WEEK 5 - WET, WET CAIRNS

Well, we have survived the 1st month.  I read somewhere if you can survive the 1st month you can survive the trip.  Yes we have had moments where I have screamed at the kids to do their homework and have opened that bottle of wine a little earlier than normal but overall the trip has been amazing.  We have seen a different side to all the kids - Spencer who doesn't really like trying new things  and won't go outside his comfort zone is really trying.  Phoebe talks the most she has ever spoken and is turning out to be a very responsible, happy girl.  That Scarlett well, she's crazy as a cut snake in the nicest kind of way, has improved with her speech and really grown up - sometimes!!!  And as for Michael and I we are closer than ever and work as a great team, no one has been locked out of the van yet!!

So we leave Mission Beach and it's paw paw, banana, passionfruit, sugarcane everywhere for miles on end.  When does it ever stop raining!!

We were happy to hit Cairns and catch up with the Malones again and have decided to stay a week here.  The Big 4 at Cairns is like a theme park there are 3 pools, 2 massive jumping pillows, huge playground and also a restaurant so it ticks all the boxes for us.  The weather hasn't been great but what can you, do we are in the tropics!!

It was Michael's birthday this week so he and Chris went white water rafting along the Barron River and the boys had a great time, while Jacinta and I took the girls horse riding through the Daintree which was lots of fun.  The bums were a little tender the next day.

Kuranda was pretty but not what we were hoping for a little too touristy for us and the Skyrail being $300 was a little steep for us.  We walked through the markets and had the best fruit ice cream ever and went to the Butterfly Museum.  Phoebe and I loved the blue Ulysses butterfly and the kids loved seeing the big caterpillars.  They actually do look like the ones off Bugs Life, so next time you go to touch one don't forget you shorten their life if you.

Went to the Mossman Gorge which is absolutely beautiful with its massive boulders and breathtaking views it's something that you'll always remember.  We thought we would brave it and go up the Daintree to Cape Tribulation and try our luck 4 wheel driving up the Bloomfield Track.  We camped out and christened the tent at Cape Trib near the beach and it was lots of fun, the kids told stories at night and you couldn't keep the smile off Michael's face.  He was in his element.  And yes people I braved the tent, thought it might be too rough but loved it.

So with excitement buzzing in the air we headed off for the track,  we drove 9hrs from Cape Trib to Cooktown and then back to Cairns, a massive day.  It was pretty hairy at times.   The track is unsealed, muddy, and very windy and steep but what a rush!  Walked through croc infested streams that were waist height and for me the highlight of this trip.  There were 2 french guys who had been waiting for 2 days to be rescued, so I hope they are out by now!  They hit the boulders and panicked  and stopped and flooded the motor so they might be up for some big dollars to get them out. 

Finally we made it to the Lions Den Hotel and what a place, over a 100yrs old, used to be an old tin mining area.( which seems ironic as it's our 10yr wedding anniversary which is tin). It's an alcohol free zone here so it was pretty lucky we didn't have any in the waeco.  It's a long way up to Cooktown but we made it. YIPEE!

On our way back we stopped off at Port Douglas which I loved and I must say a place where I could stay if we didn't have kids.

Our beautiful friends the Malones had made a fantastic roast and we all tucked into a great home cooked dinner, we will miss the dearly when we part ways at the end of this week.  It has been a lovely surprise to meet such wonderful people.  So we celebrate our 10yr anniversary in Cairns and share our last night together with the Malones.  We survived!!!

TAM'S SURVIVAL TIPS #5
Might be a good idea to be organised when you leave the van and go off the beaten track! Came home to a rip in the awning from the wind blowing the awning into the clothes line and ripped it.
Go the extra money when it comes to the Big 4's you definately need a break from the kids.

Michael's tip - always send your wife through the croc infested waters to check the depth of the stream before crossing