28-31 Mar, 2024 Jon & Annalise’s place, Cairns, Qld

Thurs, 28^th

Lynda brought a photo of Annalise as a baby - look at all that hair.

I dug this one up of Jon, 4 weeks and very windy baby - Beau is just like his daddy in that respect too! We spent a lot of time rocking the pram.

Steve had to make a few more modifications to the fan after David’s piece was added to he was under the bonnet most of the day.

The curlews have discarded one egg shell away from their nesting spot - to keep predators away as that means one chick has been hatched. I could see the chick’s head in the tail feathers - not the best photo as I was using my phone camera.

Kaylene and Rick came over for a cuppa in the afternoon and to have some cuddles with Beau.

That turned into pizza for dinner as we were all having such a great time chatting and dotting over Beau.

 

 

Fri, 29^th

Rain, rain and rain all morning.

Annalise said she saw the second egg being discarded by the curlews during the night so the second chick has been born.

I finished the babies cushions - yeah.

Gave Beau his - he was so excited about it!

Looking forward to giving Sophia hers. Fran messaged that the Special Care Nursery had rung to arrange for them to stay over night tomorrow so they could monitor her feeding and if all good she can go home. How wonderful. 

After lunch the rain eased a bit so Steve could finish the modifications to the new engine fan. Nearly finished all his repairs.

Wasn’t long and the rain was back again.

After a cuppa the rain eased so we went for a drive in the truck as Steve wanted to make sure the fan was not rubbing etc and we wanted to check out the Barron River etc. Lots of water everywhere - looking over the wet canefields up the Freshwater Valley.

Out to Kamerunga and across the Barron River - flowing fast and dirty from this recent rain. The big sandy area that had been gouged out by the early heavy rain from the cyclone is now being used for motorbikes and 4 wheelers to zoom around on.

We drove around to the entrance to the old bridge, built in 1910 and is underwater at the moment. The council has done a lot of work moving all the sand that was piled up from the previous flood.

Walked down to check out the river and the bridge. Scanning around to the old bridge.

It is under the water there - you can just see a car on the other side where the exit is.

Upstream.

We went back to the truck then drove up to the Lake Placid area - hard to recognise now with the wide spread of the river. The Tea House is closed.

We drove up the road towards the Barron River Hydro but the road is closed and it is quite a walk so we turned around just as the rain started again.

Out through Caravonica - plenty of water lying around there. Turned onto the highway and over Thomatis Creek.

Around to Holloways Beach to where Thomatis Creek broke through during the cyclone flood to make a new mouth here. They are still trying to sort it all out.

Continued around to the boat ramp of Thomatis Creek.

As we headed back out we spotted a house that is disappearing into a hole. Wow the poor home owners. I don’t think they will be able to save the house.

Around to Machans Beach and down to the south end. Across Redden Creek.

Onto Redden Island - the walking paths are all closed and the old track down to the mouth of the Barron River is closed and it was too wet for a walk.

Back up to the north end of Machans Beach to Barr Creek. Looking along the beach towards Yorkeys Knob.

Good info board.

Looking back along the rock edge towards Redden Ck then further along to the mouth of the Barron River. I could just make out some large boats heading into Cairns Inlet via the navigation channel.

Back out to the highway and then across the main Barron River bridge. They took down the old one a bit further upstream which all the fisherman got very upset about.

Back towards home. The waterfall above Jon’s place that is on the Copperlode Dam Road is flowing so well. It was brown this morning with all the heavy rain but it has cleaned up now.

Lynda had tried to go back to Aloomba earlier but the creek she needs to cross to get to Simon’s place is flooded so she turned around and came back.

The curlews have moved a bit from their nesting spot. Must be hard to keep two little chicks covered up in all this rain.

 

 

Sat, 30^th

 

Clearer sky and windy today. 

The curlews had moved to a different spot and the chicks were having a wander. Of course when I got the camera they hid but you can just see one on the left hand side.

I went back up the driveway and waited and then I spotted one wander around.

Later from the patio I saw Mum & Dad Curlew take their two chicks across the driveway. The youngest was just walking and had a hard time getting up onto the concrete from the grass. They look so cute.

David and Brian are busy painting the other two walls at Woodgate house with Terry keeping an eye on them.

 

 

Sun, 31^st

Sunnier morning so got some washing done. Did my baking while Steve changed the brake pads and put in the new air bags.

Wonderful news, Sophia comes home tomorrow afternoon so we will go out to welcome her home. 3 weeks old now.

The baby curlews have grown so quickly already.

Sorted out my cross stitch cottons so I can work on some First Christmas stockings for Sophia and Beau.