Monday, October 18, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Heading Home
Last Day in Queensland
Beautiful day for our bitter sweet drive back along the coast to the airport in Cairns. We'll miss the sugar cane fields, rich burnt sienna earth, rolling hills, curious cows and towns that felt like we had been transported back to the 1950's.
Mini stops along the way brought us to terrific National Parks. All are free access, super clean with well marked walking trails and posted points of interest.
The Boulders Gorge made us feel like we were already back home at Bingham Falls. Well... except for the stray palm tree!
All packed, last bit of crackers and wine consumed, our picnic companion crowed...."time to get on the plane!"
Mini stops along the way brought us to terrific National Parks. All are free access, super clean with well marked walking trails and posted points of interest.
The Boulders Gorge made us feel like we were already back home at Bingham Falls. Well... except for the stray palm tree!
All packed, last bit of crackers and wine consumed, our picnic companion crowed...."time to get on the plane!"
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Num Nums!
Beach and Dunk Island
Our own private beach down the hill from the sanctuary plus.... The Best footwear ever!
Dunk Island from Mission Beach, island map, our water taxi and a stretch of isolated beauty.
Since coming home I've ordered "The Confessions of a Beach Comber:Life on a Queensland tropic isle" by E. J. Banfield...it just came in the mail today! It is Banfield's account of Dunk Island life and was first published in 1908...very cool...Walden of the tropics!
Cassowaries
Why did the Cassowary cross the road?
Unbelievable, on our first full day on the coast in Queensland, we came upon this amazing creature!
"Cassowaries are usually shy birds of the deep forest, adept at disappearing long before a human knows they are there. Even the more accessible Southern Cassowary of the far north is not well understood."
"The 2007 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records lists the cassowary as the world's most dangerous bird. During WWII American and Australian troops stationed in New Guinea were warned to steer clear of them. Many internet entries about cassowaries state that they can disembowel a human or dog with one kick, with the long second toe claw cutting the gut open."
Great!!!
OK, they cross the road because they are big scary dinosaurs that deserve the right of way.
The Cassowary Plum...their main food source. The gorgeous blue color matches the bird's neck.
Sanctuary Retreat
A beautiful drive along the coast from Cairns to Mission Beach lead us to the eco-lodge where we would be staying for three nights. This remote yoga retreat is accessible only via 4WD and our hike from the car park to the lodge was wild! We chose not to hike it in the dark!
The Lodge's lobby and view from the porch at sun-up...really great, especially hearing the birdsong!
The communal kitchen and our screened in hut....deluxe camping!
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