Around Port Douglas things become more difficult. The number of campings between Cairns and Port Douglas is low (anyone with some entrepreneurial inkling, this is an opportunity) and the ones close to the beach that allow dogs are non existent. The Port Douglas campings are booked out and the beaches there (in the winter) are perfect for kite surfing.
Mmmmm, idea, what if we lived the months March till October in North Queensland, I teach kite surfing and Marjo runs the camping. Not sure yet how to sell this idea to her. Perhaps we can get the kids interested and they run the camping and Marjo organises snorkeling tours on the reef. Mmmm.
After Dotti attached and devoured another sheep, she had a well earned nap and we were ready to leave the Julatten camping and descended from the tablelands.
We had some nice views coming down the mountain with some fierce clouds.
Then we did a weave from the highway to each village and see if they perhaps had hidden a camping spot somewhere that was not listed in our plethora of books and websites. Not so much luck. At several beaches they even didn’t allow dogs on the beach. Some say it’s to prevent them turning into croc food as the croc signs are everywhere.
Suddenly we came into Port Douglas. A tourist town like we have not seen before with many many shops, cafe’s, restaurants and one resort after the other competing on plush. Not our cup of tea. When on the way out we saw a small council sign “beach access” we went in and turned in some dead end street to arrive at the Port Douglas Sailing club with the beach called 4 mile beach. And what a beach! Kiteboarder’s heaven. I’m making progress although all the art is Marjo’s finger work on the camera’s trigger so that you don’t see the spectacular landings in the water. Someone asked if its hard to learn and I can confirm. While lying on your back in shallow water you try with one hand to steer a 12 meter kite whilst with the other you try and shove your feet in the braces on the board. Meanwhile you try and keep the water from entering all orifices every time a wave comes over. Then you try with two hands first counter steer the kite and then, while knees bent (forward leg a little less) steer the kite hard towards the ocean to generate enough power to lift you up. Meanwhile you look for other kiters, swimmers, dolphins and crocs, steer in the right direction and not pull your hands close when you get out of the water as this stalls the kite. Get it? I don’t. As yet. But soon…….
Then it was time to find a place for the night. Many websites and phone calls later we are now at a reasonable camping called Mossman Riverside Camping with Olympic size pool! We spot here TwoDutchies, a couple that travel countries by shipping their car and staying for a couple of months (or years) to explore, clean the kite gear, connect back on the Internet and decide where to go next. Hopefully I can steer it so we come past 4 mile beach again 😉
Posted from Mossman, Queensland, Australia.
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