Wednesday 13th September 2006

Something went wrong overnight and at one stage we even heard some pretty heavy raindrops falling on the caravan roof for a very short time, however this morning there were clouds that were covering the usual sunny blue sky. There was a gentle breeze early but that increased as the day wore on and by midday it was quite strong. That would be right, after so long enjoying such great weather, Judy leaves Western Australia on a fine day over there and arrives in Sunny Queensland on an overcast and windy day.

This morning 'One of Us' visited the laundry again to catch up on our washing (that seems to be a never ending story) and then started a bit of a spring clean of the caravan and inside the Patrol, whilst the 'Other One' paid our Council Rates using BPay, set up the Patrol for an extra passenger, cleaned down some extra dirty marks on the front and side of the caravan and refilled an empty gas bottle before settling down to do some more work on a pamphlet for Mi-Caddy Golf Buggies. ( www.micaddy.com.au )

It was a little hard to concentrate on the pamphlet as 'One of Us' was cooking a Lemon Butter cake in the EasyCook health oven and it smelt really good. When it came out it looked just as good, then the icing made it even better to look at, however the 'Other One' found that any attempt to eat it ended up with sharp pains being felt, mainly around the ears whilst he was being forcefully informed that he wasn't allowed to touch it....

The rest of the afternoon even gave an opportunity for a little reading and further relaxation until 5:pm when it was time to get ready and head out to the airport to pick Judy up at 5:55pm. Happy hour will have to be delayed until we get back from the airport but the girls are bound to destroy a white wine or two before the end of the evening, and I guess I will have to join them whilst cooking a barbecue for dinner.

Thursday 14th September 2006

Well we made it on time to the airport last night to pick cousin Judy up, but she made it a little early so we missed her walking out through the door by a couple of minutes or so. However we were there and the meeting of the 'girls' took place around the baggage carousel. After the bag turned up (I mean the case), we made our way out to the Patrol and headed back to the caravan park where Jude booked in to her cabin before joining us for a belated 'Happy Hour'.

After the 'girls' demolished a few glasses of white wine, it was left to the 'Other One' to cook dinner and ensure their behavior didn't get out of hand, Not that they would have heard anything he said as getting a word in edgeways was almost impossible. After a dinner of Chops, sausages and salad, the conversation went on until after 11pm when Judy decided it was time to call it a day and head back to her cabin.

The morning dawned without any of us seeing the sun rise. That could have been because we weren't awake but also due to the overcast sky, but as there was a free pancake breakfast on in the park at 8:30am, 'One of Us' made sure she was up, dressed and looking beautiful before then so she wouldn't miss out on her share of pancakes. There was a good number of park patrons there around the pool enjoying very large pancakes cooked by experts, so we lined up and had our plates filled with a single large pancake and then had a choice of toppings to add to the flavour. Tea and coffee was available also, all for the total fee of nothing. We sat at a table with a couple of elderly ladies from WA who were having a great time here, having traveled to Queensland by train and were booked in to a villa in the park for three weeks. There was also a Victorian sitting with us who was also good company. Judy arrived about half an hour after us and although she had her breakfast in the cabin, still managed a pancake and cup of tea. At about 9:15am the sky decided to release a few drops of rain so we then returned to the caravan where decisions had to be made as to what our activities would be for today and the next week or two.

It was then decided that today would be an ideal time to drive up to Kuranda so at about 10:20 we headed off through north Cairns and then wound our way up the hill to the little tourist town of Kuranda. On arrival the 'girls' were in seventh heaven as they wandered through all the tourist shops picking over all the clothing and souveniers and trinkets displayed in all of the many shops in the town with the 'Other One' tagging along behind.

Around 12:30pm the sight of fish and chips in one of the cafes was too much for Judy so in we went and she shouted lunch for us all which was enjoyed sitting watching the world go by. After lunch we walked down to the Skyrail terminal to see what options were available to ride over the rainforest. It appears the 'girls' must have seen a couple of good looking blokes or something to attract them as before the 'Other One' knew what was happening the girls had purchased two tickets to ride the Skyrail down to Cairns and away they went, leaving him behind on the platform. He then returned to the Patrol via a pie shop and then drove down the hill to the skyrail terminus and had a coffee while the girls flew over the rainforest waving their wands, or maybe it was their cameras until they landed in the terminus. They tried to sneak passed the 'Other One' but he caught them in the act so they stopped for a coffee as well.It was then time to return to the caravan park and on the way we stopped to fill the Patrol up with fuel at a Coles Shell Service Station before arriving back at the caravan park at about 4:05pm.

Unfortunately the weather proved that it is not always sunshine in Queensland as it spent a good part of the day either threatening rain or actually raining down on us, but we blame Judy for this weather, we feel sure she brought it over here from Western Australia. We will give her a chance to send it back though so hopefully tomorrow will be better when we head up to the Atherton Tableland for the day.

Friday 15th September 2006

Judy hasn't been successful in sending the wet weather back home to Western Australia as this morning only gave us a brief peak at the sun before the dark clouds came over once more.... Welcome to sunny Queensland, but at least it isn't cold and miserable to go with it.

With the idea of a longer drive today, we were up, ready, 'One of Us' prepared a lunch to take and we were driving out of the caravan park just before 9:am, heading north out of Cairns for a short distance before turning west up the mountain where we passed by Kuranda and then continued on to Mareeba.

On arrival in Mareeba we drove around the town, then headed south toward Atherton. On the way we called in at the old military hospital complex park that we had visited previously but this time we just drove through to show Judy. Next, we continued down the highway to Atherton where we drove this town again (making a habit of driving around towns today) where we showed Judy the caravan park that we had stayed in whilst we were there. Not a lot of exciting things to look at by this stage so off we went again further south along Kennedy Highway until we came to Hypipamee National Park (easy to remember the name - just think of 'hi py(eyed) pammy' and since cousin Judy arrived, that is easy to remember.....

We drove in to the car park of the national park and walked the path to 'The Crater' once more where Judy was just as impressed by it as we were when we first saw it about a week ago. More photographs were taken of the crater again... glad we don't have to pay per photograph. From the Crater we walked the path down to Dinner Falls again and the camera shutter shuddered again for a while before the 'girls' raced off leaving the 'Other One' behind... Unfortunately their plan to get away without him failed because they forgot he had the keys to the Patrol. Having foiled their plan, he returned to the patrol and we were off again along the highway for a few more kilometres before turning east toward Millaa Millaa. Before dropping down out of the mountains we pulled over into McHugh Lookout for one last look over the Atherton Tablelands, well that is what 'One of Us' thought but it turned out that the 'girls' really had food on their minds.

With a fairly cool wind (The 'girls' say that should read 'Bloody Cold') blowing past our ears (and the rest of us as well) and a little rain threatening to damp our spirits, 'One of Us' made lunch in the Patrol and we sat in it to devour the smoked chicken and salad sandwiches but the 'girls' were a bit upset because the 'Other One' had not put in the wine glasses and they had to have a cup of tea instead. Fortunately with their appetite satisfied, they were a little lenient on the 'Other One' so he was permitted to set off with them again down through Millaa Millaa where we took photographs of a statue of a cow objecting to be put in a stock and then another one of early settlers to the area before moving on to the waterfalls.

At Millaa Millaa falls we took time for even more photographs before leaving there and making our way back through Millaa Millaa and on to Milanda where we stopped at those waterfalls for another photographic shoot which included scenes of the 'girls' posing in front of the waterfalls.

Next we made our way to the Curtain Fig Tree for a look and more images before making our way through Yungaburra. Well it was supposed to be through Yungaburra but the 'girls' spotted the Rainforest Gallery where Chelsea had been adopted from. At this stage the 'Other One' put his foot down, but unfortunately it was on the brake, not the accelerator, however he stated quite categorically that it didn't matter what 'One of Us' said or did, we were not buying another teddy bear like we did on our last visit. The fact that Judy bought one made no difference, the answer remained the same... NO TEDDY BEAR for 'One of Us'!!!!! We managed to get out of the store about half an hour later and the 'Other One' had not been assaulted or was not in trouble... Yes the new sister for Chelsea has the name of Elizabeth.... and Judy's new family member is named Harriet....

Time was getting on by this stage so off we went again on our way back to the caravan park. This took us via Lake Eacham and then via Gillies Range, Gordonvale and the Bruce Highway until we arrived back at the caravan at about 5:10pm.

The stress of being firm and (un)yealding made the 'Other One' feel a little drained so our plans for tomorrow are just to do a little shopping and not a lot of real activity. Oh Oh.. shopping means spending more money... wondered why the 'girls' were smiling when that was mentioned. Goodness me! time for Happy Hour or two.