On a Cassowary Mission

Mangos on every corner (not usually this big)
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We awoke to the sound of rain pounding on the roof of our steamed up car, with numerous aches and pains resulting from our unconventional and highly uncomfortable sleeping positions. Airlie Beach wasn't looking too picturesque! We considered our situation, and after much deliberation we decided to get straight back on the road again and continue North to Mission Beach. This meant that we would miss out sailing around the Whitsunday Isalnds, but no matter how spectacular, they'd look pretty grotty in this weather, and sailing in a storm is never going to be much fun. So, gluttons for punishment, off we went. The journey was pretty uneventful, driving through mile upon mile of sugar cane country, although we did spot a few kangroos bouncing around. We also had a chuckle when the guy on the radio proclaimed that "you know its christmas when there's mangos on every corner". We really are a long way from home! We eventually trundled into a caravan park at about 6pm and clambered into our beds for some much needed beauty sleep.

Nothing for miles and miles
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Mission Beach is in Tropical North Queensland, and is surrounded by rainforest proportedly housing the world's largest population of cassowaries - 6ft cousins of the emu with an electric blue neck, a red wattle and a razor sharp claw on each foot that can disembowel a human with one swift kick. Crikey! as the late Steve Irwin would once have said.  Once daylight arrived, we set off into the rainforest in search of one of these rare birds. Judging by the number of roadsigns warning drivers to beware of cassowaries crossing, you'd have thought there were hundreds of them skulking about in the trees. However, true to form, we saw nothing, not a dickie bird. We admitted defeat and retired to the beach for some sun, sand and sea. Unfortunately the latter was quite unappealing owing to the number of man killing jellyfish floating around. There are stinger nets in place designed to keep them out, but the locals don't trust them, so we took their advice and stayed on dry land.

6ft cousins of the emu with an electric blue neck, a red wattle and a razor sharp claw

Cassowary alert
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That night the boys popped out to grab some grub for the barbie, and returned looking rather smug. They claimed to have seen a pair of cassowaries peeking out from behind the trees and had a photo to prove it. However, upon closer inspection, the paint flaking from the fibreglass forms of the fake birds uncovered their scam - cheeky boys!

The next morning we had one more fruitless scout around for cassowaries before continuing on our journey North to Cairns. We're just going to have to swallow our pride and pay to go to a zoo!