Daintree & Cape Tribulation
Thursday morning we left the apartment early to head north to Daintree and Cape Tribulation, the rainforest territory just north of Cairns. Someone told us that Cape Tribulation was the highlight of their trip and if we would have stayed one night it might have been more exciting, but it was beautiful. The weather was moist and hot to the point that when we got out of the car to take pictures my camera lens fogged up immediately. The view from the top of the mountain along the coast was pretty spectacular. There are so many views when you take a trip like this that a picture can’t capture, this was one of them.
Before we got to the Daintree National Park we needed to cross the Daintree River on a small ferry. The ferry boat carried about 15 vehicles or so and just travels back and forth from one side of the river to the other. When we told Noah that we were going on a ferry ride with the car he couldn’t understand why we were staying in the car once we got on the boat. In reality, the entire ride across took less than 5 minutes and we were off to see the rainforest. The road was were on had lots of twists and turns, I was glad I was driving and not in the back seat. We stopped at the first boardwalk tour around the rainforest as you enter the park. We took lots of picture and killed a number of mosquitoes! Those guys love this place and this weather. Ilise and the kids covered themselves in bug spray just so they wouldn’t get bitten. Over the past week or so they have all gotten bug bites that continue to itch and draw complaints on a daily basis.
We stopped to eat some lunch that we brought with us, but due to the muggy weather and the bugs we decided to eat in the car. That was a very good call. We exited the car after lunch and took a walk on another boardwalk looking at all the different trees and the root systems. There was one tree that seemed like a big mesh of vines. It was very cool, as were dozens of other trees and root systems. We continued to drive all the way to Cape Tribulation. I figured that Cape Tribulation would be this cute little town like Port Douglas. It was similar to what what happened the first time I visited Big Sur in CA. The first time I drove through Big Sur I was looking for the big stone that I thought was the reason for the name, until I got to the end of Big Sur and saw nothing but spectacular views. The same was true of Cape Tribulation, which was just a section of the rain forest as far as I could tell, but the views were pretty spectacular as well.
I was told in advance about the marvel of how the rainforest comes down and meets the ocean like no place else in the world. The views were amazing and the forest was so think and lush. Finally, on the way back from Cape Tribulation we saw a number of cars stopped in front of us. I was concerned that there was an accident or something, but it wasn’t anything like that. Right next to us was a Cassowary, one of the rare birds that is unique to this part of the world. When we entered the rainforest area we stopped at a visitor center and the woman explained to me that odds are we wouldn’t see one of these birds, but there it was strolling on the road. Drew got out to take pictures and I was able to get a few from the car. It is not the most beautiful bird in the world, but it is unique to this part of the world.
The drive was over 2 hours in each direction. So, after more than 5 hours in the car I was pretty tired when we returned. We ate dinner at home and I had an early night, falling asleep before 10 PM. I was up early on Friday making a bunch of phone calls including one coaching call. I really enjoy the new coaching work I’m doing around helping people find more meaning in life, which in the end will help entrepreneurs reduce their stress. When you figure out why you do what you do and understand who you are and what you stand for, your business becomes a tool to help you fulfill your purpose.
I look forward to securing a few more clients in the coming months and building a practice that uses a unique coaching model we’re developing as part of Success Redefined. When we get back to San Diego it will be full speed ahead, but I continue to gain clarity on the work that I want to do and the types of clients I want to secure. Ilise said today that I told her that this trip would be 100% downtime and no thinking about business, but in the end that is not who I am. I love the work I do and look forward to enjoying the next 4 months of this trip and continuing to hone the work I was meant to do on this planet.
To a life well lived!
Larry Kesslin 