It took several days for Skin's lips to go down after his strange allergic reaction, and when they finally reduced to their normal size, I took him to see a cane burn.
This is the process they use in the Burdekin area to begin the harvest.
We watched one man put fuel along the edge of the cane and another man used a torch like flame to light the fuel.
The man with the flame followed the man with the fuel along the edge of the plantation and the cane crackled into a huge, burning blaze.
Clouds of smoke billowed into the air and all the tiny charred pieces of 'cane trash' floated up and then down like black snow.
Within minutes the fire had swept through the plantation, leaving behind only the black cane stalks.
These stalks will be harvested, cut into small pieces and taken by little cane train carriages to the mill to be processed into sugar.
I explained to Skin the importance of being very careful as we stood beside the searing flames.
As we watched the fire burning, a HUGE, wild boar ran out of the cane towards us followed by two ENORMOUS rats AND THEN......
THE MOST FRIGHTENING THING OF ALL.....A DEADLY,BROWN SNAKE!
Skin nearly jumped out of his skin and ran the wrong way in fright....
INTO THE CANE..........
He was taken to hospital and treated for major burns.......and spent the whole week feeling very sorry for himself.
I saw him every day after my school visits.
What a great week I had in Ayr with the wonderful children and teachers and my two FABULOUS HOSTS!
Thank you Donna and Colin for making my stay in the Burdekin a delightful visit.
( IT'S A SHAME SKIN MISSED OUT ON ALL THE FUN!)
He did manage to drive over the longest bridge in Australia, the Burdekin bridge, on his way to hospital.
After a busy, happy week in Ayr, we set off for Townsville on Saturday 21st June.
Skin will have to stay out of the sun and heal his body. Maybe I will buy him a protective suit to wear in case we come across any more fires!
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