Saturday March 24th
our plane was up before the sun
After we landed in Cairns we rented a cute little car, picked up some snacks and headed north up the coast in hopes to find this little place called Port Douglas. There were plenty of stops along the way.
STOP 1:
This was a little rinky dink side of highway zoo that wanted almost 40 big ones just for us to look around and stick our fingers in the cages. We opted for the picture with the sign and settled for the free viewing of the birds.
STOP 2: Palm Cove
The beautiful people. Fancy hotels, lavish restaurants, cute coffee joints, colorful souvenir shops, miles and miles of beach, jet ski rentals. ($90.00 for thirty minutes. TRUE.)
This was our car for the day....how cute is she
Brad checking out the water temp at Palm Cove. Right after he did this we say the croc signs...don't worry he still has all ten of this toes.
Soy Flat White and a Double Soy Pic with dark chocolate sprinkled on top please and thank you.
yummmy
Still making our way up the coast...
STOP 3: Ellis Beach
There is a story here. We saw some signs pulled in...just happened to be private property type place. Beach front cabins, a pool...you know cozy. Vacation type place for maybe the retired folk. Quite. Peaceful. Well once we got to the beach there was NO ONE around. So we just walked along...waiting, hoping for signs of life. Eventually we found the deserted public beach with a friendly lifeguard that was stripping off her stinger suit. She informed us the deadly jellies were most likely out there and advised us to stay on the shore. I WAS SWEATING...this tropical weather was making me all hot and I was thinking...could the blue box jelly hurt me THAT bad. I need a dip. Then I remember the pool...gave Brad the "lets go, I got a plan" look. Five minutes later we were doing doggies paddles and back floats in the cool pool calling each other Marge and Ronny.
STOP 4: Side of Road
Finally we made it! Hello, Port Douglas! We celebrated with a Fat Yak at lunch and planned our next moves while falling in love with the cute little town Port Douglas. We were supposed to drive back to Carnies that night but we still wanted to head to the Mossman Gorge and we loved the vibe that P.D. was throwing at us. Brad made some phone calls, we found ourselves a good deal at a hotel and decided to stay the night. Before we could have anymore cocktails we decided to drive up and do one last sight see.
To the Mossman Gorge
AND
At the Mossman Gorge
It was a quick drive there and back, which we were pretty thankful fore since we had been going since 4:30 AM. We were beat and ready for a night cap even though the clock has not even struck 7PM
I have fun with this guy. He had me laughing at 5 in the morning when we were eating fruit that was "not quite ripe", I could not wipe the smile from my face when we were singing along to tunes in the car and then we played at the beach in all efforts not to go back to our hotel and sleep before the sun.
"Rach, there it is! The beach cheese ball"
Ok, so we are in P.D. and we have to be back in Cairns at 6:20 AM for our 3 day dive trip. After the sunset at the beach we eat dinner and hightail it to bed. The alarms go off early and we make our way to the Prodive Shop. We check in for the 3 day 2 night dive trip and wait for the other divers to arrive before we take a van to the dock where we board our home for the next few days.
We were assigned bunk room #1, right by the captain quarters! I called dibs on top bunk but insisted Brad could come up anytime for a visit and to take in the view.
The kitchen where meals for our meals were made. Stephi was the cook and she never sat down for a second! Always chopping, baking, boiling, frosting...you name it she did it.
Off the back of the boat!
Ok this is only part one....I have heaps more pictures and stories.....coming soon!!
