Atherton

A day of sightseeing today with the first stop the Strawberry Farm on the outskirts of town.  The lady at the counter was most unfriendly so we bought some jam and got straight back in the car.  No public picking until September and it was too early for home made gelato. The strawberries looked pretty average, so the kids were pretty disappointed.  On to a very old and grand Fig Tree.  It was massive and most impressive.  They've built a boardwalk through the rainforest around it and it was well worth the look.  On to Yungaburra, an historic town about 15 minutes back towards Cairns.  It was a pretty drive through lots of farms, broad acre ones according to farmer Rick.  I got the full rundown on the irrigation systems, machinery blah blah.  Nonno Tony would have been most impressed but it was a little lost on daddy's audience.  Yungaburra was quaint with loads of weatherboard buildings including the pub, a couple of restaurants and coffee shops, a butchers, pharmacy and nic nac shops.  We mulled around town and headed up a back street to some shed thing that Rick had spotted that served groovalicious tea and coffee.  The lady was very nice and the shed was full of eclectic things so we chatted and ended up staying for a coffee and divine chai latte.  The kids played with the interesting toys from yest er year and had a hot chocolate so everyone was most pleased. The owner was an ex chef studying media hoping to make documentaries.  Her name was Lyn Fraser and she told us to expect her name in lights one day. On to the local coffee shop for lunch and Rick had the best home made hamburger Pattie ever, despite being most unhappy with my almost CWA choice of lunch spots. On to Lake Barrine for a look, which turned into a walk around the lake.  Ah, that would be a 6km walk with three kids in a pram on dirt tracks through the rainforest, up and down hills and very close to the edge of a steep cliff in many parts with a narrow track in most parts.  The trees were unbelievable with a couple for kauri pines estimated to be more than 1000 years old.  And another recently fell as a result of cyclone Larry which hit the area pretty badly.  We were pretty knackered by the end and my backside is very sore tonight as I type.  Back into Yungaburra to spot platypus in the local stream just next to the town.  And sure enough there they were although we couldn't seem to get a great viewing of them as they'd duck back under the water too quickly and we couldn't get to the waters edge as the scrub was too thick.  So Rick went bush bashing and videoed them in action.  Meanwhile an older couple came past and started talking to the kids.  They turned out to be tour operators and took us in search of kangaroos that climb and hop through trees.  I think he was pulling our chain.  We didn't spot the roos, but the guides knew everything about the bush and were great with the kids. They were very passionate environmentalists and have been involved in the replanting of the rainforests throughout the area. On to Nicks Pizzeria for dinner and it was fantastic.  The cook an Italian mumma, and her daughter were straight off the boat and could barely speak English. Boy could she make a mean pizza, better than anything I've ever eaten in Griffith and I'd probably even say Haberfield.  I rated it and couldn't stop scoffing.  The kids didn't speak at all through dinner, they were so enjoying it.  Home by 7.30PM, quick showers and a skype with Nanna and Nonno Tony and it was time for bed.  A great day.