Atherton Rain Forest Motor Inn

... br><br>We also called in on a platypus hide but we didn't see any... i think dawn and dusk are the best times to see them.<br><br>22nd October (Jon's Birthday) This was the day of waterfalls! We basically drove around stopping off at loads of beautiful falls. The first one was a perfect curtain of water falling into a clear pool. It was only about 9 in the morning when we arrived and hadn't really warmed up, but we still ...

... to an ancient old ltialian lady, finally once we had passed the chicken and the roosters and the cats, we found Bruno an old Italian guy who had been the first coffee grower in the area ( Pioneer). He was adorable and loved showing us his machines and his100 year old coffee roaster all the way from Palermo Italy! it was really good although the old woman did not take too kindly to Leah harassing her kittens!! Three bags of coffee ...

... is enormous and the roots do indeed resemble a gigantic fly screen/curtain. <br><br>From here I took the afore-mentioned waterfall circuit visiting Milla Milla falls (the best) Zilla, and Ellinga falls before finishing up at Malanda Falls. Here access to the falls was closed due to some work being carried out on the bridge but I stopped at the excellent kangaroo café where I had alight lunch before returning to the camp site.<br><br>The following day I drove ...

... br><br> <br><br><br><br>Along the way we also saw a large number of termite mounds. I'd not seen them in so many numbers or so large. I might add that we were well abused by a passing truck driver when taking these pictures ....Mile after mile of roads straight as an arrow and he's upset at us parked on the roadside.... But I got the pictures :O) <br><br><br><br ...

... Fortunately the new cat is alive and well. <br>The boys were near tears when we said farewell and arrangements were made to host Lisa and kids at our next stop Port Douglas (1 hour up the road) while Ben is (regretably for us) working. Port Douglas will be longest stop in Australia and one that holds the promise of possibly finding Nemo and swimming with sharks on a snorkelling venture to the Great Barrier Reef. Who knows, maybe we will even see a Cassowary.

After the kids had a play on the bouncing pillow again we went for a drive around the other side of the lake to visit Jeremy's Aunty Lorraine and Uncle Peter who we bumped into yesterday here at the caravan park - amazing who you bump in to.Had a nice time with them catching Redclaw and pulling in a turtle (Elijah) and weed for everyone else while fishing and dodging the over friendly Kookaburras. Jeremy is now washing the car and we've just enjoyed some fresh ...

... but set Flo about washing all the windows outside. I said I would have my coffee when we had finished and went outside to help Flo with the windows. I can't stand it that he will just have us sat down while she is still working and scared to take a break. After we cleaned all the windows we then cleaned the inside of the animal van and then washed the outside before it started raining. I say "we" it was Me, Flo and Leti, I think Saskia was in the kitchen somewhere ...

... to make out that a spider has spotted legs (and an evil smile?) while standing three metres away from it.) Thankfully, I had just recently designated Kevin as the official "bug guy", so I herded the children out of the tent while he scooped it into a pot and set it free outside. Unfortunately, he was a bit of a half-miler in my mind; he subsequently refused to stand guard over me as I lay awake wondering how many other such spiders were lurking ...

... Hhhmm more for us then" was his reply and then he went to bed. I can't believe that the man who I met when I first arrived who was all full of "don't worry", "life has its own plan" and all laid back is now Mr Strop. I keep excusing it and putting it down to the fact that he has his court case coming up but all the more reason to want people on your side I would of thought. TV caravan for an hour or so then it was off to bed.

... let it go there as he said it would have plenty of rats to feed on. On the way back he asked if I had to leave next Monday as I was a really good help and could stay longer for free if I wanted. It was a nice offer but I want to enjoy some of Australia not just work and I only have two weeks after I finish to see the place. It wouldn't be so bad if you worked Monday to Friday and got the weekend off or something but you work every day in the ...