Day Thirty Eight - August 13th, 2013
Mossman Gorge to Cairns
It's snuck up on me. Years and years of teenage and student resistance have crumbled, and I am now a 'morning person'. It's all Elliot's fault, and I blame him entirely - the boy can't sit still and is up with he sun. But today, I could see just how far I've come along the evolutionary scale while we waited for Megan and Ben to get ready. We were still in the car by the allotted 9am deadline, but I was actually ready more than half an hour before that. Mum and Angus, I hope you're proud.
We packed ourselves into the car, literally, and set off for Mossman Gorge. The view was spectacular rainforest the whole way. Once at the gorge, we were informed that we could pay $6 each for the shuttle bus, or walk the 2km for free. No brainier for us, but I'm not so sure B&M were as keen! The sun was or in full force even though it was only 9.15am, so we sunblocked up and headed out onto the road. We passed an aboriginal village, and waved hello to some of the cheery locals. The indigenous people are some of the friendliest we have met so far, and this far out of the city, escape all of the stereotypes which surround them.
We kept a look out for cassowaries and there were multiple sign posts, but once again we were disappointed. The canopy above us did not let us down however, and we had a happy walk through the rainforest, despite my paranoia of snakes dropping from the trees (ever since I found out they live there, I don't know whether to look up or down - the beasts are everywhere!).
We made it to the entrance to the gorge and took the boardwalk. Before the lookout, we headed down to the river and took a little paddle. I was reassured by the white water that absolutely no crocs lived that high up, and the clarity of the water was perfect. It was a little chilly, and Ben took an unfortunate tumble head first into the stream, but dried off quickly in the sun. It was only then that I noticed the 'danger' signs about fast moving currents. Suddenly that seems like child's play compared to dinosaurs living in the creeks. We took a few pictures at the mouth of the river, and headed to Rex's Bridge. Suspended amongst the trees, it provided a great view of the jungle. However it not only swayed, but bounced. I didn't know if I loved it or hated it. It was originally built by the army in 1985, which required them lying on their fronts to screw in the bolts staring straight down into the depths below. Definitely made of stronger stuff than I!
We headed back to the entrance after another little paddle, and the 2k back towards the car. Once there, and a coffee for B&M later, we were on our way back to Cairns. Our trip into the Daintree has been one of the best journeys so far, and I'll be sad to leave such a lush environment behind. The scenery on the drive did not disappoint, with endless blue waters stretching to even bluer skies. Not even the old man having a dip in just his hat could ruin it.
Back at the campsite, we had a lot to do. Re-check in, and retrieve all our belongings from the storage area. Once the tents were up and we'd restored order once more, Elly and I headed off to clean the car inside and out. It was nice to cool off in the spray! As the sun went down, the trainers came out, and we drove to the Esplanade for a run. A quick 5k (6k for Elly) later, we were sweating like builders! We managed to have a cuddle with a pair of 9 week old dachshund puppies who were being carried by their owners along the path. I know Elliot is missing his dogs, especially Elvis a lot. Hopefully we can get one as soon as we settle SOMEWHERE!
We popped to Woolys and cooked up a concoction with B&M: prawns and noodles with veggies. Delish! We had a good chat with our new neighbours, who have just driven from Melbourne up to Darwin and across. They are a family with two young boys, and said it was the worst drive they've ever done. Seeing as they're decked out with all the top end gear, this didn't fill us with confidence. They advised us to stick to the Flinders Highway. After a few (true) croc horror stories, they'd truly squashed any confidence I'd had in this trip. Hopefully we can meet someone who can restore it before we leave!