Port Douglas and the Americans

Port Douglas in northern Queensland has become a second home for us. We love the vibrant nature of the tourist town itself but more, the access to the marvellous beaches, rivers and rainforest that abound in the region. But even more this visit as we had “the Americans” arrive along with our Australian domiciled families. “The Americans”, of course, are our daughter Tammy and family who live in Boulder, Colorado (sadly Glenn was work bound and unable to come). They had spent some part of their long (very long) summer holidays in New Zealand with a stop off in PD for a family get together.

The Americans with their GD and Nanny

Scout and I enjoyed the pure pleasure of having seven grandchildren of various ages and personalities laughing, crying, shouting and loving life around us. We all get on so well. Family really is one of life’s great mysteries. It is the final confirmation that despite mistakes made and failures delivered something, somewhere went right over the years. A wise woman once said to me that “Grandchildren are God’s gift to you when your own children leave home”. To have grandchildren who seem to take real pleasure in being around their GD and Nanny is almost heartbreaking. And not only when we are all passing the ice cream shop!

Driving the Boat – On the Great Barrier Reef

We snorkeled on the outer Great Barrier Reef with angel fish, nemo, green turtles, wrasse and black tipped reef sharks on Sailaway Reef Tours (highly recommended). We hiked the Mossman Gorge and visited the Daintree River for a nature cruise. We saw crocodiles, morning swallows, darters and cormorants alongside Ulysees butterflies and tree pythons. We ran, biked, swam and played cricket on Four Mile Beach and then with seven crotchety and tired children we relaxed over bar-b-ques and wine. Oh happy days. Scout said “life can’t be this good” and down to earth we came as the families left one by one and Scout and I were left with wonderful memories and the sweet anticipation of next time.

Four Mile Beach Port Douglas

We made our way slowly south along the coast with stops in Mission Beach (another favourite), Home Hill, Carmilla Beach and Gin Gin. Home Hill and Carmilla Beach are new stops for us, both recommendations and both worth another visit for different reasons. Home Hill is a small sugar farming town of 3,000 about 100 kms south of Townsville. We had been told the town provides a free camping area for overnight stays. But we weren’t prepared for the sight that greeted us as we pulled into the town. The town council has designated a street one back and parallel to the main street for caravans and campers to stop. Each side of the wide road was crammed with travellers and we were lucky to sneak into a small vacant spot opposite the railway station. Modern toilets and shower facilities are provided and it is a 50 metre walk to the main street which is effectively the Bruce Highway. The main street is dying as these country towns are but some smart local has cottoned on to the potential of thousands of people travelling north each year and for the price of a beer or two, a bit of shopping or your fish and chips for the evening Home Hill has provided a safe and pleasant environment for a stop. I guess these country places just have to innovate and innovate Home Hill has. Carmilla Beach was something different.

Carmilla Beach is 100kms south of MacKay and six kms off the highway. Provided by the regional council it is a camping area on the coast for caravans, campers and tents. Rudimentary and sandy with a couple of longdrop toilets it may be but it is the perfect day or two camping stop on the beach. We had a quiet evening and a long early morning walk before moving south again.

Carmilla Beach

Mr Gato Jnr had performed admirably but we were racing home because I had an appointment with a knife. Well, a surgeon who was about to take a scalpel to my inner bits. It was time to deal with the nasty stuff on my prostate. If anyone tells you that the Australian health system is shot please refer them to me. It is a marvel. Well, the Sunshine Coast part of it anyway. The surgery went well according to the surgeon (well he would say that wouldn’t he). Doctors may save your life but nurses save your soul. And the nurses at SCHU were so lovely and attentive and reassuring that I was keen to book another week. It possibly helps that your son and daughter-in-law work three floors below the urology ward! Both Nick and Tehruna have also been a marvel. After a few days in the Sunshine Coast University Hospital I am home and enjoying the attention of nurse Scout. Who says, by the way, that we are a good pair – I don’t like to be nursed and she doesn’t like to nurse. Not true. She has been absolutely marvellous.

The whole episode was really summed up by a friend who, when I suggested we should start looking at some golf dates down the track replied “I am not playing with you. You can’t even pee properly”.