Took the young fella down to Yorkey's early to teach him windsurfing but not enough wind. So we went for a walk south along the beach to the creek mouth between Yorkey's and Holloways Beach to get some photos of my mate kiting. And bugger me dead that croc is back, haven't seen him for a while.

The kite tourist always ask me are there any crocs here, and I always say yep they're in both the creeks north & south of Yorkey's, and they always say ah you're such a joker Bob

Doesn't keep me out of the creek mouth, but then he wouldn't catch a windsurfer

Here he is......

Now dont tell me, that like the snakes, the big bastard doesnt bite
You bloody game sailing with that bloody big mongrel lurking about.

Oh, just re-read your post, you feed tourist to im so he isn't keen on the local stuff[}:)] and he doesnt bother you guys......much[}:)]

They are everywhere heres one in the creek at the other end of yorkeys beach. i snuck up on the little bugger to get this photo.

My old man went on a safari to FNQ and the Thursday Islands in the early sixties. He and two mates bought a sailing boat and sailed up there. They shot crocs and sold the skins to pay for the expedition. They were all Germans or Swiss and it was a real outback adventure for them. They shot some real big ones and had stories in the papers about what they were doing.

I hear there are so many crocs up there now. Maybe there should be some hunting. It would raise revenue for the government through licences and tourism and if there are so many a few thousand being shot wouldn't make that much of a difference.


Plus the crocs would be more wary of human and human activity.

eminem said...

Wouldn't exactly say they are everywhere, but are more plentiful since culling them stopped, and if a menace are relocated by the National Parks. They are not down the main streets like some people would reckon. You would have to be lucky to see them unless you go to where they are known like this chap at the mouth of Thomatis Creek or at Machans Beach at the mouth of the Barron River and Redden Creek. Best to see them in the tourist parks like Hartley’s Creek or Johnstone River Croc Farm. When they are sighted certainly cause a stir…. I'm born and bred in Cairns and I'm still waiting to see one in the creeks (I was born back when Moses played fullback for Jerusalem so I've been around for awhile!!!!!).

Hi Eminem, if your a local you'd know me for sure, I'm always at Yorkey's and I'd have to know you, say hi next time.

The photo Troppo took was taken from my tinny in Moon River just in from the mouth, this one has been removed. But it's not hard to spot smaller ones there, nearly every trip out in my boat. I was also at Trinity Beach a couple of months ago and saw the one (small) in the stinger net. But you are right they're not often seen, I believe under a certain size they are timid, well that's what I'm working on anyway
In 1978 (yep) I did a dive job in the Cairns Inlet opp the sugar terminal, would I do it now, nooo frigging way

You can't be as old as me

Dave's not scared

hahaha LMFAO !!!

eminem said...

Back when I was a teenager (Yep I can remember that long ago and I'm almost as old as you) I used to waterski in the Cairns Inlet around Admialty Island near the Bark Hut and towards the sugar terminal - no way now.... just not worth the risk!

Hi Mary-ann, funny all this did get me thinking back when people used to ski the inlet, I never ever see people doing that now, you've got one up on a lot of the kids now days

I used to work at the Cairns Croc Farm down Redbank Road at Gordonvale for awhile and my office overlooked a croc pen where a big croc called "Babinda" was housed and on a regular basis he would jump up in the air to catch flying birds. An unbelievableably awesome sight, you don’t believe the strength that these beasts have until you are up close and personal with them. At a distance is good!!!

Living in this, what some would say dangerous place is not a sacrifice, it’s “Paradise” every day. Where else can you find the rainforest meet the reef (literally?) Who wants to be frozen for more than half the year and all rugged up? Our winter in a good year is 2 days and we’ve just had it eh!!!

Hi Darryl, I live at Lake Placid tucked under the Barron Gorge Rd with a little rainforrest love it, went for a kayak this morning with young fella

A couple of years ago my son saw a small croc in Lake Placid, when we reported it we weren't believed, then a week later they closed the lake because there was a croc in it They never caught it and it was gone after a week or two, who knows where Doesn't keep us out, we're in the Barron all the time but not down near the crossing cos they are spotted there every now and again but not by me.

The Barron River mouth, a few kitters and I sail up there from time to time, never seen a croc but I know they're there, just get a tinny and a torch and have a look at night.

DAM71 said...

Bob,
The mouth used to be great for prawns after some good rain. Up the northern end of machans and into the mouth. I was a lot smaller then and remember the old man in my mums panty hose - been a while so not sure if the crocs scare people away. I reckon they have always been there even when they were being culled.

I remember tubing the rapids above lake placid - poor mans rafting. Cold bloody spot. Do they still have the slide into the lake?

Anyway they say in winter your better off - too cold for their metabolism to bother eating. I remember this old fella once telling me you can tell when its going to be a hot summer - the crocs come out early.

They took the slides away a long time ago, there was a bad accident.
But the fun police have also removed the rope swings
I've also been down the rapids many a time, top spot love it

Some memories for you

DAM71 said...

Have you ever been down the goldsborough valley? Early 90's with some mates i used to mountain bike with - we all grabbed a car tyre tube and floated down for about 3-4 hours from the top where the old mail track comes out down past ross n lock. A few good rapids and a lot of gentle floating.

Funniest part is watching all the tourist who have paid raging thunder for a rafting trip and here we are in car tyres having a good ole float along.

I see the gorge still looks as good as ever - last time i saw it she was in full fury with the falls raging and all. I reckon 8+ years ago.

Heading home this X'mas to see the family - if all plans well. Having severe coral trout withdrawal

Did the Goldie with a bunch of work mates top to bottom, had a ball.
We did the Russel River a heap of times in inflatable whitewater kayaks, once in full flood, scared the cr*p out of me
Did the Barron Gorge in the 79 floods on an airbed, very stupid and lucky to still be here. Went down crystal cascades in flood on an airbed and cracked my head, lucky again.

Anyway that's why we live here, and no winter
More wind would be nice
Call into Yorkey's and say hi when you're here.