Happy to report that not only does our caravan park have a coffee shop attached at the reception but the coffee is pretty good. Ray and I were both impressed. Ray because the blend of coffee is much to his liking and me because they have almond milk. The Captain is pretty pleased with all the passers by who think he’s pretty cute and he’s finally getting used to all the bird life around. He gives them the death stare more often than taking off after them. Much more polite as a guest in their caravan park I must say!

Ray struck up a conversation with Susan (the park manager) as he tried to convince her to let us have two cables to try to connect to the main TV antenna pole instead of just the one that you were usually allowed to take. Normally you were allowed to take one, try it and if it was wrong, you’d bring it back, swap it over and take the other. Ray wanted to take both, try both and bring back the one that didn’t suit our TV. Simples!

Susan lives on a farm and keeps goats as pets. We chatted about her goats, the trials about working far away from them and being worried about them getting their horns caught in the fences and other farm hazards. How video surveillance can only achieve so much and how goats are great pets but hers don’t give wool or milk for cheese. We are now also very well versed in the different methods of horn castration.

Yep! If you had told me when I woke up this morning that I was going to know pretty much all there is to know about goat horn castration before the sun set today, I would have thought you were nuts! But…here we have it. We wished her a good day at work and walked away…Ray holding both types of TV antennas, one of which he could return after we got back later that day, or even tomorrow. Whenever he wanted.

It has only been five months since we were last in Cairns. We flew here for a week holiday last year and really enjoyed it. We are looking forward to revisiting some of the places that we went to again and maybe getting the opportunity to travel a bit further Norrh as well.

We headed into Cairns to the Markets known as Rusty’s. It had mainly fresh fruit and vegetables. A small amount of touristy things and some food stalls. Ray found a donut and I ordered a fresh juice. We wandered around, The Captain leading the way as he found other four legged friends out on a Sunday morning also wanting to say hello. We bought some homemade banana bread to take to our friends’ house this afternoon and some lemons.

• 

• 

From the market it was a decent walk for Henry in the heat to the esplanade where we decided we would eat lunch so we walked slowly making good use of the shade from the lush green areas in the middle of the mall areas.

We headed for Ray’s favourite cafe “La Pizza” that he spent a fair amount of time in when we visited last. (We were here at the same time as his mate. They ate, I shopped). We enjoyed a lovely lunch then walked back to the car.

We drove to the Trinity Park Marina and through the estate looking at some beautiful waterfront houses. Trinity Beach itself was beautiful, busy with lunch goers for a Sunday and all the eateries were packed. Unfortunately, we’ve been told that sandflies are a concern beachside so there was absolutely no way I was getting out of the car.

• 

• 

We made our way to Karen and Dave’s. Ex-Melbournians, I worked with Karen when we taught at the same school (she is now teaching in Cairns), and Dave worked for us in our business that we had in Melbourne. They’ve been in Cairns for over a year now, loving the change and lifestyle (including the weather!)

It was great seeing them again, and catching up on the news since we had seen them last. Henry loved having their backyard to run around in and their big dog, Broddick and Henry got along well.

We made plans for them to come to “our place” for dinner. Our very first caravan dinner guests!