This morning we picked up a camper van in Airlie Beach. We have four days to drive it 600 kilometers north to Port Douglas. The plan is to get it there as soon as possible so we can spend time swimming, snorkeling and exploring Port Douglas.
Being on the road here feels a little different from Colorado. We're taking highway 1, a two lane road. The entire road is narrow, and if you want to pass anyone, you have to cross into oncoming traffic. But I was completely comfortable with Glen at the wheel and me in the passenger seat. I help Glen by screeching anytime anyone makes an aggressive move. I'm writing this at 11pm from a campground in a town called Cardwell, about two hours south of Port Douglas.
Although a little scary, the drive here was beautiful. The farther north we headed, the more tropical it became. The map made it appear as if we were driving right along the Pacific Ocean, but we didn't see the ocean until we rolled into Cardwell.
We found a campground and as we were checking in, we asked the owner if there were crocodiles in the creeks. He nodded enthusiastically and then told us they're in the ocean too. He said that when some of the local kids turn 16, they jump off the jetty, into the water and swim as fast as they can back to shore - he even did it himself, when he was young. With my usual sense of over-zealousness, I asked how often one of them actually gets eaten by a croc...I think I may need charm classes.
We had a delicious dinner at a little place in town; fresh caught crab with lemon, lettuce, salt and pepper on a roll. Then, we dropped into the pub (it's always 'the pub' here, never 'the bar') for a beer.
This is a lovely town to spend the night in. I could stay here longer, and we just may, because tonight, the camper key broke. But right now, life is good...and I'm sure we'll get that one figured out in the morning.
Glen and I in our happy place, on the road. Note to self, work on my selfie smile.
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