190 KM30 August- 1 September 2011

It was Sarah's turn to drive!The pace was a little slower but I certinally enjoyed the bus!The steering wheel is just like that of a bus and the wing mirrors are broken so they flatten to the sides when you drive above 40km!Most speed limits are around 60-80Km but on the big roads go up to 100 KM.Feels like your flying with the added wind factor rocking the beast!The roads seemed to go quiet, and the land spread around us as we pulled into a Ferry Terminal.A ferry terminal?!Me and Sam looked at each other with mirrored confusion and disbelief that we had taken a wrong turn!Over some tasty sarnies I russeled up in our spacious kitchen we established we had over looked a ferry must be taken to reach Cape Tribulation!Well at least we didn't go the wrong way!

I drove the van steadily onto the barge which was pulled over by a metal chain system, Sam hung out of the window trying desperately to spot a croc or some sort of wild animal!A very windy and rolercoaster-style drive up and down the mountains we reached Cape Tribulation.The roads were almost contradicting - we never seemed to drive up very steap declines / inclines but one minute we would be looking over tree tops in a vast rainforest valley, and the next we would be driving next to the beach.Very confusing!Our campsite was pefect, a mear 2 second walk and we were on the white sandy beach next to Cape Tribulation beach.We had a great kitchen area and flushing toilets and hot showers!

An evening stoll down the beach and back before it was time to cook our Kanga Bangers (oh yes, you're right, Kangaroo Sasauges, of course it didn't take us long!) in a tasty tomato sause, with lots of veg (don't you worry mum!) and pasta.... ahhhhh pasta.

The prospect of seeing wild animals has consumed Sam.Crying out "Snakey Snakey" or "Crocy Crocy" constantly, convinced that his cry will lure them closer.I am sure you can imagine how happy this makes me; what more could I want that a snakey or crocy in my campsite?!

The next morning kicked off with a walk to Cape Tribulation.Only 10 minutes in the heavens opened.Not a storm as such but my life, heavy heavy rain!Having explored the damp beach and surrounding areas we hedded back the van for a fun filled afternoon of board games, reading and diary writing.Its nice to finally have a base.

Bush Turkeys and (I believe they were called) Scrub Fowl were the most exotic creatures so far, not including the giant moth and strange bug that was in the toilet with me.Our final morning in the hills we decided to walk down the creek where crocs are spotted daily.Being vary cautious I refused to venture too near the water.Sam bounding around beckening the creatures to us!But, to both our delight and excitemnet, a croc was spotted.We saw him the far side of the creek, slowly, very slowly moving along the edge, eyes poked up, back slightly showing.What a creature.He looked so powerful.After that Sam didn't get so near the edge.Having seen one truely in the wild we both found it easier to belive they do live in the sea... although this went against my previous conceptions about croc habitats!

We ventured to the local swimming hole during our walk, as we came to a clearing in the rainforest and crossed the road we saw a very deserted looking typical american horror film country house.It was all boarded up with no one around.We walked a little further, the slightly crooked sights creaking in the wind.Crossing a small white wooden bridge, past the honesty box (where you pay to use the swimming hole) we ventured back into the rainforest.All of the sounds became much louder, my sense hightenend.Still, not a body in sight, there were more bulidings slight behind to our right - they also appeared deserted.The sudden drop to the swimming hole appeared;the slightly dried up area with odd frayed ropes dangling above.Everything seemed a little too deserted.My imagination flew away.... all the horror film ads and clips I have seen came flooding back to me....so much so when a leaf fell I almost cacked myself!! I ran out of the creapy rainforest area and calmed myself!On my return Sam was considering going down to the water (designated croc free area so nothing to worry about).But I cried out - TURTLE!! There in the water below he was flapping his little legs swimming down to the debths.Lucy, I can only hope it was a pigged nosed one.