Georgetown bound

Our trip to Georgetown was always going to be an adventure. With an early flight and finding myself sitting at the airport just before 6.00am it was never going to be anything else. So we made check in, no overweight luggage this time, boarded our plane on time and arrived in Cairns at 9.20am. Only to be advised that my travel buddy's bag was still in Brisbane. Given we were not leisure seekers visiting Cairns for the week with plenty of time idling while we waited for the next plane, and with a six hour drive ahead of us, we declined the offer to wait until 12.30 to collect the bag. Plan B then involved a fast shopping stop over to restock supplies. Courtesy of Qantas. So, we bought clothes, cosmetics and a pair of thongs as backup shoes and off we went. The initial part of the drive took us through the rainforest and up across the mountain outside Cairns, under the Kuranda Sky Rail and across the Atherton tablelands. Very green and very picturesque. Quite unlike the countryside I usually drive through on field trips to date. Still the incredible red soil I have seen outside of Longreach, Cunnamulla and Julia Creek, but with more vegetation. According to locals this region is experiencing a green drought. This translates as vegetation looks green, however beneath the top soil the ground is extremely dry. Whereas Easter last year the Etheridge River was in flood, this year we were able to walk along the dry river bed. We decided to take the scenic route, detouring slightly through Millaa Millaa. While a beautiful country drive, we arrived to find that most things in town were closed on a Monday. That is, all except for the pub. Knowing we would be eating lots of pub meals once we reached our destination we decided to by pass the pub and drive on to Ravenshoe for lunch. Just for the record, we found out that the Millaa Millaa pub serves great meals. Perhaps another time. Ravenshoe is a slight dog leg off the main road and well worth a stop. We had an interesting chat to the gentleman at the Tourist Information Centre. He was in for a chat and more than happy to give us the personal tour of the centre. With dioramas, brochures and souvenirs it is a great centre. Recommendation for lunch was the Popular Cafe on the right hand side heading in to town, so this is where we went. A 1940's cafe with booths, coffee machine and counters seemingly original fittings it was like having lunch in a time warp - good food and fun. Tummies full and legs stretched we continued on our way, arriving in Georgetown late afternoon. 18.3.2013