Crystal Cascades
Dear Adventurous Reader,
While we were up in the Tropical North we visited a number of natural waterfalls with running rivers and deep, lush rainforest. One of the places we visited was Crystal Cascades, a beautiful rainforest area out of Cairns.
Finding the Others
There is a narrow, worn concrete staircase leading down to a swimming area. I could hear the boys while walking the path above, splashing, swimming and yelling. I walked down the steps, carefully watching my footing; although the steps were concrete they were not well spaced nor easy to descend.
They boys had found a few spots along the river where they could use the rocks as a natural water slide, following the rush of water down each level of well worn river rocks and beautiful water falls. Their yells of delight filled the air.
As I got to the bottom of the steps I was greeted with becoming calls to watch as they conquered the water falls. "Dad! Watch this!" Levi pushed off from the water fall, with his snorkeling mask over his eyes, sliding down the smooth rock into the crystal clear pool below.
The other boys followed.
The little boys snooped between rocks in search of beer caps, their new favourite treasure to find when we stop. There is no shortage of beer caps in Australia, due to the abundant beer, beer drinkers and responsibility to littering that those two things produce. Four X is the most frequent, one day they may find something more special.
I had been working. Sitting beside the running river. It was time to work, so I braved the march flies, found a lovely rock and did some work for the afternoon. It was pleasant to sit against the stones and tap on my keyboard. The sound was wonderful.
Time to Swim
The only problem with me working is that Jacqui doesn't get to swim. She spends her time juggling Adeline and the little lads as they potter between the rocks and brave to fast rushing water. My battery ran out, so did my work so by the time that I found everyone else, upstream, Jacqui was looking forward to a swim.
Toes in the water in a calm spot, Jacqui has been taking her time easing herself into the water and it is not very cold up here. Finally she pushed off and found a nice deep spot to go under. It wasn't long after that the boys urged her to follow them down the natural water slides.
This is one of the reasons why it has been difficult to drive away from the Tropical areas. Lush rainforest, rushing waters and waterfalls, rock slides and wonderful afternoons beneath the glorious green. It was difficult to leave and even more difficult to think about now we are south.