Cairns GTG May 28th 2011
 

A new thread as it is now time to start getting serious about having some fun together.

Can people please indicate their intention to come and numbers.

Does anyone have a strong preference for Trinity Beach or Palm Cove over the other one?

It looks like Margo_Oz and I will be having a trip around the Tablelands on the Sunday by ourselves unless someone else wants to join in.

ttt

Hi Alan,
Sorry, just saw this thread.

I'm coming - and would like to join you & Margo on the wander around on Sunday, if the offer is still open.

Thanks & regards
Bokhara

No preference for GTG location; very happy to leave it to you & Pat. Far too long since I've been to FNQ for me to have an opinion, regrettably.

Certainly welcome to join us. We'll do the trip in my car as there will just be the two of you at this stage. Don't plan on getting back until late evening but we can talk about plans later.

Thanks Alan

Checking in!

no preference either way. No accom organised yet!

I'm just stalking your GTG threads as I would so love to be there!

I'm sure you will have a fabulous gathering. Make sure to let Amy D (the editor)know. I think she sends GTG care packages.

topping for Greynomad!

Hi Alan,
Just wondering where you might be thinking for dinner for our GTG on the Saturday night?

Back to you soon with a location.

Stormbird, I look forward to meeting you.

By my reckoning we now have Pat and Mike, Alan and Maria, Stormbird, Greynomad, Margo_oz, and Bokhara2.

Sounding good isn't it Alan? Can you give me an idea of the time line for the day trip on Sunday please - ie start / finish? Just organising flights at present. I will be going back on the Sunday.

Stormbird,
As I now have a tour on the next day I'd like to be dropping people off by 5pm so I can get home and ready for another really big day. You should see these people's want list!!! Still it gives me a challenge to try and see so many different birds, mammals, invertebrates and plants in one day.

I was holding off, wanting to know a bit more about what people were interested in. One could easily spend a week exploring the Tablelands.

How early do you think we can start? I could drop you off at the airport if that would help?

How early do you want to start, Alan? I'm fine with anything from 0630 onwards.

Hi Alan and Bokhara,

I fly out at 5pm so would need to be at the airport no later than 4pm (I am really paranoid about being late for a flight and would normally be there at least an hour and a half before flight).

But no matter, I don't want to be the wet blanket so if it is all too hard to include me then I won't mind at all. Really guys - having said that - like Bokhara I can be ready any time.

If it's just not doable in the time frame Alan please don't stress about it.

Cheers
Stormbird

I can do 6.30, as long as I don't have to be awake!

margo_oz, Thanks for the laugh.

stormbird, I find it hard to imagine you as a wet blanket from your posts.

By my calculations on the tour front we have stormbird, bokhara and margo_oz for the Tablelands trip.

Greynomad do you want to come along also?

Can you all have a look at www.yungaburra.com and let me know what sorts of things take your fancy. I'll then work up an itinerary and approximate cost.

Will a good coffee waved under your nose do the trick, Margo?

I'm so envious. Would love to be joining you in Cairns and on the tour of the Tablelands, and I'm always up well before 6:30. Never mind, I will look forward to the report/s of the weekend, and enjoy it vicariously.

Thanks, Bokhara, but coffee won't help. I've just been deprived of tea for 40-odd hours for a medical procedure - and was starting to get homicidal!

I'm interested in animals, bush and just about anything.

Not a friend of snakes!

margo_oz, should I try to introduce you to some so a friendship can blossom?

Actually if we do the morning cruise on Lake Barrine there is a good chance that we could see a large Amethyst Python on the bank from the safety of the boat.

Alan, I've met enough snakes, thanks, and we just don't seem to click. The fact that they are poisonous (and killed 2 cats) brown snakes - and I'm a fraidy cat, means its unlikely to be a good combination.

Like Margo - It is a complete impossibility to have a blooming friendship between moi and a snake!

I get ill just seeing them even on TV! (But I totally respect their right to be here)

But I loooove crocodiles! :)

I also love anything to do with water, so Lake Barrine sounds good, despite the snake!

Margo - you don't have to look at the pythons, Lake Barrine is lovely, turtles and ducks, and some amazing eels with astonishing travel arrangements, am sure Alan will wise you up on them.

Of course you have to look at the pythons, Pat!

Someone will say "Look at those pythons".... and because I'm such an obedient, timid soul, I'll look at the pythons...and there you are! It's all downhill after that!

I think I took my aunt to Lake Barrine...is there a restaurant / cafe there?

Yes, there is Margo - you probably did take your aunt there - Lake Barrine Teahouse - www.lakebarrine.com.au - freshly baked scones with jam and cream are the best. To take your mind off the pythons!

Margo, I didn't see any pythons at Lake Barrine when we were there in 2003, but I do remember the lovely scones, jam and cream, the beautiful setting, and the tranquility. I was fascinated with the turtles in the water.

Those turtles were probably python food! ?

Does anyone coming to GTG have any preferences as to type of cuisine for Sat night, 28th May? Right now am looking at Bellocale (Italian seafood) www.cairnsdining.com/935/bellelocal - its in Cairns city and am advised it can be noisy on a Saturday night unless you take table on footpath; (Cairns has wide footpaths) obviously no views, is this important? There's a string of restaurants on boardwalk behind Shangrila hotel, all overlooking harbour.

Also looking at Fratelli's on esplanade at Trinity Beach, front tables have ocean views, I haven't been to either of these, both are quite new and come highly recommended by locals.

Hi Pat,

Thanks for organising our dinner venue. I would be a little worried about a noisy venue. Our GTG is all about meeting, chatting, talking about our travel etc so personally, that would be a bit of a priority for me.

Having said that I am happy to just go with the flow of course but I do think it is important that we can chat to one another without a whole lot of noise.

Views are great but I am more than happy to leave the decision up to yourself or Alan and will be delighted with whatever you choose.
Once again thanks for putting this time in for us.
See you soon
Stormbird

Hi Pat,
I agree with Stormbird - we want to be able to chat, so I'd go for the quieter place. Other than that, more than happy to leave it to you.

Hi Stormbird and Bokhara - agree, we don't want noise (still remember that noisy Italian place at Newport, Bokhara - made it hard to talk) - maybe we should keep away from Cairns CBD on a Saturday night and just go to a quiet suburban place. If everyone's OK with Thai food, we have a good little Thai at Stratford - Siam Orchid Spicy, attractive restaurant with semi enclosed verandah and friendly staff. No views though, apart from trees. Just a thought.

Sounds good Pat!

Sounds OK. Think I've been there.

Wow! A comment removed from a GTG thread !

Pat, the Thai restaurant in Stratford sounds good to me.
Regards,
Alan

Controversy!! I'm not sure why they would have done that.