A Week With Eil and Sue!



Cooktown Pole Dancers

We spent a week in August exploring the north from Townsville to Cooktown with  friends. Four of us in our tent! Tim has decided that one wife is plenty. (Whats worse than a nagging wife? Three nagging wives). We covered a lot of ground in an amazing amount of  time. It actually felt like a marathon! Enough said for fear of an uprising!

Not only was it  rushed  but crowded too...no not in the tent...everywhere we went! Kurrimine Beach resembled a nursing home for grey nomads and ...well that is all I am going to say about that too! I have decided that from now on  we go where no one goes on our get-aways.

Cassowary at Etty Bay

  In our search for Cassowary's we discovered Etty Bay just south of Innisfail. A glorious little bay tucked away around the corner from Mourilyan Harbour.  The dangerous critters actually have breakfast with the campers! Apparently they have become very tame after cyclone Larry went through, when locals cut up fruit for them to live till the forest grew back.

Eileen and Susan near the Curtain Fig Tablelands .

We did a day trip to the Tablelands too doing all the falls and all the beautiful vilaages between Innisfail and Malanda!



Mr Smiley was our chaperon. He kept the peace and made us all happy!

Don't know what we would have done without Mr. Smiley. He broke the silence and melted the frayed tempers when things got a little frizzled. Wasn't many times thank goodness. We are actually planning another trip so it must have been okay.

Looking through the figs with lichen growing all over it in Mossman.





Milla Milla Falls.



We decided to go back to Etty Bay  last week for a couple of days. We hired a van for the time we were there and for sure and certain I am cured of ever owning one! I suspect there may have been a 'passing' taken place in there. So old and ramshackle but we didn't really care  as we ate at the little store mostly and sat on the beach.  I set up office under a fig tree and conducted the business of writing poetry. Pure bliss. Next time we will pitch our tent and take our chances with the mozzies. It is a lovely spot and I was inspired to ramble on.



Ramblings from Etty Bay

The tide half up, half down.

Endless lapping and movement regardless, from both land and ocean blue

Children frolic, castles built, endless search for shells and treasures

Chasing, catching, rolling, romping, screaming and laughter...

Joyful expressions of appreciation.

Junior Life Savers practice their skill

Rotate and take their turn at saving.

Spot the waving arm, march, guide harness, rescue, carry, drop and kneel... kiss of life.

Then there are the boards ...paddle out and glide back, turn ‘round and do it again.

A swayed backed mother leeds her twins to the waters edge

One with bucket other with spade

Sit in waves trying to contain the ocean in their toys

Their little bottoms sandy like crumbed chicken.

People gather; holiday makers, teens stealing time off work,

Mums and dads, grans and granddads hand in hand, not much talking.

No need.

In the silence I  sense the spirit of a visitor from another time

Young nubile nymph climbing rocks, jumping waves, the fresh sting of salt on skin.

Crisp, refreshing, dunkings on a hot summer’s day.

Bare feet cautiously climbing, clambering over shell encrusted volcanic leftovers.

Searching, inquisitive, prying and fascinated young eyes.

Waves’ creating an explosion of spray pounding islet rock.

New discoveries as the wash pulls away and exposes secrets.

The shadows almost reach the waters edge

Streams of low,  sun rays seep through the giant figs.

My silhouette grows chasing the last of the days light.

A Forest Kingfisher darts across my path

It’s time to retreat to my nest too.

Brisk cold shower, to get rid of crusty sand.

Fold up chairs and tables, baskets, bags of soggy towels, buckets and spades

Eskies, light now, picnic lunch long eaten....all lifted into the boot of the car.

Tired happy children strapped safely into car seats,  a far cry from the freedom of  the day

But too tired to care. Be asleep before they get home

Dreaming of castles, and wild roaring oceans.

A sumptuous feast for the soul as I sit and gaze into the setting of sweet little Etty Bay.