We are definitely in sugar cane country and as you'll see from the photos we have been getting our fill of information about how this industry is the 2nd largest money maker in Queensland (us tourists being the first!).

After we left Atherton Bert and Fran stayed at Bill and Val's place at Peeramon and we went down to Tony's friend Graham (Grumpy) in Edmonton, just out of Cairns. None-the-less the four of us did similar things during the time we were apart. We took a trip to Kuranda, up in the mountain range above Cairns. There are heaps of markets and places to eat here. Bert and Fran drove down on their way to see Port Douglas and we took the train from Feshwater in Cairns up the mountain coming back via the Skyrail.

We drove up to Port Douglas and Mossman Gorge the day before we all caught up at the free camping spot in Innisfail.

Cairns is one of our favourite places and Bert and Fran agree it is a 'must visit again' spot with its fantastic climate (temperatures around 26 degrees while we were there), the shopping and the beautiful surrounds.

Port Douglas was absolutely buzzing with the school holiday crowd and of course the grey nomads like us. Another great place but very commercialised and no free camping spots. b*****!

Tony and I went up to Mossman Gorge but it has changed the way it operates since our last visit here 10 years ago. They now run a shuttle bus up to the gorge and they have put heaps of boardwalks to the streams and falls.

Our plans are now to travel down the Queensland coast popping inland every now and then to see places like Charters Towers, Emerald, Sapphire and Rubyvale. Catch you in the next instalment.