Tony zipped!

If you're wondering why the blog has slowed somewhat it's because we've been forced to slow down.  A Caesar Salad was apparently the last straw for Tone's gall bladder!!!!  In excruciating pain I rushed him to Cairns Base hospital where he was held under the influence of morphine and after a scan and stomach drain via a tube down his nose he was in no position to argue the case against surgery.  Three hours later he was stapled up minus his gall bladder.  No other problems and he is now on the mend. The zip was removed today....Yayh!!!!

  This is what an emergency zip looks like. No consideration for the cosmetic appearance.  Bellybutton? What bellybutton?

We will however keep the post coming on whatever interesting stuff we stumble upon.

CRAB ART

Yes, crabs can do art too.  Some of the crabs are so small and and almost transparent. Every morning when the tide goes out leaving a blank canvas, these little creatures busy themselves re establishing a home and in the process giving us something else at which to marvel.  The size of the hole represents the size of the crab and therefore the size of the balls of sand.  I'm thinking of getting an enlargement of one of these pictures....know just where I'll hang it too.

A contribution from the bird life gives this one some "movement" don't you think?

CAPE TRIBULATION

A RAIN FOREST IN THE RAIN IS SENSATIONAL.   IT DOESN'T USUALLY RAIN IN THIS REGION AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR SO IT WAS A REAL TREAT TO BE  HERE WITH THE FOREST LOOKING SO FRESH, JUST BEAUTIFUL. THE WET SEASON KNOWN AS "THE BIG WET" IN THE FAR NORTH TROPICS OF AUSTRALIA BEGINS AROUND THE END OF OCTOBER AND GOES THROUGH 'TILL MARCH.  

WE STAYED OUT OF CARAVAN PARKS IN CAPE TRIB. AND WENT NATIVE IN THE NOAH NATIONAL PARK AREA......

CROSSING NOAH BRIDGE

A VIDEO OF OUR DRIVE IN THE RAIN FOREST WITH SANDY WHITE'S CD PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND

ONE OF THE MANY RIVERS

CAUGHT THIS LITTLE GREEN TREE FROG MAKING OUR EVENING EXTRA SPECIAL

THE FOREST WAS ABUZZ WITH A SYMPHONY OF INSECT AND FROG CALLING ALL NIGHT!  THE BIRDS CHIMED IN AT DUSK AND DAWN.  THIS IS A VIDEO OF A LITTLE GREEN TREE FROG

WITH HIS MATES IN THE BACKGROUND. I HAD NO PROBLEM 

SLEEPING TO THIS "MUSIC", TONE ON THE OTHER HAND STUFFED HIS EARS WITH EAR PLUGS!

WALKING AROUND IN THE DARK WITH OUR HEADS ATTACHED TO OUR NIGHT ARMOUR, THE GOOD OLE LED HEADLIGHT, WE FOUND "TOAD, OF TOAD HALL", WITHOUT HIS CLOTHES!

THE FOREST IS COMPLETELY DARK ....PITCH BLACK IN FACT, AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE CANOPY.  THIS WORKED TO OUR ADVANTAGE IN THE CAMP SITE.  OUR AWNING WAS ANGLED TO CATCH THE RAIN AT ONE END WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A REALLY FUN, FROLICKING SHOWER!!!! 

4 DAYS IN THE FOREST AND WE HAD NO LAUNDRY!!!!!

Magnetic Island: a feast of critter and bird magic!

only for those of my friends who are COMPUTER CHALLENGED: where I have added a link you will have to manually go to that site by copy and paste! this is how it is done:  Highlight the URL, right click mouse, choose copy, go to address area of your browser and right click again, then choose paste).

BACK TO THE MAGNETIC CRITTERS AND BIRDS and Magnetic island. Apparently Capt. Cook's compass went haywire here and that is how the island was named. Other tests have been done as to why Capt Cook's compass played up in this part of the world, but to no avail.  Just one of those things!

When we went to collect our tickets from Marilyn we had no idea that a wonderful experience awaited us.  She nurtures orphaned wild life and allowed Tony to feed  Chrissie, the 7 month old Rock Wallaby.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock-wallaby

This little possum with baby in pouch made herself at home in the tree behind our van. No guessing why!

http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/possums.htm

.....and then there were the birds.  Rainbow Lorikeets are found from north to south down the eastern seaboard. Nectar eating birds they don't actually eat the fruit but suck the juice out and leave an unholy mess of dry chewed bits of fibre all over the floor! 

http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/2001/archives/2001_archives/roadtests/birds?p=1200

There's plenty of competition in the noise department from Australia's noisiest and most gorgeous bird, the kookaburra.

http://birdsinbackyards.net/species/Dacelo-novaeguineae

http://www.anbg.gov.au/sounds/kookaburra.au

Waiting to be fed at the hotel where the jazz was on. Yes, the jazz was competing for a little while.

Not to be outdone, the curlews had a go every evening with their blood curdling cries.

Just had to finish this post with the colourful lorikeets.

Magnetic Island

What a fantastic time we had here.  A great Island. 8klms of the coast from Townsville. An unusual island because it is residential for many but with heaps of holiday accommodation. Both of us felt the real sense of community amongst her residents.  Marilyn who organises the jazz festival is also a wildlife saver.  Chrissie, the rock wallaby, was orphaned and is about to be trained to go into the wild. We had the wonderful experience of dining out with her........

 And then she had cuddles from Tony.......

The beaches were fabulous.........

Horseshoe Bay

 

West Point

Arcadia Beach

the picnic area at Arcadia Beach

Rocky Point Beach

 And Balding Beach where we became dare devils and did some rock climbing!  Loved rock climbing as a child, a little harder these days, but still fun!

Balding Beach

pose atop the rocks!

easier going down!

Yes there is a golf course and you won't believe the price.....

 









We thought the war time golf rules were interesting......

Had a couple of beautiful meals at a very french restaurant where we met people from Townsville who had a holiday house on the island and invited us to their home for coffee. You can almost taste the meal from the visual......

An entree, duck pate and duck meat all very tasty.

and the music.....what would we do without music?  This  jazz festival is unique as none of the musicians are paid! Their air travel and accommodation is taken care of and they get to have a 3 day weekend in better weather where they can catch up with one another, make new connections, swap ideas, and jam together. For us lucky listeners, we get to see a whole bunch of the best musicians all in one place and freshen up our music collections.  

Krissie on stage

A jamming session.

Bye bye for now Magnetic. We'll be back.
(I will try to post some clips of the music on another post.)