Woke up and there is already a commotion in the kitchen. Dean is cooking his famous apple tea cake and we are going to his (and Peters) parents for 'smoko' (morning tea). Jump in the car and its just over the other side of Innisfail so doesnt take long, Bella (the dog) comes with us and when we arrive we are greeted by Frank and Deana who already know of us and as it turns out have been following the blog so are pretty much up to date on our adventures.
We all sit down for a lovely cup of tea and a wedge of the delicious tea cake whilst the dog runs riot and leaves a nice gift for the parents in the front yard (much to deans amusement).
After a nice chat we head back to the luxury resort for some time updating the blog and then head over to see Tammys brother John and his partner Sandra in a great house (built by Dean) in the hills over Innisfail.
John has just brought a new motorbike and proudly shows it off to us as we all Ohhh and Ahhh at the size of the thing. A couple of drinks are drunk and we head just down the road to the last pub on the Innisfail list, the Criterion at South Johnson (the location for the film 'All men are liars').
Another proper cane cutters pub and this one is right next door to the sugar mill and the best thing is to get the cane to the mill the trains have to come right down the main street, literally feet from where we are having a drink outside the pub!
Me with the queen
We dont have to wait too long and along comes a train full of cane heading for the factory, comes past at quite a lick as well and we are warned that many people have fallen/stumbled onto the tracks after a few beers and not lived to see the morning so are careful to keep well back.
Arrive back for our 'last supper'at the luxury retreat and the house is full of the wonderful smell of Chicken catchiatorie (God bless the slow cooker). So we are wined and dined again and finish off the apple cake for desert and retire to in front of the chimenea again so sample some of Dean's Chocolate port before bed.
Day 72
Up in the morning and first thing we get to hear the tale of what Bella (the dog) has caught running about in the garden overnight, it's a giant white tailed rat and so we have a look at it as it is a protected species up North before Dean disposes of the body.
Have a leisurely breakfast of poached eggs and shower before packing up Polly again (No Late check out here) for the onward journey.
The luxury resort and spa even send us away with a gift box full of goodies including; a fishing box complete with tackle; a bottle of the Chocolate port we had been drinking the night before (and had taken a shine to) and 1/2 dozen fresh laid eggs from up the road.
We cant believe how lovely our hosts have been to us, they really have taken us in and treated us like family and we are sad to go but happy that they could take the time to show us around.
A short drive up the road is Cairns and a chance for us to do some shopping and have a quick look round (We are stopping here on our way back down). Almost lunch time and we stumble upon a great pie shop 'Paradise pies' and stop for the works, good mash, great peas and the pies are excellent (almost on a par with Yatla but much better cutlery!)
Another half an hour up the road (and through more roundabouts than I care to remember) we come to Palm cove and check into the campsite there for a nights stopover. It's breezy and raining so we do the lap of the village (mostly flash holiday complexes) and think about fishing but decide against it as its too windy.
Day 73
Lie in this morning (8.30) and as we forgot to buy half the stuff we wanted in Cairns we drive back through all those bloody roundabouts again and stop to get some more fishing tackle (New reel and some more lures), a new light for the van and an ipod/car radio thing (for Carmens birthday).
Got everyhting we should have got yesterday we head North (again) and of course go through all those fu**ing roundabouts one more time!!
As we gut up towards Port Douglas we have to slow down quite a bit as they are burning off the scrub from the side of the road, most of it seems pretty controlled with plenty of blokes there and firemen on standby. 5 mins up the road however (where they must have been earlier) there are fires just left burning unattended (no wonder there are so many bush fires).
Stop at a nice lookout to lok back over the beaches we have just driven past (and see the smoke from the burning) and head into Port Douglas, where we check into our campsite (just up the road from where we stayed when we came here 2 years ago).
The weather still isnt the best but we cycle into town and visit our old haunts from last time, the Tin shed, The central hotel and the Courthouse hotel which havent really changed that much (except the prices!!).
Also pick up the fishing almanac from the news agents which gives you the tide times and the best days to fish (something to do with the moon) and even shows you a little picture off all the fish you can catch (Emphasis on 'can'). Armed with this information I expect the fish to practically jump out of the river and into our bucket!
Day 74
Wake up and its Raining in morning but have to sort of pack up as we are moving to a powered spot today just a few bays away.
Get all that sorted and cycle round to check fishing locations along the inlet, spot a few potentials so get back and get the tackle out. I'm confident (as usual) so we take the chopping board and big knife as well but they could have stayed at home to be honest.
We try a few spots and what looks like a great one off the wharf but nothing at all, not than anyone else is catching anything either (which is good) and so decide its time for a drink and luckily stumble upon Happy hour in the Courthouse!
Just avoid the rain on the way back and settle in with a film hoping that tomorrow will better.
Day 75
Wake up and its raining again, sunshine and showers at least but the showers seem to be outweighing the sunshine today. After two breakfasts (the future) we hang about the van for pretty much the first time since we left Sydney. Watch a film in the afternoon and finally in the late afternoon the rain has calmed down a bit so were off into town to find about a possible fishing trip.
All of the advertised ones are 'catch and release' (not much good if you want to eat something) and we look at hiring a tinnie ourselves but (on previous experience) we decide against it as you don't want to be getting stuck on a sandbar up here with all the crocs about.
Good camp kitchen here so its bangers and mash for tea and the first time we are using the masher and then as the rain is still holding off we walk into town to get ourselves an ice cream (living it up in a Friday night!!) before returning to try out some of that chocolate port (I am happy to report that its still pretty nice)
No comments:
Post a Comment