Babinda

 We left the Mission Beach area for a two hour drive Northwards back to Cairns.  The skies were overcast but we called into a small town called Babinda as they had a swimming hole.  The Babinda Boulders is much more than a swimming hole.  With all the storms it has really set this place off, as there is a full on gorge where the rainfall is thundering through. It has been cut into some amazing shapes. We had some lunch on the bank of the river there but did not go in for a swim. If the Sun was out we might have.  We arrived at the Hilton and tried the pool for an hour or so but a bit of a wind change came in which sent us inside.  

Rocky Picnic

Babinda Gorge

EJ Banfield

 As you move around in Wongaling Beach here, you notice the Banfield name, like Banfield Plaza and Banfield Parade.  He lived on Dunk Island for over thirty years and would be called a naturalist, observing and recording. He wrote it all down in a book called "Confessions of a Beachcomber" that I mentioned on this blog previously.  Captain Bry told us the house was still there but on private property as was his grave, which I had ideas of going to find.  One thing he didn't mention observing were dugongs.  I have seen trhese before up close in the wild over in the West.  There was a kayak guy on the island who said you could snorkel with them if you knew where. Now I know where.

The dry day

followed by the Wet day

Tully Ho

The only thing I know about Tully is that Ross Klye went there to do some rafting about 40 yar ago.  We had no power here and we needed to get these wet clothes off so we changed and drove to Tully to find some lunch.  There are two huge historic hotels from 1926 dominating the main street.  We had lunch at the refurbished Tully Hotel.  The hills around the town were a complete grey out and we were getting wet again just crossing the street.  The radar is telling us that it will clear in another hour or two. Hooray.

Tully Street

Wary Eggs

Cassowary Coast

We have been on the hunt for cassowaries in previous years with no luck. Today is the day and we walked thru the Licuala area deep in cassowary country. We saw the eggs but not the birds, the pretend eggs that is. The on off weather days are continuing.  Today was the worst wet day so far.  We woke up to driving rain which took our power out and has only just come back now five hours later.  We got out to find some breakfast and then went on the cassowary search.  This is the wettest walk we have done since some time last century in Tasmania.  The fan palms were good but did not keep the rain off us.  Next time we will bring bicycles as that can get you deeper into the jungle.  The no phasement score has been growing and now my phone has become water logged in its USB port so it will be two hours for any moisture to evaporate, so no photos from me but I do have Debbie's.

Fan Palm

Captain Debbie

It turns out the other passengers for the day trip to Dunk did not arrive, so we had the entire 100 seat boat to ourselves and were totally in charge of proceedings.   Myroo Adventures dropped us at thre Quay and waited there the whole six hours until we came back.  At first we walked the southern section past the broken resort to get to the walking tracks. We ascended to the top of Mt Kootoloo in an hours walking. This track was well graded bur with a few wait a while vines snagging us. We only saw one very nasty spiky one which had been cut down. We had lunch on picnic table  No 4 but there was no booking service.  The beach had a muddy mangrove colour to the water due to all the rain.  The afternoon was spent walking the beaches as there is an iconic sand spit at one corner.

summit view

sand spit

Mountain climb

jetty view

The Pub with no beer

A Good Dunking

Last year we were sitting across from Dunk Island wondering how to get across there.  This place has been hit by Cyclone Larry in 2005 and Cyclone Yasi in 2011.  The resort here is a wreck.  More recently cyclone Annie Canon-Brookes wants to spend her money getting the place ship shape. We have heard this before when Bondy bought it. There are signs of redevelopment. About 10 units have been restored that we could see. There is also a shipping container that serves alcohol and tacos, but is only open Fri and Sat.  The airstrip looks in good condition and they seem to be mowing the golf course. Don't go down to the dam as a huge croc has made it home, thanks to the fish.

wrecked apartments

Mission to see the Beach

 When it rains it pelts down here.  We have weather alerts and local flooding warnings at the moment. The radio lady said Welcome to the Dry.  The one good thing about this is that today is a travel day. We got an early boat off the island but that put us two hours ahead of schedule for the car pickup.  I recommend these A1 car people as they got the car ready as soon as possible after we sprang it on them.  We waited in the Cairns Central shops which is a huge Mall. There was time to buy the Life Well Lived Book which I was on the hunt for.  For the rest of the day we have been drenched in seconds just unloading the car, going into Woollies or crossing the street. The Dunk Island man rang up and said you have to go tomorrow as I can't boat over there on Friday. If it is fine in the morning we will still go.  We have decided to eat in tonight, as we have a full apartment here at Mission Beach so may as well use the kitchen. We have Asian crunchy salad, honey soy shaslicks and roast potatoes, saves us $100. That was last night's meal price on Fitzroy Island and that was for entreé and two sides only, with two drinks. Phew.

its still holidays

Mt Fitzroy  climb

Lunch view