SAT. 14 MAR. 1953 By FLYING BOAT FROM BRISBANE TO CAIRNS (913 MILES) LEFT LENNON'S HOTEL AT 9:30 A.M. TAXI TO AIRLINES DEPOT. BUS EAST ALONG RIVER TO AIRPORT (PAST WHERE 5/5 PIONEER GLEN DOCKED). MR. DENNIS WILLIAMS (A.H. BUNTING AGENT) & DON VERNON & HIS 5 YR OLD DAUGHTER DOWN TO SEE US OFF. (WE ARE OVER THE OCEAN NEAR BOWEN (3 P.M.) + THE AIR IS ROUGH). LITTLE GIRL HAD HER PET RINGTAIL POSSUM WITH HER - TOOK PICTURES. (NOW FLYING AT 7000 FT. - 155 KNOTS PLUS TAILWIND 15 KT. OVER TOWNSVILLE AT 3:30. WILL ARRIVE AT CAIRNS 4:30 P.M. WHERE WE SPEND NIGHT.) TAKE OFF FROM RIVER WITH MUCH SPLASHING AT WINDOWS (WATER ONLY 2 FT. BELOW WINDOW) AT 11:30 A.M. PLANE ARRIVED LATE FROM SYDNEY. LEFT ONE SUITCASE WITH DON (WHO WILL TAKE TO Q. MUSEUM). CUT N.W. (INLAND) ACROSS THE N.E. COASTLINE HURD. CROSSED A MOUNTAINOUS AREA (MT. PERRY) WITH THICK SCRUB, CLIFFS + 1 WATERFALL. 7 OF US ARE IN A SEPARATE CABIN FORWARD - ALL FOR NEW GUINEA. 1 GIRL WHO LIVED IN N.G. FOR 1ST 3 YRS. OF HER LIFE, 3 YOUNG MEN DR. ROURD HOGLAND (SWEDISH BOTANIST, AUSTRALIAN - BRUCE W. TAYLOR (HAS BEEN TO MCQUAGRA IE.) & AN AUSTRALIAN GEOMORPHOLOGIST. HAVE JUST PASSED MAGNETIC ISLAND WHICH I VISITED IN OCT. 1948 ON WAY DOWN COAST. PASSING PALM ISLE AT 3:45. PUT DOWN AT CAIRNS ON SCHEDULE - 4:30 P.M. GEORGE BROOKS MET US AT DOCK. WENT OUT HOME WITH HIM (2 SONS: EDWARD-9 ON MAR. 7; JOHN IS 8). WIFE JUST HOME FROM OPERATION. GEORGE HAS BUILT A SMALL OFFICE + MUSEUM IN HIS BACK YARD. HAS FINE COLLECTION OF BEETLES + A FEW SNAKES. BACK TO HOTEL FOR DINNER - DELICIOUS BREAM. Tom + Amy (Jac) WEBB + G.B. IN FOR AFTER DINNER DEER. CAUGHT UP ON ALL THE LOCAL GOSSIP. TO BED AT 12:30. MOSQUITOES. RAINED IN TORRENTS ABOUT EVERY 1/2 HOUR. HAVE HAD OVER 60 INCHES SINCE START OF YEAR.