. Close to par with the CDN dollar.

We searched in vain for the infamous Aussie Crocs

lol. I love how the Dis inserts URL links into your text whether you want it there or not.
I'm sure that when you were talking about the infamous Aussie water dwellers, you were referring to this:

I did manage to get some nice photos to give you an idea of the dense and lush forest of the Daintree:

Very lush!

(A gigantic spider.... that you can't see. But the plants around him are neat!)

How big? About the size of your hand?

(Creeping vines were everywhere!)

Creepy.

There was very little traffic (because most people aren’t idiots trying to visit a rainforest during a cyclone)

See????
Animals are smarter than some people.

Luckily, our slow pace allowed us to catch sight of the BABY CASSOWARY crossing the road just in front of the car.

Yay! You got to see one! (albeit briefly)

I totally understand this sign:


"This is a Cassowary"


"This is a Cassowary after you run over it"

"Don't"

(A funky display of dinosaurs at the turnoff for this walk...)

That is simultaneously weird and appropriate.
If it's the oldest rainforest in the world, then it's a glimpse into the distant past.
But on the other hand, you have so many diverse and fascinating animals already, it seems unnecessary.

Like popping off a lady finger firecracker while Wishes is playing.

Looks so inviting.

Disappointed a bit to not have made it all the way to Cape Tribulation, we relented to the fate of a mostly doomed rainforest visit and headed back towards Cairns.

Better than being stranded!

The water pouring off the cliff faces to our right were roaring and I now understood the danger of “being stranded” within the park with NO services available for spending a night in!!

No kidding! Look at the sheer volume of water pouring down!

The cars in front of us, as well as ourselves, started to drive with a bit more urgency, and I honestly became a bit nervous about making it out without incident.

And yet... safety (or comfort) in numbers, I suppose.

At some point, I felt the car struggle a bit and slow in a water-logged section (YIKES!) but we made it through in the end.

I got a scoop of the Wattleseed just to say I’d tried it.

I've never even heard of wattleseed before.

It was sweet and nutty, just like me.

extended period of time this side of the ferry

I was thinking "At what point do they shut down the ferry..."

Nice shot.

Good thing they have those signs there, so no one is crazy enough to venture into the water........................

Oh there are crocks in there... I'm sure of it.
Dip a toe in... you'll see...

This time, when we’d called an Uber, we waited, and waited, and waited, and waited for one to be assigned or show up.

Luckily, the CBD of Cairns has some fantastic dining options!

CBD?

That looks good!