After the Storm

We have just spent time sitting on the beach in Cardwell, a town hard hit by Cyclone Yasi earlier this year.  As we approached, large clusters of trees that line the road have been blown sideways and the sparse houses have chunks of roof or wall missing - even now months on.  We find out later talking with a local that the houses aren't actually sparse, but many had been destroyed and bull dozed.  Looking closer we could see the empty blocks with tell tale signs that a house once stood there, like a shed or half a fence in the rear.


We stop for a coffee on the beach which is still littered with debris, but somehow appears beautiful in the chaos, with the setting sun, the long jetty stubornly intact and the islands off the shore.   The beauty made even deeper by the stories of people with the courage to live out the days of recovery to come.  Their resilience in inspiring.

 Innocently the children play on the beach oblivious, carving roads for their little cars on the rocky shore.  John is inspired by melodies and strums his guitar on the beach with the sound of worship.

Tonight we are camped just outside of Tully at a spot marked with a tick in our camp book - usually that means it is highly rated - but today, the little river is full of broken rainforest that is rotting, and leaving a smell that keeps us in our caravan for tea.

Look forward to passing by here in the years to come and finding the tranquility restored.

In the morning we head for Cairns - and a dormant dream will come to life.  Cairns was our planned honeymoon destination in 1997.  Plans changed quickly when John was offered work in the UK, in 6 weeks.  We jumped at the opportunity, cancelled our big wedding plans, got married quickly and set off.  While we loved the adventure of the UK and Europe, it laid a seed in us to travel our own amazing country.  Many years later, and with 3 kids in tow - look out Cairns, here we come!   So grateful that all good dreams eventually come around at the right time.