Come join us if you like!
We're sitting on the outside deck to make the journey with Bruce and Pam and most of the tour group. The ☀️ is shining and the sky is blue.
We're leaving from the dock in downtown Cairns .
The flag is flapping in the wind.
Scenery along the shore looks much like it did yesterday. Layer upon layer, hills and vales off in the distance.
The water turned color several times on the 50 minute ride out to the Island.
Th Island welcomed us....
The water is a different color wherever you look.
We snorkel in waters like this for about 2 1/2 hours. We had lycra suits on to protect us from the very small jelly fish that is in the area this time of year. It's sting is powerful even tho it's only as big as your fingernail. Several people have died from it, so the suits are highly recommended. No pictures available! 😀😀😀
The waters were wavy and the wind increased throughout the morning. The current took us from one end of the beach to the other.
It was fun even tho we didn't see lots and lots of fish of
or coral. I did get to see 2 large turtles. One came flying by me, swimming away very quickly. The second was was laying on the bottom as I approached. I stayed very still as soon as I saw him. He had a beautiful shell with several colors - no slime or growth on his shell. When he started to swim away I tried to follow, but he was too fast. It was a fun encounter.
I don't know tropical fish very well, but I did see several varieties. One was a pretty white luminous color and quite long. There was a school of 12-15 swimming together. Several others were interesting and pretty but I didn't have an underwater camera and didn't have a chart with pictures and names. The one big area had white coral that was stunning I also saw some purple coral but mostly it was grassy.
After a short break we went to another area that Brad told us has more coral. Unfortunately, it was just sandy. We did see one creature who was white, was long, round and slender - he had a small head with big lips - not a great description but fun to see. Maybe YOU know what he was.
The current in the big area carried us to the right. This area carried us to the left toward the open Coral Sea. When we got out past the break water suddenly the current was very strong. I had to fight the current and use all my strength to make it to the breakwater. My calves starting cramping and it was a little scary for a few minutes. But, we made it safely...
This is the catamaran we were on coming and going. Very nice ~~ we were out in the back deck both times. Nice to be out in the ☀️
Here we are on the boat. My hair was pretty wild in the wind.
I took a 'fresh water shower' outside and just put clean clothes on for the day. Most of the rest waited until we got back to the hotel and took a proper shower in the gym locker room, as we had checked out in the morning before we left.
There was a button on the open shower you had to press to get water. The young people in front of me were having trouble keeping the water going to rinse all the sand off. So I showed them, ~~ you just turn around and press the button with your butt and the water keeps flowing nicely. They laughed! But it did work!
The views of the Island as we left. The one above is where the current was so strong - you can just barely see the black iron breakwater...
This beach private - the big swimming/snorkeling area was around the bend.
Cairns welcome us back with a wonderful fluffy cloud.
We finished up the boat ride and went back to the hotel for lunch. I ate THE biggest hamburger I have ever had. It was very good. Andy's chicken wrap was very nice, too. I should have taken pictures. I guess I was too hungry to think of it.
After lunch we loaded up the coach and headed to the airport. We watched those fluffy white clouds developed into Angry 😡 dark storm clouds. By the time we checked in and got to the gate, the airport was closed. Evidently Australia has very strict rules about thunderstorms and lightning. We were delayed - don't know exactly how long - I was checking out the shops ~~ enjoying food/products, wool sweaters, gemstone jewelry, and other clothing as well as souvenirs of various types - all made in Australia. Was fun to see.
It's a 3 hour flight so I tried to watch "Fences" but dozed through half of it. I turned down dinner since Brad had already arranged dinner at an Italian restaurant near the hotel for all of us. Bruschetta, salads, entrees, and tiramisu to top it off. I also enjoyed another Lemon Lime with Bitters...
We walked from there about 3 blocks to the hotel.
I had better wind this up and go to sleep. We leave at 8:00 for a city tour by bus, a tour of the waterfront by boat and A dinner cruise in the evening. At least we will be sitting most of the day!
No comments:
Post a Comment