Well today we got off this Dam ship. [Don't worry that is not swearing, all the ships names end in….dam].
We had booked a ship's tour to take the train through the rain forest from Cairns to Kuranda, some 1 1/2 hours and 22K's up in the mountain. As you can tell it was not a Bullet Train, but two diesels pulling 12 70-80 year old carriages. Lots of room for everybody and a lot of bumps and grinds on the way up. There were no windows to speak of on the train and it was spic and span like most things in Australia.
Kuranda is and always has been a tourist town, even back in the 1880s but it really got a boost in the 1960s when apparently the hippies discovered it. It still has some of that that flavour but it is no worse than many little country towns that we have seen in Australia. They are very pleasant as a matter of fact and remind me of bygone days when we were kids and things were simpler.
Lunch consisted of that great Australian delicacy, meat pie. Jim had kangaroo, the others opted for more conventional fare. Beer and milkshakes were the preferred beverages today, depending upon your sex. We then had a wander through the town which was inundated by all the train passengers being dumped there at one time.
The route down the mountain was spectacular; by gondola car for about 7.5 K's miles soaring above the canopy of the almost impenetrable jungle below consisting of soaring pines, palm trees, vines and little streams. We wondered where all the animals were? No monkeys, big cats or soaring eagles. It was strange seeing miles and miles of beautiful canopy with the knowledge that there were no creatures lurking below. Of course I am sure there are all the slithery and slippery things and there must be something there for them to eat, surely.
We had a wander through a rain forest boardwalk on the way down which was very interesting. It was like we were actually in this dense vegetation under the canopy and could see all the various vines, trees, ferns strange plants and spiky things without having to set foot on the forest floor which in itself looked quite an intimidating place to be
It was great to get out today in the fresh air after over a week of confined-to-barracks. I only had two coughing spells bought on by the humidity and close environment. The air was good today but it sure was nice to get back to this air-conditioned floating luxury hotel I could tell you! Cairns was a bit of pleasant surprise to me at least. It is quite a nice sized place, one that I can handle; big city fans we are not. Once again it has been a real pleasure to be in Australia, the climate has its issues but the land, people and experiences are great.
Tomorrow we have a day at sea and then we enter the Great Unknown of New Guinea.
This is the last time I will be able to text the kids at home as we sail out of Australian waters and into the land of 'funny countries and places' the next 70 days.
By the way, it is nice to hear from some of you once in a while, it is nice to know that somebody is reading my blitherings!
Pics: You can figure them out today I think.
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