Living the Jucy Life....

November 14th-16th- CAPE TRIBULATION and DAINTREE RAINFOREST

Driving on the otherside of the road....this has been an adjustment.Here is a tourist look-out point along the raod to Cape Trib- I guess we are not the only ones who forget that we are on the other side of the road. Mark keeps signaling turns with the windshield wipers (which are located on the opposite side on the wheel from our usual), whih elicits laughter everytime...really it doesn't get old. :) Generally he seems to have gotten the hang of it, I have only attempted short distances, but the general rule seems to be to always go against your instinct and it works out alright.

   The road to Cape Tribualtion is a true jungle road...very windy and littered with signs to watch out for cassowaries. Mark saw one, and then we thought we saw another....though I am pretty suere its an emu. 

Cape Tribulation beach

This small rainforest town...well, not really a town since it seems that there are only 50 people who live here (once you take away all the german tourists...seriously, everyone is german).This is the farthest north that we will travel, as beyond Cape Trib, all the the roads are "unsealed" and you need a 4WD, so our tiny rented Hyundai Getz wont do.

I have mixed feelings about Cape Trib...it was not what I expected at all. The "town center" consists of a small IGA, chemist (pharmacy) and bottler, all of which are part of the main hostel. There is only one road, and 3 beautiful beaches. Unfortunately due to crocodiles and marine stingers, you have to be content with walking along the beaches rather than swimming. It seems like such a shame.

Our room was actually a cabin in the Daintree Rainforest, which we fell in love with immediately. A brief encounter with a spider and a palm-sized moth that tried to cuddle with us in the middle of the night, did dent our warm fuzzy feelings for the surroundings...but without a doubt it was one of the most special rooms we have ever stayed in.
Our two days there were slow and relaxed in a way that only a TV-free, stop-light free town can provide. We finally started to detach and sink into true holiday mode.

Our last day in Cairns

Nov 17th- Now; CAIRNS to TOWNSVILLE

We have left our beautiful apartment in Cairns and our rainforest hideaway in Cape Trib, and now we are driving, living, eating and sleeping in our camper van. Meet Lucy- our Jucy Campa-van, lovely, isn't she?

Lucy

Mark making breakfast in Lucy

We basically travel approximately 150km each day, and along the way get out and swim, eat, beach and explore anything that seems interessting.

 Mark swimmin in the falls at Milla MillaMe at the giant Curtain Fig Tree

We have to find a camp site each night by 6pm, otherwise its too dark to see anything. We dont have many time deadlines as we are travelling this way for 4 weeks...yes, we are camping for 4 weeks...I agree, we are a little nuts. I am sure there will be (and already has been) tears and screams, but so far so good. Mark is doing well without his usual creature-comforts and enjoys cooking in our make shift accomodations.He has truly impressed me so far...I think I am the more prissy one at this point.

Lucy provides suprisingly comfy sleeping arrangment.....but thank god for the portable DVD player. Like all camping, there's not much to do past 8pm...so we have 2 seasons of 24 to watch. Keifer Sutherland will now always hold a warm place in my heart. :)

Thats all for now....the adventure continues.  Next, we have a three day sailing trip in the Whitsundays planned for wednesday, so until then we will continue to meander through Queensland.

Lots of love.....Sarah and Mark