John Cornhill

Rainforest a wonderful experoience. visited 2 huge fig trees, with names Cathedral and Cutrain. these fig seeds land in the top of trees and send rioots down to the ground, eventually surrounding the host tree. the hardwood tree live 150 - 200 years but these figs were around 1000 years old so the host trees had died off having been strangled anyway and the fig holds itself up by its by now huge roots and just gets bigger and bigger. The cathedral was formed by the host tree falling against another tree and the fig putting continually more roots down. The fig has no trunk, just roots going down from the canpoy. Went swimming in a pool below a waterfall where the hair shampoo advert was made where the girl flinks her hair. went night canooing with a group of 10, I was in canoo with Evan and Kelly from Misoori it was black but we had a torch and saw tree kangaroos (2 in a tree and a group on a grassy bank) and an eastern water gragon on a branch just above the water its a lizard about 1/2 metre long the guide picked it off the branch poor thing and we all stroked it!!(the dragon not the guide) also went platy-puss spotting and just saw a couple in the water they are like otters with duck type bills not like a cat at all. Also saw bush turkeys and a huge colourful butterfly landed on my shirt. Stayed in Youngaburra for 1 night next day went to Lake Eacham (a crater lake), conooed agin in lake tinaroo(man made) this time with a german girl very nice. this time I steered and hit 3 other canoos, a tree and a buoy but no-one fell out. saw a heron and looked for cassowaries but didnt see one but I think there is one in Paignton zoo so didnt matter. walked up a creek to find ocre stones that aboriginees paint their faces with and painted each others faces. I am a real tourist now. went on a bike ride 18k with the group saw some big egret like birds. Had a huge burger lunch with lots of salad and home made scones excellent. Back in Cairns now, Cape Tribulation and Port Douglas over 3 days starting tomorrow Going to relax rest of today. Best wishes to everyone, John




John Cornhill