Day 54 was a real high and when we got back Julie was keen to seize the following day. We checked the weather forecast for tomorrow – drizzle was the order of most of the day. The day after, heavy rain. If we were going to see the rainforest, our best bet was tomorrow. We booked it! We were going to the rainforest and Kuranda, up and down on the Skyrail.

And so to Today, day 55. We were being picked up from the Night Market in Cairns at 9.40am. We were up and ready to go. We had been to Woolworths and bought umbrella’s the night before. We had waterproofs just in case. It was raining but the forecast still said drizzle by 10.00am.

The walk to the night market was all under cover apart from crossing one road. Easy. The coach was early, but so were we. That’s good. It was also good that there were only about 10 people on a 52 seater coach. Less people at the Skyrail. It was still raining.

We get in the the entrance of the Skyrail. Not many there, easy on to a gondola for the first leg of the journey up to a rainforest walk. The view is a bit disappointing given the rain, not helped when the young lady of couple we are sharing the gondola with (she is from Melbourne and he is visiting from Brazil) says, ‘I’ve done this a few time, its fantastic in the sunshine’. 😦

First stop, we are off and determined. It’s still raining.

Stage 2, we get a gondola to ourselves. It’s still raining.

Whilst on the coach, the lady coach driver gave is some information about the Rainforest and Kuranda. She also informed us that part of the railway line was washed away last year and had only just been put back in place. However, some further rain recently had damaged a small section of the track and it was currently being put right. So no trains running but, the old station is still very interesting to visit and the cafe is open. Also, being a Sunday, the Sunday market is on.

We go to the station.

It’s quite deserted. Including the cafe.

A lady appears, in a uniform. She is part of the office staff and the only one on duty today, fielding all the calls on why the train isn’t running. She’s come out for a break and gets us. We want to know why the cafe isn’t open? ‘It’s raining’ she says. The forecast isn’t good so the staff are not coming in to run it because there won’t be the visitors. Well we are here! We have a nice chat and leave her to go back to the phone lines. We head up to find tea and cake.

On the way to the village, it starts to rain just a tad heavier. It’s now about 30 degrees, feet are soaking but it doesn’t feel it. We find a cafe, with tasty sausage rolls, excellent banana bread a and good tea! Result.

At which point, the heavens really opened and the rain was bouncing off the floor. We move from our covered area to a table inside the cafe. Great move as it’s dripping in everywhere!

So here’s the thing, we are in a rainforest. It’s going to rain and not just a small shower. So we accept the situation and make the most of it, exploring the market and the surrounding village. Most people we talk to say, as were are from the UK, we should be used to it. Really? OK.

We do a bit more mooching around the shops and meet the lovely Lucy, who runs ‘Tonketti’, a fashion and gifts shop…

Our coach back is 3pm so it’s about 40 minutes to travel on all 3 gondola’s above the tree canopy. We head back..