Boulders. It's Beautiful.

There are butterflies in the trees. They are flying around the leaves of trees about 4 metres high. They are tasseling with each other, in an un-orchestrated dance. A few are above the treetops, like little birds.

The River Runs Calmly

Jacqui and the boys went for a swim in the river that runs past here. 15 people have died swimming in unsafe areas. We haven't seen the unsafe areas yet, the eagerness to swim in a clear river surpassed going for a walk.

Down some metal steps and down to the river. There is a large rock that is a landing before stepping into the river, sand is on the river bed. Not too far from the steps there are smooth rocks below the surface. The water is clear, you can see the bottom even though you cannot determine the depth.

The water was cold. But by the time you realise that the temperature of the water at Ocean Grove was freezing in comparison this, the temperature was perfect. The boys went under, some of them finding a landing to jump off. Secluded and not busy, this little place is perfect.

Dinner for Two (families)

We were preparing dinner for the Miller's tonight. They were returning for one final night together before heading south on a fast trip to fly out of Australia, destined (eventually) for home.

We get back to camp and the boys make friends with the children travelling on a bus for a year, we watched them arrive, parking their bus among the tree. They play Uno in their home, shaped as a bus, while Jacqui and I sit outside for a chat with the parents.

I started making dinner. Trying to get the timing right with no communication to the Travelling Millers, the dinner reservation was imprecise. They arrived and we finished off preparations for the meal as the tent was put up.

We stood around the small concrete table listening to tales of diving the Great Barrier Reef, funny jokes told by sea-bound diving instructors and things that had gone right and wrong.

Our last meal together in Australia was great. The rain started after we finished washing up.

Then It Rained

When we get rain at home it gets heavy very occasionally and when it does fall there is not very much. In Cairns the rain falls in plenty and does not let up. We feared a few times our tent would collapse beneath the weight of the rain drops.

It started light. Pattering down as we moved things away for the night, hiding the food in to car to stop attracting some unpleasant. Within ten minutes it was heavy. Causing us to run back and forth to get everything away for the night.

I went to bed so early to avoid the rain that I woke up several times to hear it had not stopped. I could feel the water running beneath our tent.

The rain was alternating between nice and gentle, followed by some big drops that splat on the fly of the tent and they increased until the rain was all "splats", the heavy sound feeling like it would knock the tent over.

It was still raining in the morning.