Cairns

Vengeance is mine, and I will repay
From Caleb (Who invited me for last Christmas) I got the book "the Message", it`s a new testament bible told in today’s words. So I started reading the first chapters, mostly pretty familiar; but more in detail since the last time I read it (a children’s bible). Though different text, the message still has a lot of similarities with the child`s version and other "bibles" I`ve read. Don’t do to others what you don’t want done to yourself, giving, turning the other cheek...

So I`m sitting in Cairns, sipping from my cappuccino reading a little when a bum comes up and asks for some money, for food. Thinking (almost knowing the way he walks) that the food will be in a liquid form I ask if he doesn’t get dole money from the government, or why he doesn’t work, like I did for my money... getting only murmurs and still asking for some money I thought: 'Ok, let’s try that bible thing out, as Jesus said: "If you give, you will never regret it"'. So I gave him some money, he thanks me and wonders off...

So after doing that good deed I expected, I dunno, a sign from God that he approves, a big light or something... or maybe a bigger guitar falling from the back of a truck to prove I won’t regret giving the money... nothing of that really. Instead I walk back to my car and notice that it`s been broken into (again).

Thanks...

Luckily all the thief took was some money, all my cd music (I hope he has good taste...) and my toilet bag to put the money in - he left my guitar and car radio.

Waterfalls
So after reporting that I left Cairns to do the Waterfall route - a 300 km route around the Atherton tablelands.

The first day I climb Mount Walsh, a pyramid shaped mountain. Although it isn’t even a km high (950ish) I can’t remember the last time I was that exhausted, the only "path" is that it is marked, but no stairs or pavement or anything.

Over the next couple of days I saw a lot of waterfalls. At the moment it`s the wet season here, and the good thing about that is the size of the waterfalls is bigger than just the mere trickle it is in wintertime (the dry season). At most places you can swim in the water, as long as it is reasonably certain that you don`t fall down 80 meters off the waterfall :). Whee.

Piano paying off
Still on the waterfall way I come across 2 lakes (maars), former by former volcanoes. In one of them (Lake Eacham) I take a swim, see some nice fishies and a turtle. And at the other there is a beautiful restaurant... with a piano! So after ordering my cappuccino (hopefully no beggars here...) I ask if I can play a little, and I can. Getting some nice comments on my playing (even my photo taken ;-)) I also get some free scones from the bar - finally all my years of practicing have been paid off! Was really nice.

Rock wallabies
After that I traveled around lake Tinaroo I ended up in Atherton where I saw the remains of a Chinese temple which was disappointing. I went to Tolga where I took a look in a woodcrafter which made up for the Chinese temple. After that I tried to go the wetlands at Mareeba. But as the name says; while trying to get there I come across a flowing river which cuts off the entrance... touché.

So instead I went to the granite Rocks more south of Mareeba. By now it had rained a lot for the last couple of days... the bridges that you can normally walk on at the granite Rocks are all flooded. It`s actually really beautiful to see a river flooding so hugely. I walked up the boulders, jumping over streams from boulder to boulder like a 12 year old kid, was great. I also saw some rock wallabies around the rocks, they move way to fluent, and can climb insanely... moving really fast and secure.

I found them less elegant when they woke me up at 2 am jumping on my car - not kidding.

Charlotte and 4 wheel drives
On my way back to Cairns, meeting a girl who maybe wants to travel north, it really started pouring down. I decided to camp at Davies. Arriving there with no problems I walk around a little, take a look at the waterfall, cook a little and play guitar, and then go to sleep. I wake up around 4am because of the heavy rain, thunder and wind and sadly stay awake.

So I started driving back to the highway at 6 am, but after driving just a few kilometers I see a small river. Hey! That wasn’t here yesterday... seems the rain was quite heavy. I walk out of my car; take a look at the water... "meh, doesn’t look that deep".

Though I don’t exactly have a 4WD. The only 4WD about my car is that it has 4 wheels... and it drives...

I get back into the car and started driving... pedal to the metal. Went pretty easy, and the big water movement on both sides of the car looks pretty. So I climb up to the next hill, over it, down it, Damnit! There is another one...
I can’t see the bottom of it so I wade across... almost knee deep... huhm...

So I turn on the radio, hear about Charlotte (the cyclone) raving through further north Queensland and a lot of roads blocked, drainage problems, water moving into houses, super high tides... and wait.

After reading for a hour still no car from either side passed,

After another 30 minutes still nothing,

So I gathered my nerves and just decided to try it, thinking it shouldn’t be a problem for a really heavy car only resting on 4 points to drive across a little creek. And luckily it worked out okay.

After that I drove to Kuranda, had a second look at the Barren river. Last week when I was here it was just a trickle of water... I think it was at least 5 times the magnitude - a big thunder of water crushing down for a few hundred meters. I don’t think I would be allowed (or willing...) to swim in there.

So now I`m back in Cairns, seeing if someone wants to travel north. I will be waiting for the weather to calm down a little, and then on the road again. I just heard that over the last 24 hours, over 450 mm of water has fallen...

Pen vs. camera - a thousand words
I hope the amount of text made up a little for the lack of photographs. I`m sorry I can`t show you the pictures of my face after the car break in, rock wallabies jumping on my car or a movie of me going full speed through the river...

Soon hopefully

Links:
Cyclone
Granite Gorge
Lake Barrine
Atherton Tablelands
Barren river waterfall