Sun, 9th July, 2023 Bilyana Rest Area, south of Tully to Jon & Annalise’s place, Cairns, Qld

Russell’s birthday - sent him a FB message. Will catch up with him soon.

17.7 degrees, clear sky.

Back on the road again heading north which is getting more clouds. Forecast is for misty rain for the next week in Cairns!

Bright white cloud on top of the mountain above Tully - the sun must have caught it.

The sugar mill is in full swing too making its own clouds with the steam.

A sign says 5,350 bananas needed to make one kilometre. It was from when they created the world’s longest banana split during the Feast of Senses Festival in 2017 according to the info online. I did a screen-shot of some info. It was actually laid out in a paddock. I was wondering how they laid the bananas along the side of the highway between these signs which showed how many bananas per kilometre till we reached the last one which said 43,000 bananas = 8.04km. As it was a banana split they also had 2500 litres of icecream and 2000 litres of topping. Looks like they had a lot of fun making it.

Stopped for a cuppa at the Babinda Rest Area, lots of travellers here too. Overcast and cool. Kaylene rang to see how we were travelling.

We can see the Pyramid - nearly home. They still haven’t finished the roadworks around Gordonvale. Though the section before Edmonton is done and it is very good.

Into Cairns and up to Jon’s place. Strange to be driving back up our old street but turning up the hill to his place instead of down the hill to our old place. Steve and Jon sorted out the parking issue while I chatted with Annalise. Decided to park down by the shed so he backed in and we got the camper off. Thought it might have been a bit difficult with the slope but it worked out well. This will be home for a couple of months.

So lovely to see Jon and Annalise again and to be here and involved in their wedding.

After lunch we went out to Greg’s to pick up the Corolla to use while the truck is out of action.

Annalise’s mum, Lynda came over and her sister-in-law Taylor was up for a friend’s wedding so we had a lovely time chatting over dinner.