And again, OffExploring won't let me upload one of my own pictures .... Excuse the library shot.

Saturday. Woke at 7.30 and opened the curtains on a very grey scene. Mist hanging over the hills opposite. Took a picture - Eddie asked why I had decided to take it in b/w. It wasn't!
We've decided to amend our itinerary. The forecast is horrendous the further north you go - torrential rain, thunderstorms, floods - so we have cancelled Cape Tribulation and are staying two extra days in Cairns where the weather is totally mixed.
After breakfast we spoke to the tour desk in the lobby about trips out into the rainforest and to the Great Barrier Reef. Tours are still running to the reef despite the weather but the Kuranda scenic rail is cancelled for the weekend - at present scheduled to run in the week so we have booked this for Monday and a boat trip out to Green Island on Tuesday.
Took a walk around Cairns - along the boardwalk by the small boats harbour and round what is called the lagoon - a lagoon shaped public swimming pool looking out onto the beach. A great amenity. Strolled along the Esplanade which is a bit Blackpool-ish with seaside shops, cafés and bars, then turned towards where other shops are located.
Along one short stretch of road there are half a dozen huge rainforest trees. The noise over our heads was unbelievable. A cacophony of screeching. Looking up we realised the noise was coming from an army of fruit bats that were high up in the trees. Everywhere there are giant trees - the whole town has a very green feel to it. Lots of different mushrooms growing too.
Had a cool off in the air conditioned atmosphere of the Woolworth food hall. Always interested in seeing food in other countries. Gorgeous fish again. Then went and had pizza and Peroni in one of the Blackpool caffs. Yum!
The forecast rain has held off all day and there's been some sunshine. The mist hasn't cleared from the tree clad hills opposite and the humidity is very high indeed. Forget about hair dos!
Chilled in our room for a while then over to the lounge for pre dinner drink. Sat outside on the balcony and watched the ever changing colours of the skyline as the sun set - couldn't see the actual sunset because there was another hotel in the way but the pink on the clouds was spectacular enough.
Then in the distance we saw what looked like a mass of birds all gathering to fly home to their roost. They flew closer and closer over the hotel and we quickly realised these were the bats we had seen earlier - and more. There were thousands and thousands and thousands of them.
Did a Google search and it turns out they are a recognised phenomenon in Cairns, regarded by many as a pest. But these flying foxes are important to the survival of the mangrove swamps, providing a necessary role in the distribution of seeds. They are migratory but Cairns is a recognised roosting place for them, in heritage trees in the town. From here they fly out to the mangrove swamps to the south of cairns.
There is a move to cut back some of the branches from the heritage trees to discourage them from roosting there, but this would push them elsewhere. In turn is could have a detrimental effect of the mangrove swamps. Playing with nature in this way is never a good thing.
The swarms of bats were astonishing to see. They are so big and fly like rooks, but as they go overhead you can see the hooks on their wings and the formation of their hind legs.
While they were flying over the heavens opened and torrential rain flooded down. Quite a surprise as the evening has looked so nice half an hour earlier.
Once the spectacle of the bats was over - after 45 mins or so - we went down to take a look at the hotel's casual eaterie which faces out into the waterfront. Really lucky to grab the last table outside under a canopy where we were totally sheltered from the heavy rainfall that kept coming in waves. Very warm still, humidity lower, but boy was the rain heavy when it came!
Now back in our room and ready for sleep. Quiet day planned for tomorrow. Feet are suffering and need time to recover!