It's a travel day - Fly Brisbane - Cairns, Drive Cairns-Yungaburra-Undara

Monday, December 16

It's moving day.  Up at 4, out the door at 4:30, refilled the car at the gas station across the street and headed to the airport.  Everything easy and smooth, and soon we are on our way to Cairns.  We actually get a (light) meal on the plane.  Greek yogurt with rhubarb, and sliced apples.  I ate Steve's yogurt, he ate my apples.  It all works out.

Easy pickup of the car.  I still can't believe they let Alan (our guide for the next four days) come in and give them a copy of his driver's license so that he could drive for some of the time.  There wasn't any extra charge either.  Plus, Hertz is the only one who lets you drive on unsealed roads up here.  Suddenly, I'm a big fan of Hertz.

Off we go.  There's some rain, but this is the wet season, and we are headed up into more rainforest, so you can't complain.  We take the Gilles Hwy to Yungaburra--The Long and Winding Road, Part III.  Yet another spectacular drive.  There's lots of roadwork, so plenty of opportunity to stop and look at the view!

Someone had taken rock graffiti to a new level.  One large boulder was painted like a big green frog with ruby red lips outlining a cleft in the rock.  Later there is a black and white dogwood flower looking painting.

We found Alan Gillanders' place easily once we got to Yungaburra and he kindly served us a snack of apple cake and open sandwiches with salmon and cheese--and coffee for me!  What a guy.

We had spent a short 4 hours with Alan back in 2007 and had such a good time that we engaged him for four days for this trip.  He's a great birder, but really a great overall naturalist and points out all manner of flora and fauna.  Plus, he's a super nice and funny guy.  So if you are planning a trip to this area, I would have a hard time recommending anyone more highly than Alan.

It was time to get back in the car and head to Undara.  It was fascinating to watch the landscape change again.  We made a few short stops, once for a light lunch, two times for a few looks at birds.  The last place we stopped, a rest area, there were butterflies absolutely everywhere.  I felt like I was in a butterfly sanctuary.

Well, it's posting interruptus as we need to head out for a nocturnal tour now.  I'll finish up this day later.