Geoff and Manda's Aussie Adventure

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)