WEDNESDAY 24 JUNE     WONGA BEACH

Another fine day but still with some cloud around. It rained later in the afternoon.

We went back to the Daintree, across on the ferry – more fees – and set out to explore north of where we reached the other day. Followed the Cape Tribulation Road, through Thornton Beach, where the road is back at the coast, and then a bit inland again, until Cape Tribulation. Much of the way, after Cow Bay, was in forest. There was some farmland again around Cape Tribulation village.

Again, my preconceptions were astray. I’d thought Cape Trib would be the main place for tourist activity, but it is nowhere near that of Cow Bay, which was much busier.

We spent a while walking along the beach by Cape Tribulation. It was surprising how few people there were there – we almost had it to ourselves for much of the time.

It is such a lovely area. Again, forest right down to the beach. Wide, sandy beaches between the headlands.

As we were walking, I was amazed – and appalled – to see a big bulk freighter ship, in really close to the land. It seems there is a shipping channel there, inside the Great Barrier Reef. I wonder about the potential for a major environmental disaster when this is permitted. I am quite angry that commerce can be allowed to threaten such a superb environment.

We had social bowls at Mossman at night, so had to leave the Daintree area in time to get cleaned up back at the van, have a quick tea of soup and sardines on toast, and get to Mossman.

As we drove to Mossman, the recent rains had caused waterfalls to come off rocky ledges on the mountain slopes. It made me think that it would be really something to see, after really heavy rains – they would be huge. The Wet season up here must be truly spectacular.

Because of the rain and dew, the bowling green was wet, the grass was comparatively long, and it was really hard to play on. We both had  sore arms by the end of the night, from the effort required.

Going to sleep here, with the sound of the sea nearby, is blissful.