CAIRNS

Staying at a very pleasant BnB just a bit north of Cairns proper. Not actually SEEN Cairns yet tho, as I arrived after dark on Tuesday, then headed out for an bush/rainforest exploration yesterday and the Reef today!

The bush/rainforest day was excellent: just thrre of us with a driver in a 4WD vehicle driving off into parts of the bush that Joe Public doesn't get to see. The rainforest in particular has very limited casual access. Saw Termite mounds, wallabees, cranes, raptors etc etc. Morning coffee sitting beside a small stream with fabulously pure, drinkable water; lunch by another creek (I had crocodile... I'd forgotten how tough it is!) watched intently by a large kookaburra, then a 15-min hike up the mountain for a dip in a large pool below a delightful waterfall (Emerald Creek Falls?). Definitely 'refreshing'! Then drying off lying on the enormous, smooth-polished granite boulders... A really wonderful day, very much at one with Nature...

Today (Thursday) was a tour out to the Great Barrier Reef - done against my better judgement... Horrid day altogether: the boat trip out was probably the roughest sea crossing I've ever had to endure. Stood on deck most of the time with a sick bag at the ready. In the end, I didn't need it, but it was a VERY CLOSE THING!
Then I discovered that I really do NOT like snorkelling! I have always loathed going under water and the business of actually putting one's face down into the water - even with a breathing tube, just freaked me out. Then, to cap it all the flippers brought on really bad cramp in my right (bad) leg. So I gave up and just sat and watched... I did venture out in the glass-bottomed boat, which was ok. I think I'll stick to watching the jacques Cousteau-type programmes if I want to see such things! Yes, I know: I'm a wimp... But perhaps it's more about discovering one's limitations...!