First Canadian guests

July 3-16, 2011
My sister Cary and her 17 year old son Bryce, arrived today.  It was so great to see them walk through the gates at the airport!!! 
Took them down to the Esplanade and the lagoon after unpacking at home.
We were off school this week so we could spend lots of time with them.  Then the second week we were back in school and they could use my car and tour around on their own.  Scott had to go to work for a few days mid week, but that didn't stop us from having some great adventures.

Monday got up VERY early and went zip lining at 8:45 am at Cape Tribulation 2 hours north of us.
Tuesday was Tjapukai Cultural Center for their open house.
Wednesday was Cairns Central shopping & the Red Beret to watch the State of Origin AFL game.
Thursday snorkeling and hanging out at Fitzroy Island.
Friday was Rusty's market, Crystal Cascades, Barron Gorge and Holloways beach.
Saturday we headed up the range to Kuranda and the Tablelands.  Scott met up with us on his motorbike and we made our way to Chillagoe Lime Caves in the outback for the night.
Sunday we went on a guided cave tour, check out the abandoned smelter, and explored the Tablelands.
Monday I worked, so Scott took them go-karting and to Fresh Water  swimming hole.
The rest of the week we were back at school so they would drop us off and headed to the tropical zoo, crocodile farm, explored beaches and to the shopping centers.
We hit the night market, cable park, Brody's field hockey practice, Hailey's tennis practice and a BBQ at the beach.
Saturday afternoon headed to the airport with them, after Brody's field hockey game, to fly to Melbourne to surprise the next guests, Kim, Darrell and Chris!

Cheers Mate!

Cary's turn to drive

Cary buying treats

Autographs after shooting hoops with the Taipans Basketball team

Barron Gorge & Surprise Falls

Snorkeling at Fitzroy Island in the Great Barrier Reef

Life's a Beach!

Cary finally turned it the right way!

Gales on the paddle skis at Fitzroy Island

Very tall cane sugar

Shopping heaven

Lake Placid

walking along the esplanade & lagoon

beach at the lagoon

Fresh & LIVE mud crabs for supper

Daintree & Cape Tribulation

Daintree & Cape Tribulation Monday July 4
Up very early and gone by 6:15 am.  Took muffins, fruit, sausage rolls, juice and granola bars for breakfast on the go.  Took the ferry across the Daintree River, then continued up the very narrow and windy road to Cape Tribulation.

Ferry across Daintree River

cane train being filled

8:45 am pick up for our Jungle Surfing adventure.  We were all given special names on our helmets for our trip, Scott was Bambi, Brody was Batman, Darby was Madame Butterfly, Hailey was Herby the Love Bug, Cary was Rambo, Bryce was Austin Powers and I was Cookie Monster.  We went zip lining over the Daintree Rain forest for about 2 hours.  We zipped between 5 tree platforms, at one point we were 22.5 m above the Mason Creek with a 78 m span.  We could see the Great Barrier Reef from up here!

go Herbie

the swinging boys

Madame Butterfly fluttering by

Rambo and Bambi hanging out together

After we finished on the zip line, we walked to the beach and found lots of coral.  Brody found a Pandanus Fruit and broke it open.We continued on our adventure to the Daintree Discovery Center.  We had a quick bite to eat before starting our walk through the rain forest.  We learnt about the Fauna in the area following the guide book and # on the plaques.  The boys had fun playing with the cassowary plums.  We learnt so much at the interpretive centre.

watching an informative video

Looking over the top of the rain forest out to the coral reef

Rain forest floor

Back to the car for our return trip across on the ferry, through Mossman and into Port Douglas and Four Mile Beach.  Played on the beach for awhile, walked to the look out and then went for supper on the wharf at Hogs Breath.

Find Scott & the kids on Four Mile Beach

A quiet ride home as everyone was pretty tired.  We did make one more stop at Alexandra look out.

Tanks Market

Tanks Market  June 26
Today was the monthly market at the Tanks, this is the area next to the Botanic Gardens we had seen before, but couldn't go into.  The Tanks use to hold oil during the war and now are used for displaying art work, wellness booths and market stalls.  They often use them for concert and other live performances.  Today we saw a ukulele auction and other art work.  There was a variety of items for sale including jewelery, clothes, plants, art, food, crafts and so much more.  The one Tank that had all the wellness booths in it had everything from Reiki and massage to reflexology.

valve on the tank

Hailey loves the 'living statues'

sign going into the tanks

inside the tank

 

Darby checking out the art

Art display inside a tank

Another tank

Ukulele art

After we finished walking around we headed to the Esplanade for the Sustainability Expo (recycling) and a swim in the lagoon.  We also watched a street performer escape a straight jacket and chains, then swallow a sword.  Had supper at Rattle and Hum along the esplanade before heading home.

Canvas bag dress, hey I could make one!

Creative dresses from pop cans, newspaper and plastic.

Endeavor

June 29, 2011
We picked Scott up from the airport this afternoon and went down to the Trinity Inlet to see the replica, launched in 1994, of the Endeavor ship while it was in port.   It was an overcast day as we toured the ship that Captain Cook and Mr. Banks sailed on.  Mr. Joseph Banks was a naturalist who funded most of the exploration and collected plant samples as they explored.  Others who joined them on their journey were Charles Green an astronomer and 2 artists, Sydney Parkenson & Alexander Buchan.  The New Zealand 50 cent piece has the Endeavor on it.  The volunteers explained the different areas in the ship and items on board.  There was 39 km of rigging.

Rainy day

mast

bow

Romman size doors

not a lot of space down below

On 29th April 1770 the Endeavor was the first seagoing vessel to reach the east coast of Australia at Botany Bay, New South Wales.  On 11 June, 1770 the Endeavor ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef and it took 7 weeks to repair the hull.  They went to Endeavor River for repairs once it got off the Great Barrier Reef.  Captain Cook mapped the coast line of Australia for 6 months.  A great taste of history for us.

AFL game & Centenary Lakes

AFL game & Centenary Lakes - June 25

Watching and learning

We found Watson's Oval and watched the North Cairns (Tigers) and the South Cairns (Cutters) teams play.  AFL has 4 quarters, each 20 minutes long with stop-start clock so about 2 hours in total.  They get 6 points for a goal kicked through the uprights, 1 point if through the smaller uprights on the outside of the larger ones.  The field is oval and very wide with 18 players per side on the field at a time.  It doesn't seem as rough as rugby, but the players can sure jump and kick the ball with such accuracy.  Players are aged 16-36 years old.  The water boys or trainers can walk on and off the field at any time.  The play is almost constant with very little stop time.  To start the game or after a goal, the ball is thrown up like a jump ball for basketball.  The ball is passed forward and they can run with it as well, every now and then they bounce the ball and keep on going.  The ball seems to never stop and they grab it on the run.  I'm sure there is more to it, but that is what I've figured out so far!!

Yellow goal posts

half time break

After the game we walked through Centenary Lakes and played at the playground.  This park is connected to the Botanic Gardens via paths and board walks.

Water droplet on a lily pad

play time

Another new place to discover

Board walk

Walking through the park

                                                   

AFL Game

Festival of the Knob - June 11

Festival of the Knob  June 11

Had to go to this one just because of it's name!  It was held at Yorkeys Knob in honour of  George "Yorkey" Lawson.  There were rides, over 80 stalls selling their wares, crafts, food, entertainment and the crowning of the Queen and King Knob.  They had some interesting competitions such as guess the number of mosquitoes in the  net cage.  We enjoyed a few hours wondering around the festival.
Hailey got a special braid in her hair, while Darby shopped for a gift for her friends birthday.  Everyone picked something yummy to eat, I got a chicken kabob, Brody got a garlic prawn kabob, Hailey had a Freckle ice cream cone and Darby enjoyed a Frankfurter with cheese.  We watched some musical entertainment and the crowning of the King & Queen Knob, check out their crowns!!

Smiles all around!

New King & Queen Knob crowned

Make & year anyone??

Hailey having a braid threaded into her hair

Love their slogan!