We had two nights at Mission Beach. It has changed so much since we were there in '94. The devastation from Yazi has to be seen to be believed. The rainforest areas have as many trees horizontal as vertical, and all the canopy is ripped to shreds. There was also no tropical fruit to be had - apart from the local bananas bought at 5 for $1.00! However Tim had a wonderful time damming the small creek that washes onto Mission Beach next to the camp ground. We then...

At last - we have added 5 new photos to the album - check out the Macaw! Sorry Nat there is also a new spider. Put a load of washing on early - then someone came and put more water into the machine! So we are waiting for it to finish. Then we're off for more food shopping and away to Mission Beach. Wonder if I'll have internet there? A big thanks to the support people on the blog for solving the photo problem.

Again not my photo - awaiting help from OffExploring ... Driving to Coffee Works - hope it's worth the long haul up another winding road - made doubly enjoyable (not!) by the very smelly rubbish truck crawling up just ahead of us. We're also ravenous - packed lunch stuff (baked beans for the boys and IndoMie noodles for me) but didn't leave any eating utensils within reach. Better yet there is no phone coverage here so I can't blog or email. Guess I should ...

This is NOT the photo I wanted but photo link appears broken! We are currently driving to Mossman Gorge then on to COFFEE WORLD!! The next bit was typed last night ... Sorry for long gaps between posts. The site asks for a photo first and I've had problems loading shots - it takes an age for each one to load and then we are out of internet range! I had hoped to get one of Tim snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef up but suspect they are somehow locked. I'll k...

Belatedly updating from Cairns. We took a day off today - it is pouring with rain and has been doing so all day. Today's photo is from near Ravenshoe. We were inside a cloud! Coming from NT into QLD was interesting - got onto narrow roads, expected the road trains to share - they DON'T! Later we noticed signage showing that the road trains have absolute right of way. Just as well Austen gave in and moved over! They also have interesting road signs that look lik...