Stoney Creek

The weather has closed in badly for two days but we are here so what can you do. The room is small like a cruise ship but there is no quick stroll to a pool, lounge or bar.  This trip requires getting out each day and today is Stoney Creek. This is part of Barron Gorge National Park which we have been to before. There is a sign that declares no maintenance whatsoever is done on this track up Stoney Creek. Beware! The rain kept coming and the rocks and stones were wet and slippery. It is a tough uphill walk for 1km to an old weir. We stopped here as it is another 1.5 hours of relentless, trackless rocks and water to get to the falls proper which you can see more easily from the Kuranda train.  We had half our lunch here and had to wade to get to a bank with a tree for shelter to sit down. We retreated back down after an hour or so to another spot with a gravel shore. The rain really hit here and soaked everything but we were wearing swimmers so went into the water anyway. It was coolish in the water but the other half of our lunch warmed us up.  It was about 30 mins here as we needed to keep moving to get warm. This reminded me of the Tassie days when everything was wet. There was a guy at the bottom reattaching the sign that says no track maintenance beyond this point. Good on ya.

                                        

Parking Update

We have been driving ourselves around this week to outlying beaches, waterfalls and attractions. I never asked about parking a car when we booked here however our type of room does not come with a carpark. If the neighbours, of whom we have now had three different groups since we have been here, if they have no car then we can use their spot in the garage. Each time a new neighbour comes we have to take the car out in case they bring one. Yesterday they brought a car. The council allows for the first two hours free in centre median slots only. Last time we brought it out overnight, it was Sunday with all day free. If you find a centre slot just at around 3:30pm you can leave the car there overnight but must move it out by 10:00am. We did not find a median slot so went for a paid secure 24 hr service at 50c an hour which works as we are not leaving today until 11:00am. However get the app, register the car, create an account, pay ahead of time. Get it, car parking made simples!

Tropics and Botanics

We had lunch at the Botanic Gardens hoping that the persistent rain would go away while we were under cover. It did not stop properly until late afternoon. The gardens are compact with many exotic types of plants there as well as walking tracks spreading out in different directions. We did not go upwards to the higher slopes however did the lower walks to the lakes area which was slimy, muddy, soaking and sloppy if you went off the track. There were dense mangroves and dark forest in parts. Looping back to the gardens there was a section of old wartime fuel tanks converted to art gallery space. Call me unsophisticated but some of this art is stupid. The conservatory was more spectacular with orchids and other flowers colourful in the dimness.

Beaches Ride

 It has been raining most mornings and this morning seems the heaviest. We had a longish day yesterday getting to Palm Cove and and setting up two hire bikes for a ride to Trinity beach and back.  Two yar ago we could see the path under construction with a new bridge to connect the Palm Cove side to the Trinity beach side.  It works well. We took an hour or so work our way along the 7km to Trinity beach. We kept an eye out for luncheon opportunities in the next few days. This time we stopped at the Surf Club for lunch and tucked into a steak sandwich. We sat down on the beach for a while, at the same spot we did three yar ago.  These beaches always have muddy water due to close mangrove flats. 

Cascade Canyon

 We found a place with a large carpark but not so many cars. There was a note I read that said very crowded at the weekend. Good thing this was a Monday however there is plenty of space along the 1.2 km stretch of river for finding a swimming hole. We spent time gathering supplies before we arrived so carried lunch with us up to the top where the main waterfalls and swimming hole was located. We had it to ourselves until a band of muscians arrived however we had a prime rock table in the middle of the river. I think they were looking jealously at our egg sandwiches and wild turkey cans. We stayed for an hour or so here but I could not see any sooty grunters. On the way back there were other spots to sit amongst the gurgling. A three hour 2.5km walk with lunch and a swim.

Fish Frenzy

 I saw a thing where a QLD policeman said his state was Australia's most disaster prone state. Now we are getting to the crux of it. It rained yesterday and it seems it will again today, so don't tell me there is no rain here. We went for an indoor activity at the local aquarium. We have been to the Melbourne and Sydney versions of this, so this one is smaller but still worthwhile. We also combined lunch with it as there is a big fish tank to see while you are snapping at your snapper.  I had the ribs which were tasty but a huge plate full.  We spent 80 mins following the trail from tank to tank. The water clarity in this control room is way better than we saw on Green Island the other day.

I took photos of things that are similar to what I have seen in Corio Bay. These are rays, seahorses and jelly fish. They have upside down jellies here, very weird. There is also a section on killer fish which I wont see at home but then again they had no blue ringed octos or any octopii to see and we have plenty of those at Clifton Springs.

symmetry

stone fish stone cold killer

zebra killer

horned cow

Did you know it is male seahorses that get pregnant!

Chezest

 We are trying to step up our walking distance and this morning got it out to 4.5km. It was raining overnight so we put on the spray jackets but the Sun came out, the steam was up and the heat was on.  Not super hot but around 24° this morning. Along the way we spied the old ambo station which is now a cafe. Chezest seems a Frenchy type of name and the prices match those in Paris as well. The quality is very good though with a muffin that was huge. Tick off another venue that we wanted to try. There are only so many coffees you can down.