Day 16 – Cairns to Mt Surprise

The day started very well with me getting up, showering and dressing and going out without Toby rising. We had our pancakes for breakfast, then went over to the shops – too early, no entrances open. We returned and packed the car. Key cards were returned and finally I drove out, ready to go, but the shopping centre was open and so we popped in to do the final shopping before the next section of our trip. We were out before the meters were operating, so it was a brief visit. On the way out I filled up at Shell with a 4cent docket and they had the other magazine – success! We called in to the SkyRail terminal for Lynn to get some souvenirs (they would have had to be carted up to and back from Kuranda otherwise). All was going well as we headed up the scenic drive to Kuranda – until at just before 9 we ground to a halt. About ten minutes later two ambulances, two police cars and two fire rescue appliances went past on the wrong side of the road – no other way up! A few minutes later two tow trucks followed. Just after 9:30 everything started to come down. By 9:45 we were all on our way. We saw a different side of Kuranda from the road. Our next destination was Mareeba, a lot larger town that suggested – we drove through it and back. Then we went to Atherton, where we had an early light lunch after visiting the Information Centre. We diverted from the highway to see Ravenshoe, highlighted by the many shoes nailed to bollards in the main street and the highest hotel in Queensland. We went on through Mt Garnet (cheap fuel) and Innot Springs. We passed the turnoff to Undara and then – disaster! The left rear tyre delaminated and the tread came off and took the rear skirt, air box and connectors off. I slowed down gradually but the road had no shoulder. I stopped as far to the left as possible, and started to get everything ready to change wheels. A following car (teacher and groundsman from a Western Australian school, touring with their children) stopped and provided cover as the husband and I changed the wheel. Lynn went back to collect the air box and skirt. I put the air box back but the skirt was more difficult (it was damaged and connectors were missing). Finally I got it on and we drove on. We arrived at Mount Surprise and checked in at the caravan park after looking around the town for tyres or mechanics – NONE! Plan A was to see if there was a source in the town and Plan B was to return to Mt Garnet to get a tyre. The owner of the caravan park had been a mechanic, so his wife said he’d look to see it there was a tyre. But when we got to our site, the adjoining site also had a Prado and the owner wanted to get rid of a tyre as he was no longer off-roading. So it was arranged that Jo (not Joe) of the caravan park would change it tomorrow while we were off at Undara. I cooked the left-over steak and all the sausages I had bought, we had tea and soon after we were in bed and asleep.