We're back from our 9 days driving holiday with Grandma to North Queensland. We stayed at Rockhampton (nice) and Townsville on the way up to where we stayed in Cairns for 5 nights.
One of our days in Cairns was spent driving up to Cape Tribulation, as far up as we could go on sealed roads, not having a 4WD. It was so beautiful up there - stretches of empty, white sandy beaches around every bend where the rainforest meets the sand, with emerald mountains behind, and small islands dotted here and there in the sea. It was kind of funny to see all the signs for 'beware of crocodiles' too. I mean, I took them seriously and kept a watch out, but Neil was a bit more worried!
We never did get to take mum out on the reef, much as we were really hoping to. We practised snorkelling with her in the hotel pool, and it just wasn't going to work. We did as much as we could do, although we were often restricted by where we could go in a wheelchair. I certainly have a much better appreciation for the needs of the disabled now.
Some of the other trip highlights included visits to: the Undara Lava Tubes, Paranella Pk., Kuranda rail, Birdworld, Capricorn Caves, and the Aboriginal centre, Tjapukai, for dinner one night. We also really enjoyed a stop at Airlie Beach on the way home - very beautiful. Most of all, the scenery every day was fantastic.
I took hundreds of photos (don't you love digital cameras), wanting to help Mum remember the trip when she is back home in Adelaide. I'll include a couple from the trip, plus a couple from a night at home just before we left, when a large and very fast, feisty spider came to visit while we were relaxing with Mum. (That's him on the wall.)
When Mum wanted us to put the spider outside instead of killing it, Neil wickedly said, 'go ahead!'. Of course, that wasn't at all what Mum had meant, and Neil did eventually put it outside, but in the meantime, it was very funny to watch her efforts! Bethany was up on the table and Neil was laughing away on the lounge, while I got everything Mum asked for - first a broom, then a container and piece of cardboard, to catch it.
Where is Jason when you need him?
Lol okay even though the spider doesn't look that big, Bethany on the table, Grandma out of her wheelchair and Dad on the couch are explained :) That all sounds wonderful, what a lucky mum to have such a wonderful daughter and son-in-law taking her to do such exotic things!! I see what you meant when you were telling me about the view from the back veranda, and I am echoing I'm sure Dad's emotions as I see the picture with the white sandy beach and a lot of potential for crocs! I would have stayed in the car :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting, I love reading your blogs and seeing the pictures! Love you Mama xoxox
Abby the picture makes the spider look small but it was big! And mean!
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha. Grandma and Dad were SO funny though. Grandma sooo didn't want to have to do it but at the same time she didn't want us to kill it and Dad was telling her (between spurts of laughter) that he wouldn't move it cos Grandma had already offered and he really wanted to see it. Eventually the twins came home and saved Grandma lol. Though I think we ended up spraying it anyway. Honestly, I don't understand people who want to try and keep horrible creatures like spiders alive! ..sharks too for that matter :S
I'm looking forward to getting pushed around in a weelchair one day :)
ReplyDeletexo Tammy