One of A Kind:

So leaving Brisbane we made it to Mackay - all the way up past where I was on Heron Island... Instead of heading to the Whitsunday islands though I headed inland to Eungella National Park... in search of a 'one of a kind' beast. The weather you can predict for yourself... it is rainforest but...but... but how much rain can be up there?

The rental car had a little reminder sticker and actually Ozzieland has many road signs reminding people of the same thing. Despite all of that however I did drive on a mountain road on the wrong side and a big Mitsubi truck came to a sliding stop in the wet - I got out to see if he was OK, he was a laughing bushman - "What you up to" he said - "I think i am still in Canada" I replied - and he said he did the same thing when he was over there... so there you go. Despite all the signage the brain still moves you to the wrong side of the road...

 The rivers are being pounded here - and the mucky river flow shows how much...

 The growth is lush, these vines seem to have melded with the tree... very cool!

 And here I am in the rain trying to spot the duck billed platypus - one of natures weirdos and this is one of the last places to see them. Actually I saw quite a few but from a distance in these flood rivers they just look like little logs afloat... The platypus really is unique in nature, and despite having poison glands on its hind legs for use on the attack, I am quite happy not to get too close...

 A kookaburra! The little mountain cabin place here is quite nice, not many people here at all.

 Probably because of the thick sheets of rain :)

 Oh there's a red brown snake wriggling under a car... This one apparently gives a nasty bite but they have an anti venom for it - this is the nastiest creature seen in Australia... yay!

 And here's my platypus shot! Yes! At the lodge there's a new-agey California couple staying he has long hair in braids she is wearing hippy stuff from '72, they are very nice, she's an entomologist and he's a lecturer at UC Davis, they have been here a few days. Apart from their funny California speak, they told me a few days back the rivers were much clearer and you could see the platypus dive and swim. They are very shy creatures - slightest movement and they vanish. The woman at the reception has a very cool accent, talking about the playtpus she says they are often down on the river bed "because that's where his tucker is" she would say... she also said be careful because of the rain leeches are out, I asked how big she said about an inch long, I nearly fainted; she said they get three to five times that size when full of my blood, so at that point I wanted to vomit. Needless to say I tucked my jean bottoms into my socks when wandering down by the river... in terms of what people may think I simply don't care - I am not getting one of those things on me! Look at his duck bill on the left and beaver like tail at right.

 That night at the lodge - they had some possums come down looking for fruit. They had impossibly slow internet and a pretty good dinner. it's the only place to eat without going back down the mountain road a bit - the gradient in some places was near 12% and windy and twisty - not something I would do to myself in a rain storm in the dark, so happy to stay in for the night :)

 Okay this pic is slightly out of order.. I threw it in to show that there were a few minutes of warm sun poking through!

 More possum shots. Possums are not the absolute cutest of creatures, but they are up there in the cuddle factor stakes. They do look different from the ones in the Americas - and far bigger too!

 This is the lounge and dining of the lodge, lovely countryside actually would be great to visit another time.

That night, my little wood roof chalet was beaten senseless by an enormous rain storm, the rain that fell - and I kid you not - was so loud, and so heavy, it was like the room was under a waterfall. 23cm of rain fell that night... an experience I won't soon forget. I am sure the Titanic sounded this way as it filled up too. So not much sleep from the water falling and the thunder rolling...

Fortunately the roof did not leak however :)

 The next day heading back, well the "Sunshine State" was obviously taking some time off!

I had wanted to go to Hatten Gorge but the roads were impassable - certainly in my teeny Holden Barina rental car - from what I can tell Australia's GM brand Holden are re-badged Opel cars.

 You can see the gorge in there somewhere... past another closed road sign.

 The coffee shop below was a little odd, but hit the spot. Out in the middle of no-where...

 I think I can make out the gorge, I really can! The landscape is really quite nice out here, they grow sugar cane mainly and you pass several sugar plants on the way back to Mackay. I didn't think it would be worth them growing sugar in a country as expensive as Australia - but apparently it is mechanized so much it is worth their while. Along many of the sugar cane fields and weaving through them are endless little railway tracks - and they run these little trains with the equipment and the hoppers to gather up the cane. OK, so now back in Mackay, I catch a flight to Sydney, then on to Singapore overnight.  So next stop is sultry Singapore... Bye bye Australia - land of awful weather but cute critters!

FYI: I have made a plan, because my health is still a bit dodgy, I am going to return home a few days sooner from Singapore, the next stop after this, and ditch the 2 nights in Tokyo. Not sure if I can change all the tickets without major grief, but I will do my best, I will throw out a mercy plea to someone at Air Canada and Singapore Airlines should be no bother - made 7 changes to the ticket already without any grief at all :)  Hotel is already cancelled, which kind of breaks my heart - as Tokyo is a major lifeline for me, so I promise myself a return trip when I am all fixed up. So no need for anyone to worry, yes I am falling apart but it is in a controlled manner, I have pills, all kinds of nice ones, and airport lounges to make the long waits more comfortable. Things are not right inside, but I will make it home in one piece... the bank card getting fried really did make me think that I was going to trigger an earthquake in Tokyo or some such (and they had a minor one 2 days ago to announce my imminent arrival) - the drama is piling on way more than the usual :)


No leeches seen thankfully, not sure the nurse was right about parasites since these antibiotics aren't doing that much, I may still need a kidney, so again, I will give you a tax receipt if you donate. "Charity begins with Dave" - never forget that !