Happy 2020 from the land of Oz

January 2020

Trip "map"

The new year started out with good news.  Our watermaker got fixed and is once putting out 30 gallons of fresh water per hour.

The NFL playoffs are in full swing.  
The forward bilge got some attention, ripping out a kaput unit and moving the 1500 gph pump into it's spot (low point in bilge).  

    On the 23rd, we headed north on a road trip from Tin Can Bay to Palm Cove (about 30 kilometers north of Cairns up the Queensland north eastern coast).  We had reservations for the 24th, so we (against, in hindsight, our better judgement) made a beeline to MacKay, where we

Our first night on the road  . One bed, community bathrooms, no AC,
 1 overhead fan, empty mini-fridge, restaurant & bar covered ground floor. 
But only $32 AUD for the night ($20.80 USD)

spent the night and made the second leg of the trip to Palm Cove the following day checking into The Sebel at Palm Cove at 5 p.m. on the 24th, totally exhausted but pleasantly surprised with the accommodations.  Our little RAV4 Toyota did a great job for a 2001 model with 254,000 kilometers used up when we bought it a year ago. 

This was the highway, one
lane north, one lane south

Our hotel for a week at Palm Cove

Telling us it's dangerous out there!

No classes today

Not only dangerous, enough so, they closed the beach
because of venomous jellyfish

This is "Downtown" Palm Cove

We took a trip north to visit Port Douglas and spend the day visiting the small town and the marina, where 30 years earlier, Nancy had climbed aboard a giant catamaran called Silver Streak and got the opportunity to visit the Great Barrier Reef and scuba dive from the ship.  We got a chance to visit the current (newer version) Silver Streak, but only from the dock, as it was a holiday and all the commercial vessels were locked up and empty. 

Nice view from a turn off on the way to Port Douglas

Would have been nicer had the sun peeked out

Nancy and the newest incarnation of "Quicksilver"

It was now time for some refueling of the body.  Calamari and Bangers & Mash (sausage and mashed potatoes) for lunch.

We also took a day trip south to the city of Cairns with the express purpose of visiting their well thought-of Aquarium.  We were not disappointed.  Afterwards, we strolled out to the harbor.  It's actually a huge mud flat which has a channel dredged to allow access to the marina.  Due to lack of proximity swimming in the bay, a huge pond surrounded by beach sand had been built and is available to the public for use, without fear of running into sharks or deadly (and abundant) jellyfish.

Nancy checking out the "reef" view

A Fan coral

Cairns has this huge pool, with sand beaches to boot,
as most of the waters (to the right) are a giant mud flat
and unsuitable for swimming.  Besides, there's no sharks
or jellyfish to worry about either.

Having lunch at an outdoor cafe on the "boardwalk"
 overlooking the harbor

We spent the last day just 15 kilometres north of our hotel, at a crocodile farm and wildlife "zoo".   We were really surprised and glad we went.  We had a river ride (think African Queen) watching crock eyes staring at us and witnessing the feeding by the boat driver.  The "zoo" part of the park had a good sampling of the local wild life and finished up the day with a very informative presentation on the actual farm where they raise crocs for their skins (shoes, belts, handbags, luggage, etc. made from their belly skin)  We were informed that they are sold at about two years old, and go for about $1,500 apiece.

They had other wildlife in the compound...we thought these
legs were something

Luckily, these guys were stuffed....

Although stuffed, this guy puts up quite a fight

Forgot her name, but she just lies around and produces
baby crocodiles

"You eye ballin' me?"

This is part of the actual crocodile farm, where very
expensive future purses, boots, belts, and luggage
are born

And were were also enlightened of the multitude of
venomous snakes slithering around the island of Australia

The Koalas seem intent on winning
a stare-down contest

The crocodile show was interesting and informative.
If you see one out of the water, run away FAST!

Mom "Roo" and little one in pouch

Are we done with the centerfold "shoot" yet?

Emu...very large...don't mess with them

The "cute" Wombat...

We celebrated our birthdays on the 29th and 30th, and checked out on the last day of the month. 

Time to head back to Shakedown.  But we're going to take the return trip a bit slower....some of the hotels/sights along the return trip....starting with

Townsville

Just HAD to stop at the Big Egg rest stop.  Didn't see
any chickens...which begs the question...

Another detour of about 25 km to check out a small beach

Go Carts with sails!  Pretty clever for these young folks

Nancy looking for sea shells...no luck on this beach

Our little Toyota RAV4 (with spare tire on back)

The view of back of Motel when coming out of rear exit
of the Bar/Restaurant, also owned by Motel

It appears that virtually all the hotel/motels along the route we took consist of a Bar, Restaurant, Rooms under one roof, and every town we went through (even population less than 500) had this same setup.  Reminded us of the old TV westerns having the Saloon, Food, and Rooms upstairs for cowpokes.



Upon returning to Tin Can Bay, the weather was SO crappy, we stayed overnight at a local hotel, The Sand Castle.

Our trip covered some 3,160 km.(1,964 mi.) round trip, virtually all it on 2-lane highway.

Like so many "vacations" it was time to rest up aboard Shakedown.