The coastline going north from Cairns.

The drive along the coast road north was stunning -- beautiful sandy beaches, no waves of course because of protection by the Great Barrier Reef. Access was easy and although there were dire warnings about stingers (not applicable at this time of year), this time at least there was no mention of crocodiles! Isobel felt easier about swimming there, not like at Yorkey's Knob the other day. It is one of Cairns' northern beaches, which tells you that crocodiles may inhabit the area. Although there are the usual "swim between the flags" signs and lifeguards on duty, indicating one is expected to swim, one can be forgiven for having a certain hesitation. With Isobel's track record for accidents she was keeping her swimming sessions very brief.

Not finding space in any caravan parks in Port Douglas, a very nice resort where we had originally intended to buy a small place before we bought the Dingo Beach house, we carried on to Mossman, where the first people we saw were Tim, Bec and the kids, in the same caravan park. There was a bit of catching up and comparing notes over a drink, and we are sure to meet up with them again. We just love their company.

We had thought we were priced out of property in Port Douglas, but reading some ads in a real estate window made us realise this is not the case. We may yet end up with something here if we sell Dingo Beach. In fact there was the perfect place at a very reasonable price. We must check the lottery ticket from last Saturday in case we can buy now!! We won 23 dollars and 20 cents on the last one we bought!

Today was spent in Mossman Gorge, following a walking trail of a few kilometres. It was delightfully cool in the rainforest on what could have been a hot day and we managed to complete it without incident in spite of roots and boulders to negotiate.

This caravan park has an Olympic-size pool, in which a swim was the perfect end to the afternoon.

The "Good Shepherd", very important in local aboriginal lore

One of many strangulating figs in the Mossman Gorge rainforest

Huge buttress roots, which the aboriginals in days gone by used to make their woomeras and boomerangs. How fascinating is the rainforest and how Isobel loved teaching on that subject to Class 4!