More from Cairns and the rainforest inland

It's raining hard at the moment but the weather did allow us the time to go up to Kuranda by train, do a river trip and after lunch return by the Skyrail. This is easy from this campsite as the Skyrail terminal is only five minutes away with parking for RVs. This meant we could get a tour bus to Freshwater station, catch the train up to Kurunda and return by the cable car to the Skyrail terminal.
The train journey gives a great view of the gorges,  Barron river and waterfall along the Macalister Range.  It also highlights the tremendous task faced by the engineers and rail workers (1882-1891) who constructed all the tunnels by shear brute force and labour assisted by a rod of dynamite or two.
The guide on the river tour was a little despondent telling us that since the rains of the last week, there wasn't much wildlife around. To prove him wrong we spotted several turtles, both in the water and resting on logs plus, to his amazement, a freshwater crocodile just lazing on a tree trunk. He told us this was a small Johnson crocodile. He also confirmed that all the "alligator creeks" we've been driving past are misnamed as there are no alligators in Australia..so there.
The journey down above the forest canopy was spectacular giving us clear views to the coast, the Ranges and into the vegetation. One of the board walks on route led us past a Kauri tree; we had seen many in New Zealand and here they are the tallest trees in the forest. I only spotted one bird in the forest but maybe they sensed the weather changing because within minutes of descending, a storm broke loose and the cable cars had to stop. I changed into my swimwear and drove back to the campsite ready for a soaking as I setup camp or should I say, connected electricity and turned on the gas supply.
On from this, we did a trip with "Billy Tea Safaris" up to Cape Tribulation and the Daintree National Reserve including a stretch of the 4WD Bloomfield Track. This was excellent because the guides had à wide knowledge of the riverine and forest environments including the plants and animals, plus they did a delicious lunch BBQ and Billy Tea. We saw several saltwater crocodiles and even a brief  glimpse of the endangered Cassowary bird in the forest. Even though it wasn't a fully grown adult, it stood over three feet tall. After lunch we drove to à creek and had a cooling swim under the tree canopy before heading to Cape Tribulation beach and lookout. Certainly a great outing, this time without the afternoon thunder storm that has characterised the last few days.
On our last day camping we did an organised boat trip to the Great Barrior Reef, part of which is offshore from Cairns, well one and half hours to be more accurate. We had clear weather that allowed excellent views of the multitude of corals and their associated fish plus a Green Turtle and a Hawksbill grazing on the coral. Helen did a helmet dive and snorkel whilst lazy me stuck to a submersible boat and glass bottomed boat, both of which gave good views of the coral lagoon.
After handing the camper in we spent the afternoon in Cairns. The city is full of eating and drinking places intermingled with tourist travel shops where you can book any of the local tours to the reef, outback or forest. We watched the sunset with sunlight reflecting in the harbour and a rainbow. Along the sea front (beware, crocodiles again!), there is a magnificent promenade with picnic spots, a large artificial lagoon for swimming and all sorts of keep-fit apparatus.
It has rained most of the day but remains in the low thirties so it isn't really a problem. Now in our last week and onto Melbourne tomorrow.

Saltwater Crocodile

Storm approaching and rainbow (Pelicans in the foreground), looking towards the harbour at Cairns.

More from Highway 1, Bruce Highway...into the tropics

We are now well past the halfway mark to Cairns and into more lush vegetation and sugar cane country but still seeing lots of cattle. Helen's spotted two kangaroos and I managed to capture a Wallaby on camera at Midge Point. Why would anyone go to Midge Point in the rain forest ? Don't complain if it rains and you get bitten silly; well amazingly  wrong on both counts and they should rename it "Wild Turkey Heaven" as the site resembles a large aviary with a few Wallabies thrown in although judging by the forest, they do get a lot of rain but not now. The photos were taken at Clairview with a great campsite on the beach opposite Long Island and relaxing walking down to a creek along the coast. Judging from notices there are a lot of "stingers" (Box jellyfish)  around so we only paddled at the warm waters edge.
Further up the coast at Bowen, we found a campsite at the waters edge in Queens Bay with temperatures in the 30's but a cooling inshore wind.  We had a pleasant walk to Horseshoe Bay in the afternoon. Just reading that they are starting major new coalmines in this area and so far we have not seen one wind turbine and our travels and few solar panels in spite of the strong sun here. Puzzling isn't it?

Another view of the beach at Clairview

Wallaby at the campground at Clairview

Cairns as far north as we go!

Now in Cairns having stopped at Townsville and Cardwell on route. Townsville was far nicer than we expected with a picturesque promenade, "The Strand", looking out to Magnetic Island and the harbour. We camped about 6 miles from the centre and then drove in to see the "Reef HQ aquarium" with the largest coral aquarium in the world and sea turtle hospital where they treat turtles that have been damaged by predators or the actions of people. Plastic bags are a big concern as, after ingestion, they impede feeding and the turtles loose weight and float unable to dive and feed at depth.
Cardwell is the only place on the Bruce Highway that gives you a view of the beach; the campsite is situated across the road from a promenade and beach, again with lots of pumice stones. We tried a BBQ again but it rained and I ended up cooking under the awning and then eating inside.
Our campsite here is next to Lake Placid although not so placid at the moment as they have released water from a dam and it's been raining all afternoon. The rafters make use of the water surge and we watched as they landed and also a guy swimming in the river that was signed as dangerous because of crocodiles! The next few days we are going on Skyrail and then train into the rain forest, a boat trip to the outer reef area and a day further north at Port Douglas and the interior by 4WD and then on a flight to Melbourne on Friday.

Near the campsite at Cardwell

Low tide near Cardwell on an evening walk. Helen in the distance.

Onwards on Highway 1, the east coast

Hi, Now on route towards Cairns having stopped in Brisbane and picked up a camper or should I say RV as we had a free upgrade. At first I was unsure about it on two counts; it is larger than I have driven for a long time and secondly it does not have a clutch or gear stick! Anyway we are getting use to the room and comfort.
We did not get long in Brisbane itself, just time to see the centre and Botanical Gardens and experience a thunder storm before getting the train out to our hotel.
The roads north of Brisbane were very busy, so we headed inland to see something of the Ranges, the coastal hills. Climbing to Maleny we got great views of the distant hills and unfamiliar trees, bush and farmland (mostly cattle). There are lots of birds around, in fact most mornings we are awoken before six by bird calls. There are no budgies here, they like the drier interior but we see lots of parakeets.
Everyone seems to start early in the cool of the day so the campsites are busy at six in the morning and it is dark by six thirty. The clocks are a hour back compared to Sydney.

 The coastal road here is like an "A" road in UK with some bits of dual carriageway mostly on hills. Unlike further south, they are not busy although there are some very large trucks that seem to regard speed limits as suggestions for the faint hearted!
We have been to the coast in several  places including Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Ballina, Hervey Bay and Tannum Sands. The latter is a great spot for water sports or just strolling the long beach. We are now at Rockhampton the centre of the Queensland cattle country and it has been very hot. This is our first experience of a provincial town and I think we will give them a miss in future, very suburban reminding us of USA towns taken over by international conglomerates, unfriendly to pedestrians and cyclist. The smaller rural villages have much more charm and character and we often stop on route to stroll and take a break from the road.
Tomorrow we continue north to a small place on the coast called Clairview, camping next to the beach. There are no further toll roads and diesel is about 92 p per litre although we have a large fuel tank! We aim to reach Cairns by next Monday and spend a few days there before flying to Melbourne. For now, goodonyu mate

A view across the Ranges near Maleny

A Kookaburra, A terrestrial tree kingfisher.

Helen strolling at Tannum Sands.

Sydney still in the heat !

Hi, In Sydney and having fun seeing all the different sights in the city. We've been to a performance in the Opera House, a ballet, and a trip to the Blue Mountains west of here. Also as you can see, we have been to a beach, Manly, which is across the harbour. The weather has been hot in the high twenties and no rain although it is expected soon. The bush fires are still going but it isn't impacting the city or the main tourist centres in the park.
We leave by car to Brisbane on Monday calling to see a relative on route. In Brisbane we pick up a camper and then travel north.

The Opera House taken from the Circular Quay.

Manly Beach, Sydney

The Three Sisters, Blue Mountains

Bangkok in the heat

We leave here tomorrow after a few days sightseeing including of course the temples, river, canals, markets and shopping centres. We went to Jim Thompson's house yesterday and today a longer trip to the River Kwai, to the museum and rail bridge, and a trip on the railway from Kanchanaburi to near Nam Tok. This trip finished at the Koh Sàmui waterfall followed by a long mini-bus ride back to congested Bangkok.
It has been hot, 37 C , and no rain. The people are very friendly but there are many scams for tourists but we have avoided being taken-in, e.g. the temple is closed so come with me! or you have to wear shoes to get in, well no, you have to have no shoes, or it isn't open till two (actually closes at three!) etc. Still, its all done in a friendly way. The Sky Rail is very easy to use and also the river boats give great views. 

View from the boat on the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok

Bridge over the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi

Tomorrow evening we are in Sydney, may be in the smoke from the bush fires but it will be cooler..till then..bye