Trail Log 1995-1997 - Lamar at Colorado State University

Northern bandicoot, killed roadside. There can be up to 3 meters of tide, about 2 meters today.
Mangroves. There are here 3-3 ½ meters of rainfall a year. In March 1996, 1.6 meters fell in four
days, the flood of the century.
In the "river train," a long boat. Two crocodiles, "salties" at the water's edge. The first one was at
first swimming in the water. The largest crocodile in Australia was 24 feet long. The largest of the
two was a male, about 8 feet. Also one juvenile crocodile about 3 feet long, in the sun on one of
the mangrove beaches.
Mangrove makes long pods; a new plant will sprout from a pod while it is yet on the tree. Then it
floats in the river.
A green tree snake, which I never saw. Another one later, which I did see.
Mt. Thornton, mountain on the skyline. One of the highest in Queensland, about 4,500 ft. Large
egret, all white. White-faced herons, 6-8 in a tree.
Another crocodile, about 4 meters long, seen nicely at the river's edge, half out of the water. Two
more crocodiles, one half out of the water in the sun. Two more egrets.
Stopped for tea. Boardwalk through the mangrove swamp. Green ants, squeeze one and put a
drop of it on your tongue. Lemon taste.
Archer fish, with spots. Mangrove jacks, reddish fish.
3 crabs
looking glass mangrove, with buttresses
strangler figs
Malaleuca trees.
The Gulf Savannah region is savannah, a name for all the inland savannah, near the Gulf of
Carpentaria.
Fan palm, with leaves like a fan.
End of the boat train ride, returned to the Ferry.
Drove to Daintree village, and lunched there.
Drove to Mossman and Mossman Gorge. Hiked about 4 km. One km in and then a 2 km loop and
then 1 km back out, dense rainforest. Impressive strangler figs and butress roots. Jane did only
part of this.
July 14, Sunday. Drove to Kuranda and walked through the market. Lunch on the back of the car
at Barron Gorge Waterfalls.
There were cannibals in Australia.
There is less burning of sugar cane now, mostly it is still burned in wet soil fields. A sugar cane mill
is self contained; it uses the cane by-products for its fuel.
Left at 3.30 on wildlife tour, Wildscapes Safaris, led by Alberto Vale (originally from Portugal).
Drove south and turned toward Atherton, Gillies Highway. Drip tips on rainforest leaves aggregate
the cloud moisture into a drip. Dry schlerophyll forest. There are no grasses in the rainforest.
There are straight tall trees with no knots. There are no koalas this far north; it is too hot for them.