August 10, 2012

August 10, 2012

This morning we rose a little later than usual.  Aimee seems to have acquired a sore throat and needs some extra rest.  From the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge in Cape Tribulation we head across the street to the last boardwalk hike in Daintree National Forest.  I leave Aimee in the car to recuperate.  This hike is similar to the last, a combination of rain and mangrove forests, but with a lot more circular fan palms.  I mostly tiptoe along as quietly as I can, hoping to see a Cassowary.  This is pretty much my last chance.  I hear lots of jungle sounds, birdcalls, and things dropping from the canopy, and to my displeasure several rooster-like Brush Turkeys scraping at the forest floor.  But no Cassowaries.  I heard a crashing sound and saw a large animal in the distance but it looked like a feral pig, albeit a big one.  I think the rainforest is like the desert.  There are lots of animals but most are camouflaged and quiet.  I probably need to be extremely lucky or very patient.

Disappointed we head south to return to Cairns.  Since Aimee is under the weather I drive slow enjoying the drive.  It is still early and there are few cars to push me along.  Fortunately my lucky charm, even sick, did her job.  Less than 15 minutes later, I see something crossing the street ahead and it has a blue head!  A Cassowary!  And he has a chick with him.  The baby is the size of a rooster and looks like a watermelon with legs.  Both strut slowly across the road letting me take photos.  I am now at peace with the rainforest.

Soon we ferry back across the Daintree River.  Yesterday we talked to a couple from Boston who had taken a guided wildlife hike in the interior Tablelands.  They mentioned seeing kangaroos on a golf course.  Since Roos are still on my must-see list we make a detour to the west climbing up the coastal hills through Mowbray National Park.  As we drive the steep road, what do I see ahead, another Cassowary.  When it rains it pours!

Up on the interior Atherton Tablelands the terrain is noticeably drier, and the trees more scattered.  Brahma bulls are grazing in the fields.  Curiously there are also strange boulders scattered around the terrain.  I stop and look at a couple.  They are not very hard, so I don’t understand how these rocks can be here.  After a while I realize these are the giant termite mounds that I have read about.  They are everywhere.  I wonder how the Australians keep their houses from being chewed up.

After an hour we arrive at the hopping town of Mareeba. It is bigger than I expected for the Outback. We have lunch and then head to the golf course. I am not disappointed. There must be a hundred kangaroos sitting under the trees on the course. And they are huge. One of the males is easily five foot tall. These Eastern or Great Greys are the second largest kangaroo; Reds can be a foot taller and weigh 200 lbs. I get up close and take photos for fifteen minutes. They are all keeping an eye on me, making sure I don’t get too close. They are pretty cool. Several have feet hanging out of overstuffed pouches. Every once in a while I see a Joey head popping out. When I accidentally startle a few, they humorously bounce away.

From Mareeba we head downhill back to Cairns and the same hotel as before.