FNQ – on my way

Once upon a time I would carefully write out what I wanted to post. Don’t now have time today, and I suspect our daily timetables won’t give a lot of quiet reflection time if I’ve still got to get on and actually do the post.

I’ve got a long-time rule: it’s always best to come home with wet swim togs. Maybe I could extend that to ‘each day’? At least the weather should suit. Didn’t happen yesterday but I wasn’t going to let the opportunity go by today.

Arrived at Port Douglas mid afternoon. After a walk around the town and a lookout check of the long beach where Kingsford-Smith famously landed, we’ve come to the Sheraton Mirage Resort. Didn’t have time to try out the golf course or go across for a walk on K-S’s beach (4 Mike Beach) but the building my room is in (my pay rate doesn’t get me to a ground floor room with direct access to the pool) is so close to one of the myriad of pools, I had to dig out the togs. (Definitely no pic of me in togs!)

So to Cairns yesterday. I’d picked a hotel quite close to the airport so that was handy for arrival, and I was last pickup on the tour bus at lunchtime as it headed north. Yesterday in a resort that has grown like topsy around a nice old ‘Queenslander’. Cairns Colonial Club Resort. It too has several pools but by the time I completed a much longer walk than intended – got caught up behind the Saltwater Creek and tributaries on the very flat area between the mountains and the sea – and it was nearly dark by the time I got back to my small motel-type room in the complex behind the front entry.

but the facilities were good and staff friendly so I’m not complaining. But if you’re using it as a base to see any more of Cairns, you’d need a car or bike. It’s a fair way from anywhere interesting including shops. Looks like this area previously had quite a lot of similar homes. Most now redeveloped.
weather so far warm and humid but not sunny so not hot. The bus today was actually a bit cool. Might have to pack something longer in my cabin bag.

the most interesting thing about the trip up – it was cloudy for most of the way so didn’t get full benefit from my window seat – we must have done a slow/wide U turn as we approached Cairns. I got quite a startle when we came out of the clouds and the land was on my right. (Ie we’re flying south, not north!)

So the tour has started. 2 staff (driver who is South African but been here 20 years he says and 8 years with Outback Spirit, and a woman assistant.) 16 of us on a 26 seat bus so no problem getting a double seat to myself.

4 Mike Beach from Flagstaff Lookout. The flagstaff has no doubt long. Since gone. Indeed it seems that many things at either long gone or reconstituted. The 1911 cyclones get a big mention. Then another in 1934.
St Mary’s was destroyed in 1911. Rebuilt. Then moved down near the harbour in 1958. Now just a memory of times gone by. Weddings, christenings. Possibly funerals?