QLD Trip 2011: Mission Beach, Tully & Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all!

Hope everyone has had a lovely day celebrating all our wonderful Dad's and what they do for us!

We have had a wet time here in Mission Beach. The rain started mid afternoon yesterday and it hasn't stopped much for breaks since!!! We have been getting wet feet each time we walk out of the caravan! They say Tully is the wettest place in Australia - now we know why! Lucky I managed to get some washing done early Sat and it dried before the rain set in.
After getting the washing out we went for a drive along all the little beaches here near Mission Beach. Brooke, there is even a beach named after you up here, Brooke's beach! Nice little beach, but it would have been better if the weather wasn't so windy and wet. Anyway, we then made our way to Tully. Trent and I have been to Tully about 6-7 years ago, nothing has changed and you could also see how much damage the cyclone has done all around there too. We went to a little cafe for lunch called the Ulysses Cafe. Whilst there Anna Bligh walked in with her entourage! We didn't have time for a photo with her but we watched her eat her salad! Which I might add, she ordered after us but got hers first!!! Pheobe now knows who she is and when we saw her on the news tonight she pointed out that was who we saw yesterday at lunch! We went and saw the Big Gumboot at Tully and had photos, the kids and Trent all climbed up the top of the inside of the boot. (Check out the photo's to see what I mean!)
After lunch it was back home to race the rain to get the washing in. Once that job was done we went and did grocery shopping, and glad that we did because the supermarket was closed today! Cooked dinner in the camp kitchen and had dinner over there too, it was so wet that we thought because it was undercover it would give the kids another chance to stretch their legs! They all had a wash in the Caravan that night, too wet and windy to walk them to the showers! They were all happy with that though.

Today, an early start because everyone was excited it was Father's Day. The kids couldn't wait to give Trent his presents that we went shopping for the other day in Townsville. Breaky and a slow start to the morning. We then because it was raining and everyone was getting a little ratty, went for a drive to Innisfail. Again, Trent and I have been here before but it was good to have a look around. We can't believe all the damage that we can still see from the cyclone, it's pretty bad still, so can't even begin to imagine what it was like the day after it actually hit. Many houses still have tarps over their roofs, Trees are all still starting to sprout new shoots, the bush looks a mess and it's hard to understand why things haven't been cleaned up better than they have by now. I guess we are just so lucky to have not experienced anything like this with our own homes.
Back at the caravan for lunch, we actually brought a roast to have but because of the wet weather we decided against it and will cook it one day soon. It was a long afternoon in the van entertaining the kids but we managed and when it stopped raining late afternoon we packed up most of our gear ready for our departure tomorrow am, then we let the kids go play at the park and get as wet as they liked before having showers and getting dry and warm. Had dinner, cleaned up and phoned some very important people for Father's day. Now the kids are all asleep and I'm catching up on the blogging, while the Dad on this trip is taking it easy watching the TV on the bed!

Anyway, we are looking at heading to Cairns tomorrow and will most likely spend a few days or so there. An update on my foot for those that are interested - I can now walk on it, not so much pain but still very puffy! Tried to put a proper shoe on today and couldn't, so it was back to my thongs!!!
Hope everyone is well and look forward to catching up soon.
Lots of Love, The Guye Gang! xoxoxo

The Big Gumboot at Tully.

The sign at the bottom of the Big Gumboot.

The Guye Gang at the Big Gumboot in Tully.

Trent, Maurice, Felicity & Pheobe on the side at the top of the inside of the Big Gumboot.

The pool area at the park we are staying at here in Mission Beach.

The best pic I could get of our car soaking wet last night!

Another view of the VERY wet weather.

Here is a pic of the Trees all starting the grow again from the cyclone damage.

Trent getting his presents this am from the kids for Father's day.

Just a nice pic that I got of Maurice.

Pheobe, Maurice & Felicity.

Everyone sticking up there fingers coz they are sick of the rain and wind and just the horrible wet weather that we have had the past 2 days! The Island in the background is Dunk Island. It's only about 4kms across from this beach we are on. You can hire a boat and go over there but in this weather we weren't very keen. Apparently the great resort that was there before the cyclone can't get insurance to be able to do it up again, so it's all gone to the clappers! Shame, coz we would have loved to have gone over and seen it.