MONDAY 5 OCTOBER     CAIRNS

Spent the morning around camp, then went off to the doctor in the early afternoon.

John had some skin things burnt off. The doctor reassured him that rarely do such things turn cancerous.

I’d made an appointment along with John and had my skin checked over. All ok. My blood pressure was 150/75, which he seemed to think was alright. I got a new script for my Gopten blood pressure pills.

Then we picked up a few more groceries – another $20 – and some more beer and wine casks, since John thought there would be room in Truck for same.

Bought diesel – 69cpl.

Back at camp we took down the awning roof and washed it too. That took ages – lots of leavings from birds and fruit bats. Big trees provide good shade but do have their down side.

It looks like we will finally get away from Cairns! My fear was that there would be something wrong with John’s skin that would delay us further!

Tea was soup, followed by beef and mushroom stir fry from John’s Gut Busters book – a “slim” stroganoff! Served with noodles and zucchini.

SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER    CAIRNS

John was not feeling well, so we had a lazy day.

I did a load of washing. Had a swim.

John repaired the gas lamp and camp stove we’d used on the Cape trip. Basically, both had accumulated too much dust and dirt in their little burners. At such times it is very useful to have the air compressor that we had fitted to Truck.

Tea was more corn chowder and a honey chicken stir fry.

FRIDAY 2 OCTOBER     CAIRNS

We were both a little tender after yesterday’s efforts – out of practice. But I was encouraged enough to plan for us to tackle some walks around Gordonvale, to the south, later on today.

We did a big round of the shops, in preparation for travel to less well equipped parts.

Went to Rusty’s markets and spent nearly $40 on fruit and vegetables. At the fish co-op bought some for the freezer – $24. Then we stocked up at Woolworths – $103. $44 for wine casks.

John had been having issues with a broken piece on the frame of his everyday glasses, so had that repaired at an optometrist – $49. I bought a new watch battery as my watch had stopped working – $10. John spent $9 on some new undies.

By the time we had done all that, it was too late to go walking, as planned. Still, the shopping provided some exercise, especially lugging all the market stuff back to Truck which had to be parked some distance away.

Tea was dim sims, sausages and bread. John’s requests, as a change from fish.  What happened to low fat?

WEDNESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

There was rain overnight, which upped the humidity again.

Mail came to the Office, from the accountant with more tax related things to be signed. This really has been a drawn out saga. We completed the signing, drove to Smithfield  and mailed the paperwork off. John bought a computer games  magazine – $5.

In the afternoon, went to bowls. I played fairly well – seem to have fixed up my jack delivery. I won another meat tray – or my team did. More rump steak and sausages. Given how much money is spent on bowls, I don’t think we are coming out ahead.

Today was really windy, and through the afternoon there were storm clouds building up. I love the dramatic skies, but hate the accompanying humidity.

I made salads for tea.

TUESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

I walked to the local shop for the paper – some more exercise. John slept in.

After lunch we went to Stratford and practiced bowls for a while. I concentrated on improving my rolling of the jack, which is very unreliable, rarely straight or of the distance required. And too often out of bounds. It looks easy but………

Back at camp, we rode to the Smithfield shopping centre, for exercise. Almost 12kms.

Discussed and firmed up our ideas for the jaunt to the west: Undara to see the lava tubes; Mt Surprise to fossick for topaz; Karumba; Normanton. If it is not too hot may continue as far as Mt Isa. We will leave on Sunday, after we watch the TV coverage of the election count, on Saturday. John has had his sport on TV, I want my politics!

I went to the Office and extended our stay until Sunday morning. Cost keeps going up – now $17 a night, because we are not on a weekly rate.

Tea was a tofu and ginger soup followed by a stir fry of vegies and tofu, to use up the rest of the packet. John was not impressed! He is the one who wants healthy, so bad luck!

SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

Hot and humid. I was up at 9am. John slept later.

I did a load of washing, and read in the morning. Washing here is $2 a load.

John went to bowls after lunch.

I washed the van floor, swept the slab, had a swim.

Tea was ginger and tofu soup and John had reheated leftover steak and kidney.

SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

It was hot and humid, as days mostly are now.

I rode to the local shop for the paper – 2kms.

In the late morning, drove to Smithfield and did a grocery shop – $58.

John watched the AFL football grand final on TV. Adelaide defeated North Melbourne – rather a surprise result, I gather.

I read the paper, then went for a long swim.

There’s lots of bird life in the big trees around the park – very interesting to watch, especially as some are ones we don’t get down south. We are parked near some large mango trees, which the birds seem to like. They have some little green mangoes on – not going to be ripe while we are here.

Tea was steak and kidney with suet dumplings – all done in the electric frypan.