DAY 7 - June 26

• We had our first sleep in since hitting the road enjoying the rain on the caravan roof.
• Our lazy morning didn't last long once Geoff checked our tent. It was soaked INSIDE and out!! Our air bed that we had also set up and put in the tent was also wet. So very very glad we weren't sleeping in it.... so we rushed to the shops to buy a new tent before they closed at 12 noon. The photo below is Geoff (aka Bear Grills) cutting up the tent for what he thought might be useful supplies...

• We also discovered when we walked outside the van that morning that the awning on the caravan was bend like a banana as it was full of water!! We both agreed it was only minutes until the whole thing came crashing down under the weight of the water. From now on we put the awning on an angle so water can run off :)
• We love cairns and can't wait to spend some more time here after our Cape York adventure.
• We spent most of the day driving around Cairns buying things we need for our trip and then packing the car...

Tonight we had our first cane toad sighting at the caravan park.... minutes later he was destroyed by a golf club...

Nah... just kidding. He lives another day.

Geoff requested that I please include the close up photo of our friendly antenna moth so you can actually see his eyes... must be a guy thing.

News update: geoff just informed me the cane toad was actually smashed by a box when I wasn't looking!!

Tomorrow we are driving about 6.5 hours North to Lakefield National Park to meet up with 3 other couples that we are doing a 10 day trip to Cape York with. So we probably wont be able to blog until we are back (around 6th July I think). 

DAY 6 - June 25

• We spent the day in Cairns shopping, packing and getting ready for our Cape York trip. We set up our tent (that hadn't been used for quite a few years) to check it out and all seemed well. We left it up overnight. 
• Amanda cooked for dinner corned beef with white sauce, mashed potato and green beans which Geoff praised and said was one of the best meals she had ever made :) 
• Geoff made cold-rock ice cream with choc mint slice biscuits for dessert SO SO GOOD... you should totally try it.

DAY 5 - June 24

• We were on the road again today this time headed for Cairns
• The sweet-tooth in Geoff couldn't resist any longer! Sugar cane actually tastes like sugar - Amazing!

• Around 40kms south of townsville we both agreed that if a dinosaur was spotted it wouldn't be out of place - very Jurassic Parky
• Haven't seen this road sign before...

• We stopped for lunch next to the fenceline for the townsville RAAF base much to Geoff's delight. We didn't realise but we parked right under the flight path for the fighter jets landing. So we had fighter jets flying right over the caravan! And it was SO SO LOUD and cool. Although we both had sore, ringing ears for the rest of the afternoon. Its a bummer we couldn't take any photos as it was prohibited. We also found summer in Townsville - so nice to leave the cold weather behind.

• We also stopped at Cardwell for a little break...

• Manda now checks every river and creek crossed for crocs - which have been affectionately named 'cracks'.
• Geoff says to get to Cairns you just loop a sugar cane farm for 4 days and you'll get there.

• We arrived in Cairns at 5pm tonight and will spend a couple of days here getting organised for the Cape York trip. We meet up with friends on Sunday about 6 hours north from here.

DAY 4 - June 23

• Manda set off the smoke alarm in the caravan whilst trying to use the griller for the first time to make some toast - not the best way to make friends with other caravaners at 7.15am
• We left Bundaberg at 8.30am (and didn't stop until 9pm - just over a 12 hour day driving).

• Geoff wants to mount a fake hand on the dash of the car to wave to other caravans - there are ALOT!
• We caught up with Uncle Ray and Aunty Anne @ Miriam Vale for Coffee as they were making their way back south after a holiday...

• Drive, drive, drive... very boring road - bush, bush and more boring bush (although these photos dont look too bad)

We stopped for lunch... somewhere... cant remember where

We had to pull off the road to let this oversize truck through...

• Geoff declared that sugar cane excites him and he now wants to be a sugar cane farmer
• We saw a coal train so long it had an engine in the middle (Geoff wanted me to add this)
• I think Queenlanders have a sense of humour - check out this road sign...

• We spent the night over the road from the Big Mango, although we didnt even know! We pulled over on the side of the road late that night and when we walked outside the next morning - there it was. We also discovered we were right next to the beach. We both didnt sleep very well tho due to all the traffic noise. 

You can see the egg looking thing above the white car - thats the big mango!

• Manda's new word "SHEEELAH": for when you drop a metal toilet roll holder on your toe! I bet that's what this moth said when he found our ugly stick (antenna)

DAY ONE - June 20

• Found a secret stash of jelly beans which Geoff says were his "Driving Energy Pellets"
• Discovered the microwave doesn't work without power so had to make frozen sandwiches and wait for them to defrost. We had lunch at Urunga (see pic below).
• Apparently we wave to all other caravans - an unspoken rule - Geoff has snobbed quite a few accidently. 
• We spent the night at Tweed Heads > unfortunately it was under the flight path for Coolongatta Airport and next to the freeway.

DAY TWO - June 21

• Geoff scored 100% on his boat license test
• Geoff decided it was a good idea to closely follow a truck on the M1 heading north. Unfortunately when the truck took an exit off the M1 SO DID WE! 
• After lunch we had a call from the bank to let us know our Credit Card details had been stolen online - we had to cancel both credit cards :(
• Geoff's new name for dodgy drivers "Bimbolic Idiots!"
• We discovered cheaper caravans parks are not always a good option. 1. they are NOT level ground and 2. are populated by a ridiculous amount of cats. Thank goodness we could get a refund and find something better.
• Stayed the night in Bundaberg.

DAY THREE - June 22

• Spent the day in Bundaberg getting the 1000km service done on the Caravan and also the boat put onto the car. Our big rig is complete!
• Amanda declared that the GPS (aka Amanda) was broken and couldn't be used anymore (after another directional disaster).
• We are both pretty tired from the hectic lead up to going and its been non-stop since we hit the road. Tomorrow we are up at 6am to try make a mile tomorrow... going to try make it to mackay.

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Early February Geoff randomly said one day, "Hey, I've got this crazy idea... (slight pause, nervous giggle)... What if we sold our house, bought a caravan and travelled around Australia for awhile?". Fully expecting me to say 'no way you're crazy', I said (after some thought), "Sure, why not"... We feel it was a God inspired idea and have seen his hand move in all our preparations - which has been a GREAT blessing!!. So four months later, we have sold our house, left our jobs, bought a 4WD and caravan and are about to embark on our Aussie Adventure. It has been madness getting ready to go, and were not quite ready but we headed off today! We have one week to travel North to Lakefield National Park (Cape York Peninsula) to meet up with friends and continue with them to Cape York (most northern tip of Australia). So here goes... LET THE AUSSIE ADVENTURE BEGIN!!