Australia

Friday July 12th – Sunny

Starting out at 15° just like a Raquette Lake summer morning. Steph is bugging me to play cards, so I will write more later. “Ok steph, deal the cards.”

We took up our anchor about 9am and started back to Able Point Marina with a stop for a look see at Molle Island.

Steady winds of 15 to 20 knots, with gusts to 25. Great Sailing. The 23 ton Rogue II really sails smoothly. It was quite enjoyable really. “A fair dinkum day.”

Got back to Able Point about 1pm, drove up to the Caravan park for wine & cookies with the Craddocks then left about 3:30pm for Townsville and stopped off at Avril Beach, a small spot on the map, but desolate as far as accommodations (none) and people (just a few). Arrived Townsville about 7:15pm and round a nice hotel, $45 a night, on the strand and did the wash to be ready for the rest of the trip.

Saturday July 13th - 22° Sunny

Went to Magnetic Island on the 11:50am ferry after doing a lot of shopping at a local saddle shop. Drizzabone riding coat, safari shirt and pants and an authentic snow river hat.

Townsville is Queensland’s capital and a rather laid back kind of town – 120,000 people. What was really nice was Magnetic Island which lies only five miles off of Townsville: very hilly, picturesque, and absolutely beautiful but simple. People there are absolutely laid back, almost hippy like. Rented a Mini-Moke for transport around: neat little car, but gear shift fell out just before turning it in – “No problem Mate!”

The fun thing at Magnetic Island was our horseback ride for two hours through the jungle and the beach where we galloped and swam with the horses. Mine was Clyde (a Clydesdale) and Steph had a large pony (small horse) named “Salty.” Both were pretty spirited and fun to handle. Stephanie, the expert rider she thought she was, got frightened during her first canter but was fine after she found out she wouldn’t fall off. Gail was a real trooper and kept up with a trot all the way. Had Baramundi for the first time that night at our hotel, Latitude 19, which was the best value of the trip - $68/night for all three of us. The Gail & I went out to Mongumes where they had a band on the beach. Backpackers and beer. I kept her up until 2am.

Sunday July 14th – Sunny 23°

Slight hangover this AM. Packed our bags and headed out after a short Island hop around and drove 385ks straight to Cairns and checked into Kewoea Lodge about 5pm. Steph & I got a nice Bungalo, two rooms (1 with bunk beds) and kitchenette for $120/night (normally $255).

The drive from Townsville was absolutely beautiful with mountains everywhere and cane fields in every valley. Went to bed at 9pm after a room service meal and conked out quickly.

Monday July 15th – High 25°, low 12°

Sunny of course, but very windy in the afternoon. Today was a real sit around day. Got moving about 9am, went to breakfast then the beach. Used the hotels catamaran then alternated between the beach, the pool and later windsurfed. Did eight to ten water starts and some wave riding in 20 knot winds. Had Baramundi for dinner, as did Stephanie. Then back to the room by 9:30pm to read and fall asleep early as Tuesday we had a 6:30am wake up for our barrier reef trip.

Tuesday July 16th - High 25°, low 13° Sunny – Windy

Bus picked us up for our “Great Adventure” reef cruise and we left on time with about 250 other people for the 25 knot, two hour trip. Once there, it was very nice. Snorkeled, looked at the fish, had a gourmet lunch and Steph rode in the submersible and saw some barracuda.

The second part of the trip was a drop at Green Island which was more of a tourist trap and looked something like 69th street when the boat cranked up at 4:30pm for the trip back to Cairns. All in all, it was a good trip. Tonight we had an exciting dinner, which was cooked in the ground: Pork, lamb, beef, Kupmari, chicken & fish. It was really good. Dinner was followed by a Torres dance ensemble, who in the not to distant past, were head hunters. Very descriptive and entertaining. Even Steph was impressed.

Wednesday July 17th – Sunny 15°- 25°

Packed/repacked and checked out. Stopped for t-shirts, took too long and made the inevitable run for the airplane. Made it with 5 minutes to spare. Nice flight. Terrible meal – spinach soufflé with kidney beans.

Greg picked us up at the airport, then dropped us at the Gazebo in Kings Cross – then did a quick shop through at same t-shirt shops, Did overpay $40 for my Drizabone?

Picked up again at 6:30pm. Gail & I went to the Wollooloombi hotel pub with Greg, Louise, Tony & Josie. Great food and good beer – Schooners of Hahns. Excellent prawns. It was “Coopers” night out. Rowsing good time the blokes had in the sing-along.

Closed the place up at 11pm, made a short stop at the bourbon and beef. Had a powers bitter, then to bed.

Thursday July 18 - 20° sunny

Up at 7:30am. Steph is listening to cartoons again. Breakfast with Gail & Louise then off to the airport at 10:30am for a 12:40p flight. $10 depart tax for me, Steph was free. No deals at the duty free, so just went on board. Landed in Auckland at sunset, lost 2 hours already today. Got sprayed again, then waited 10 minutes germination. Everybody off the plane, then wait one hour to re-board. The 747 economy cabin is only about 60% full, with lots of room to move around. Had a New Zealand beer, Stein Lager. Not bad. Dinner is being served, its 9:30pm NZ time and we are about to cross the date line and do Thursday all over again.