Mossman Gorge and Port Douglas

Barb and Jim very generously offered to lend us a car. Jim is a senior policeman, so we assumed we would get a car with a flashing blue light, and maybe a squad of motorcycle outriders. I fancied making a few arrests or something. But no blue light, and I couldn't even find the gun in the glove box.

But we had a great time anyway, cruising up the coast to the Mossman Gorge and Port Douglas.

Mossman Gorge

Kids playing in roots of strangler fig

Cricket on green of Port Douglas headland

Girls playing in banyan tree

Looking south from Port Douglas

Looking north to Port Douglas at low tide

 The Marlin Coast

 Harry the Roaster at Coffee World, Mareeba

Mungalli Falls

Yorkey's Knob

We spent a day anchored in Cairns river near the super-yacht Octopus, owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

All you Windows users paid for this.

Then an early coasting up to Yorkey's Knob, just north of Cairns. Barb and Jim live there. Barb is a psychologist who used to work with me in Burleigh Heads. We went to a special foodie restaurant in Palm Cove.

Yorkey's Knob

Barb

Jim

Cute kid in restaurant

Then we had a delightful day with the family of George's cousin Rachel, who lives nearby. She has two identical 13 year old twin boys, Josh and Tal. We had a great sail with them, and an exciting time playing in the surf in the RIB.

Josh and Tal

Rachel

Cairns Botanic Garden

 Cairns Botanic Garden Centre

A carnivorous bladderwort

George doing a sniff-test

Cassowary Coast

The Cassowary Coast runs from Townsville to Cairns.

Roast pork at sunset; Orpheus Island

Zoe Bay, Hinchinbrook Island

Hillcock Point, Hinchinbrook Island

 Mourilyan Harbour

Fishing boat

Great, or Common, Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina)

Rounding Cape Grafton, near Cairns

Townsville

A brisk easy sail from Cape Upstart to Horseshoe Bay on Maggie Island, just off Townsville. Then a pleasant social catch-up with our friends Lucy and Mal.

Cafe in Horseshoe Bay

Cats in Horseshoe Bay

Lucy

Mal

Sunset view from Mal & Lucy's place

Sunrise over Townsville docks

Nimrod in Townsville Breakwater marina

Mangrove heron