As you long term readers will know I get to transport Our Rider to and from her place of work. When this first started there was no official place for me to be locked up. After some time (and rebel rousing by Our Rider) a bicycle rack was built. For a while I led a solitary existence on the bicycle rack and slowly a few more bicycles started to appear. And now see for yourself.
Company Bike Rack
So it’s not the greatest photo and yes we are hung from our front wheels, still it is a fine example of the adage “If you build something it will be used.”
While searching for inspiration to write about my recent adventure I came across this quote from a dude who swam the length of Lake Wakatipu (81km).
“Most human activities don’t survive two or three lines of questioning. Marathon swimming and other extreme activities like mountaineering struggle to get past the first ‘why’ with credibility. But if you find enjoyment in an activity, however absurd, and it isn’t causing significant harm to others, then there is little benefit in thinking deeply about it. Sometimes it’s best to live superficially.”
– Ben Campbell-MacDonald
With which I completely concur – now back to the inspiration search. I promise you will be rewarded for your wait.
After passing a rainless night it was time to head south again as Biggest Fan had arranged a fishing trip the next day departing from south of Cairns. Gordon was in his element and very thankful that he only had packed his swimming trunks as he enjoyed the return trip on the pricey ($22 return) Daintree River Ferry crossing. A licence to print money that is for sure. You can view Gordon and Red’s crossing in this video.
With so much sunshine Gordon and Red insisted on a sunbathing break.
Bear and Red Panda Heaven
The stop was a fleeting one as Our Rider had an important meeting at the Cairns Tropical Zoo. This is a small privately owned zoo that encourages interaction with the wildlife (although not the bigger crocodiles). Our Rider made a beeline for the Koala enclosure, where she was able to cuddle a Koala not once but twice ! ! ! Wow did that make her day. It was the highlight of her entire trip. Even better than the tuscany cake.
Mummy Koala and Joey
This was not the Koala Our Rider cuddled, she cuddled Harold and Jack. As cute as they were she noted they certainly stank and for the remainder of the day Our Rider was a magnet for female Koalas!
Red was absolutely beside himself to see his relatives alive in the flesh. He grabbed Gordon and the two of them danced in circles until they fell down rather giddy. So they got up and danced circles in the other direction in an attempt to unwind themselves.
Of course a visit to the Zoo would not be complete without spending time with wombats, whoever thought up that name?
Wonderful Wombat
After so much excitement Gordon and Red settled down for an afternoon nap on the sun filled dahsboard while Jucy Lucy bypassed Cairns and headed to the Deeral boat ramp, where the fishing trip was to depart the next morning. After finding the boat ramp and deciding it was a suitable campsite the travellers explored the area. About 2oo metres away they found a boat with the words “Frankland Islands” on it. After chatting with the Skipper Our Rider was booked on an outing to pass the time while Biggest Fan fished.
After a comfortable night at the boat ramp the sun delivered its best performance thus far. Biggest Fan took off in the fishing boat and caught a very large Queen Fish, while Our Rider joined a Japanese Tour Party to Frankland Island. Very entertaining it was too! Finally on the penultimate day Our Rider was able to swim in the sea and lie in the sun reading a book, relaxing, perfect medicine!
The next day revealed some more rain with smatterings of sunshine, which grew more frequent. It was a relatively short drive up to Cape Tribulation. Shortly after seeing this
Cassowary Crossing
… the travellers saw these …
Not one but two Cassowary
crossing the road, although not on a cassowary crossing!
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
After a suitable camp site was selected it was time to taste some exotic fruits. Some were yum, some not quite so yum. It was well worth the visit. The owners are former school teachers and obviously found life amongst trees and cyclones more tenable than a classroom of unruly teenagers.
I think I must be suffering from what you homo sapiens call writer’s block. Jan too ! Not only have I not yet completed regaling you of my Christmas holiday I have had another holiday as well and that was almost a month ago ! Life is busy when one is a bicycle, you human’s have it so easy !
Bicycling Adventures 