Rainfall – The weekend has excellent weather, with blue skies and light winds. It has been great to enjoy some sum and fantastic reek trip weather. The Kayaks and the Boats have been making the best of it! The good weather is forecast to continue for some time and we are now moving toward my favourite time of the year, with cool but not cold nights and warm days. It's great weather this week for Reef Trips and Kayaking.
NORTH TROPICAL COAST AND TABLELANDS DISTRICT
Fine apart from isolated early morning fog patches. Light SE winds before moderate E to NE sea breezes by early afternoon.
Outlook for Tuesday ... Fine apart from morning fogs.
Outlook for Wednesday ... Fine apart from morning fogs.
North Tropical Waters, Cooktown to Cardwell:
Monday until midnight: SE winds 10/15 knots. Lighter winds inshore early. Inshore afternoon seabreeze 15 knots. Seas to 1.2 metres outside the reef. Seas to 0.7 of a metre inside the reef.
Tuesday: SE winds 10/15 knots. Lighter winds inshore early. Inshore afternoon seabreeze 15 knots. Seas to 1.2 metres outside the reef. Seas to 0.7 of a metre inside the reef.
Wednesday: SE winds 10/15 knots.
Thursday: SE winds 10/15 knots.
Roads – the road to Cape Trib is open with no flooding, there are minor delays at Thompson Creek just north of Coconut Beach due to roadworks. There is a single lane section there with a give way sign for northbound traffic. The work here is nearly finished and will mean that Thompson Creek rarely floods, even in heavy rain. Drivers need to be aware of cassowaries with many crossing the road at present, some males with chicks as well as increased snake activity on the road at night. Please don’t run snakes over they are just as biologically important as Cassowaries!
The Bloomfield Track is open to 4WDs only and has been 3/4 graded. We recommend the use of low gear (low range if available on steep descents) The creek crossings are less than knee deep. Dust is increasing on the road and lights should be used.
Please slow down around road crews. The week previous a rented 4WD rolled after passing road crews at high speed. The road workers were less that impressed and called Police using one of out vehicle’s Satellite phones. Roadworkers usually wet the road surface to reduce dust and this can make it slippery, that’s one of the reasons speed limits are reduced where they are.
Tides – The tides are high in the morning and low in the afternoon most of the week, but tend to neaps on Saturday and Sunday. Even on the neaps, the tide is slightly higher in the morning. It’s a week for afternoon beach walks!
The area is a bit quieter at present but tours and accommodation still needs to be pre – booked to avoid disappointment. Next week looks busier for us. There are virtually no queues at the Ferry during peak times.
Lawrence Mason
Manager
Mason's Tours Cape Tribulation
CMA 4
Cape Tribulation
Qld 4873
Phone 40980070 Int 61 7 40980070
Fax 40980026 Int 61 7 40980026
Mobile/Cell 0427012772
www.masonstours.com.au
Very occasionally, a visiting family of brolgas can drop in to check out the neighbourhood. Last week, this family of three, the juvenile obvious with its lack of colouring, landed near the entrance of Keatings. It's too late in the season for its wonderfully intricate and graceful mating dance, although they can do it all year around. The dance is often reflected in Indigenous dances.
