Day 84: Rest day - A happy ride around Australia (second attempt) - CycleBlaze

May 5, 2021

Day 84: Rest day

On Day 82, I rode past QLD's highest mountain, Mount Bartle Frere at 1611 metres. It may get as much as 17 metres of rainfall a year!!

Jean-Marc commented:

"It might just be a coincidence but in the Transkei area of the Eastern Cape in South Africa is a hill called Mount Frere, also name after Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere, the elevation of which is very similar to that of Mount Bartle Frere, namely 1612.7 meters above sea level."

How very interesting. 

Today our amazing day started with a Skyrail gondola ride above rainforests and over mountains from Cairns to Kuranda. 

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The Skyrail stopped at two locations so we could go for a walk and swap gondolas.

We saw an Ulysses butterfly flying about the tree tops. It looked amazing to see something so blue against the green of the rainforest. 

Today's tree pic is a 400 year old Kauri pine. An impressive tree.
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Kerrie McCarthyHow awesome is the sky rail, I loved it
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3 years ago
Baron Falls.
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This little skink was sunbaking on a step. I think he flattened out his torso to get more warmth from the sun.
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Bill ShaneyfeltYay, a lizard picture!

I was going to try and identify the species, but read there are over 200 species in Queensland...

Beyond my abilities, so little skink is close enough for me.
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3 years ago
Vince McCarthyHi Bill,
200 species is significant! Thanks for looking into it anyway.
Cheers
Vince
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3 years ago
When we reached Kuranda, we shared a banana jaffle for morning tea. Yum!
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We then went to the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary.
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I wish the butterfly would come closer.
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Perfect!
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The female cruiser.
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The male cruiser.
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The cruiser butterfly, Vindula erota.

The male orchid swallowtail butterfly.
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Papilio aegeus.

Australian lurcher.
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Yoma Sabina.

Female lemon migrant.
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Catopsilia pomona.

Female Cairns birdwing. The wingspan can be 15cm.
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Male Cairns birdwing. The wingspan can be 12cm.
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Ornithoptera euphorion.

The common eggfly. Also known as the blue moon butterfly in New Zealand.
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Hypolimnas bolina.

I feel like a butterfly!
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This king fern was inside the aviary.
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They have the largest fern fronds in the world.

Angiopteris evecta.

The Butterfly Sanctuary was amazing value for only $20.

A friendly cassowary.
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An unfriendly dinosaur.
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A cool street sculpture.
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I like bicycles in all shapes and sizes.
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Going back down the hill.
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On the way home we stopped at a market for fresh and dried tropical fruits.
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Rodney PrestonAwesome!!
Claire is Jealous about the Mangosteens, they are her favorite!! 😛
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3 years ago
Vince McCarthyClaire is welcome to hop on her bike and join me for a mangosteen feast.
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3 years ago

We went down to the esplanade which has many restaurants to choose from for dinner.

Scallops for entree.
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And prawn and crab salad for main.
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Bill ShaneyfeltMarvellous butterfly macro photography!
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3 years ago
Vince McCarthyThank you Bill.

I had to be very quick taking a photo. They didn't stay still for long and they would open and close their wings too.

I am very happy with the pics I did get. It was a fantastic experience.

Cheers
Vince
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3 years ago