March 31 — Mossman Gorge

After we had breakfast with Grant we went to Mossman Gorge in the Daintree National Park. The weather was perfect for the 2.7 km walk to took through the rain forest We saw some trees, strangler fig, birds nest, ferns, and a Buff-breasted paradise kingfisher. We walked across swinging bridges. After lunch we went for a swim in the Mossman river. In the water we saw some jungle perch and an eel. That evening we ran the Mossman Hash with about 7 guys. We ran across a creek, through fields of sugar cane and along a cane train track. After we had our down downs with the Hash House Harriers we came home and crashed.

April 1 — Mossman River

We went into town for some shopping. I got a pair of swim shorts and went to the post office. Donna went to the dentist to have her toothache checked out. Afterwards we took some air mattresses to Mossman River and rafted down 2 times. It was fun to float through a rain forest and bounce through the rapids. I only had one leech on my arm and saw a Kingfisher. The water was cold and clear. Grant and I used our cars to shuttle between the launch point and landing site.

April 2 — Kuranda

We returned the rental car in Cairns. It was a one way car rental from Brisbane to Cairns. It cost $227 AUD for 8 days. We had a look around some shops in Cairns. I bought some little tiny books about Australia. Grant drove us up to Kuranda. We walked around town and looked at the markets. I got a wood aboriginal sculpture. We had a look at Barron Falls, just a little water flowing over it at this time of year. On the way back we shopped at Kmart. We went to Port Douglas and saw the lookout, marina and walked down the main street. We got some Fosters beer and went back to Grant's place.

April 3 — Cape Tribulation

We got up early for the trip to Cape Tribulation. We took the ferry across the Daintree river and took the road to Cape Tribulation. It is paved now. Back when I drove it in 1993 it was a mud dirt track. We stopped at the lookout over the valley, saw the information center and then arrived to Thorton beach. The place I camped before was closed now. We took a walk on a raised wooden walkway through the rain forest and mangrove. I took some good photos of trees and strangler figs. We went up to Cape Tribulation and ate lunch. We took a walk on the beach to the fringing reef. It was another perfect day out. We went for a swim in a river next to a store in Cape Tribulation. We met a girl from Sweden and one from England. We stopped in Daintree village on the way back to Grant's place.

April 4 — Hartley's Creek

We drove down the highway to the crocodile farm. There was a huge croc in the from made out of fiberglass. There were many saltwater crocs of all sizes and a pen full of freshwater crocs. There was a Cassowary that was jumping really high. I hand fed him. The park guides gave informative talks about the animals. I was able to pet a koala and a dingo. There was also an exhibit of snakes. The most exciting show was the death roll. A trainer was able to get a huge croc to perform the death roll with some bait. During the display another croc snuck up on the trainer from behind and almost nicked him. We ate crocodile meat pies for lunch. There were also a few kangaroos and different types of birds on exhibit.

April 5 — Port Douglas

We walked around the marina at Port Douglas and hung out at the beach. Later in the day we went to Rain forest Habitat and had a look around. That evening we relaxed at Grant's place and watched videos.

April 6 — Mossman

We went to the bowls club in Mossman. We joined the Hash guys in a game of bowls. I did pretty well for a first timer. I even hit the jack and got the shot. But after a 2 hour game my team lost, 9-16. I got caught with my hat on inside the pub. There's a rule against that kind of thing. I think they went easy on me since I was a foreigner.