A Blog For Home

Thus endeth the journey. To see what we are up to at home, take a look at:
www.canadiandreams.blogspot.com.

No worries mate!

Potpouri of Pictures

Last day, - sailboats in Sydney Harbour.

Spider anyone? This one was about the size of a fist, and was living at the Daintree Ice Cream stop. (So good I had to put it in the blog twice!)

One of the crocs we saw in the Northern Territory. They are "opportune" eaters- that means that they eat whatever presents itself as supper.

The traditional pose in front of the Opera House. One never gets tired of the Circular Quay.
Rod Laver Tennis Arena in Melbourne. For an international swimming competition, they dropped an olympic- sized pool into the middle of this arena.
Uluru (Ayer's Rock). From a distance, it looks just like all the pictures you have ever seen. Up close, it is ever-changing, depending on what part you are viewing, and whether it is in sun or shadow.

Down the Sunshine and Gold Coasts

We finally caught a koala awake! They sleep 20 out of 24 hours daily.

Ross with his buddy "Zorro", the gay cockatoo. Apparently he much prefers males, and stalked Ross the whole time we were in the centre in Cairns.

Lorikeets on South Molle Island. They are nature's alarm clocks, as they swarm and hout every day at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. We saw this happen throughout Queensland.

Daydream Island, one of the Whitsunday Islands. Can you think of a more perfect name?

Byron Bay, one of the few places people could actually swim (although that day sharks were seen a bit north of here, and that beach was closed). Note the lighthouse on the hill - another climb!

One beach looks like another in pictures. This one is Manly Beach, where we spent part of our last day in Sydney. It and Bondi Beach are the two favourites in that area.

The Last Week

It is a long way from Cairns to Sydney. We thought we had lots of time to make the 2000 km journey by train, but it took longer than expected as the train does not run every day until you get to Brisbane. In all, we spent three full days and one night getting to Sydney, but stopped at Airlie Beach, in order to see the Whitsunday Islands, and Brisbane, before our final journey.

The Whitsunday Islands

Once again, nature provided us with an absolutely perfect day for a sail in this area. Of the 74 islands, we saw two only! This would definitely be a place worth exploring for a week or so.

Waters were calm, the resorts on Daydream and South Molle Islands were beautiful, so we were forced to eat a delicious lunch, shop a bit, swim in the pools, and relax even more than we already were. Daydream appeared to be a popular place for weddings. The chapel had floor to ceiling glass overlooking the water, and if you didn't want to use the chapel, Lovers' Cove or the regular beach were options. We saw several young couples getting the "tour" and making decisions.

Speaking of young, Ross and I definitely raised the average age in Airlie Beach. It is a young people's haven, with several backpacker places on the main street. Ironically, the more expensive hotels are up very steep slopes. If you have the money to stay in them, you probably don't have the legs to make the climb!

Reluctantly we said goodbye to this paradise, and climbed on the train for Brisbane. We saw very little of the city itself, as we opted to take a day trip to Byron Bay. Unfortunately, it was Labour Day in Queensland (where Brisbane is) but not in New South Wales ( where Byron Bay is). Traffic consisted either of commuters, or holidayers returning after a long weekend. It was a long trip, but worth it for the scenery (dolphins - at least 30), and the swim in the ocean without crocodiles, jelly fish, or rip tides. ( We didn't hear about the sharks until we were back on the bus).

Sydney again

All of a sudden, there we were, back in Sydney where we began. Six weeks had gone by so quickly! A last trip to Manly Beach, $15.00 glasses of wine at the top of Sydney Tower, a magnificent 360 degree view of Sydney in all its nighttime splendour, and then May 10th arrived. We go home with countless memories, about 1500 pictures, many stories. The mastercard add is true - dreams down under ...priceless!

Where the Rainforest Meets the Sea

A strange place for a window!

Off on our snorkelling adventure on the Great Barrier Reef.

View from the toes - Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas.

The view from our dinner table in Port Douglas.

Ho hum, another day, another World Heritage Site (or two). In this tropical paradise called Port Douglas (one hour north of Cairns) we have been privileged to experience many splendours.

The Great Barrier Reef

I can't put into words what it was like to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef. We went with a very commercial outfit, Quicksilver, but what that meant was that we were looked after very well. Since our whole snorkelling experience added up to a few hours years ago in Cozumel, we needed looking after.

The "beautiful" wet suits were optional, yet most people listened to the advice and rented one for $5. The chance of running into jellyfish was slight (the season is almost over, and they seem to prefer waters closer to shore), but the sun was intense, and the chance of burning delicate skin near the cheeks quite high! We got some instruction, found equipment to fit (even flippers for Ross's size 15s) and we were off into a wonderland. I know we saw only a small portion of the reef, but in that portion we saw Nemo and all his friends, and so many kinds and colours of coral. It was a spectacular day on Agincourt Reef - one we will remember always.

Daintree National Park (Dubuji) and Cape Tribulation ( Kulki)

We have had very knowledgeable guides in Oz. Chris, our Billy Tea Bush Safari guide, showed us so much in Daintree and Cape Tribulation. The rainforest really does meet the sea here, but you have to drive quite rough terrain to get there. We saw two very large crocodiles on the Daintree River cruise and learned a great deal about tropical vegetation. It's not a surprise that several films have seen shot in this area.

To get here we drove through sugar cane and tea plantations, saw the part of the reef where Steve Irwin met his demise, learned about a raptor like bird called a Cassowary (and learned to stay away from it), met two multi tattooed young Americans, one from Denver and one from Minneapolis, who had met on the Internet and decided to travel together. We ate well, steak and salad for lunch, dragonfruit, robinia, mamisopoti, papaya, organic bananas, passionfruit, smooth skinned pineapples (all introduced fruits) and diampa and cane syrup for "tea". Another great day.

Our remaining time in Port Douglas, a tranquil fishing village, was spent shopping, eating at the combined clubs ( the Retired Servicemen's Club - thanks for the tip, Tim!). That is where the picture above was taken. We sunned in the ocean, in the enclosure so we wouldn't run into jellyfish, and by the pool. It is very strange to see miles and miles of beach, with not a soul in the water.

Cairns

Cairns is very definitely a city. There is none of the small town charm we found in Port Douglas. The main street, "The Esplanade" is filled with relatively expensive restaurants. ( Most food in Australia is expensive, whether you are eating in a restaurant or buying from the grocery store). We have a great one bedroom apartment here, close to everything. Oddly enough there is a window in the living room, which looks into the shower (see above)! There are shutters on the living room side to cover the window, but we can't really figure out the purpose. There is a T.V., so it can't be for entertainment purposes!

I have to comment before I end on all the misplaced apostrophes in this country. They are in the wrong place everywhere - on official documents, signs, menus, everywhere. There are more incorrect apostrophes than correct ones. Just had to say it!

We leave by train on Thursday, and will stop at the Whitsunday Islands and in Brisbane before ending in Sydney. For those of you who have our itinerary, our flight from Minneapolis home has been changed. We are on flight 137 and get home at 8:38 p.m. after a very long May 10. Lee has promised to pick us up. Until then, "No Worries"!

The Tropical Top End

One of the medium-sized termite mounds.

On top of Ubirr, in Kakadu National Park, with a

360 degree view. Note: no flynets.

I would like to be able to take credit for having planned our trip so that we arrived in the tropics at the right time, but I really can't. We did consciously try to avoid the Wet Season, and managed to do that by arriving in the transition time between Wet and Dry. Had we arrived directly in Darwin, three weeks ago at the start of our trip, we would have seen nothing but water, because the water level was up to 15 metres higher than it is now. Had we arrived three weeks from now, after the official start of the Dry Season (May 1st), we would have seen scenery very similar to what we saw in the Red Centre. As it was, we saw rivers full but not overflowing, saw wild life busy enjoying the lush surroundings, and we able to access almost every area we had hoped to see.

Darwin itself is a "happening" place, especially on Mitchell Street, the main drag. Flanked on either end with Irish pubs, Mitchell Street is filled with backpackers' accommodations, Internet centres (cheapest yet), cafes and patios, souvenir stores, etc. It is 34 degrees in the day and about 28 at night, even at 4 in the morning. It is that warm tropical air that is so soft to the touch. After Alice, Darwin seemed like a metropolis and was the perfect place from which to explore three National Parks.

Kakadu

Kakadu National Park, is a World Heritage site. It was returned to the aboriginal people a few years ago, with an agreement for use by the government for tourism. Ironically, it also houses a uranium mine. Legend has it that the aborigine used to refer to the area in which the mine is found as the "sick place". Makes one wonder. We saw striking rock art. I loved the legends associated with the art. Justice was swift and exact in the legends. I thought of a few former students who might have benefitted from such measures.

The landscape included floodplain, escarpment, swamp, rock, billabong ( water hole). Remember the end of Crocodile Dundee where the bad guys are chasing them? We climbed to the top of that rock (Ubirr) where that was filmed. That was the spot from which we had a 360 degree view. Pretty spectacular. We couldn't get to JimJim or Twin Falls, so we took a ride in a Cessna 207 to see them, and they were worth the trip. ( You can only drive to see the falls in the Dry, and then they don't fall!). We took two cruises, one to see wildlife - estuarine (live in salt and fresh water) crocodiles, freshwater crocs, jabiru, egret, pelican, kingfisher. My favourite was the jacuna bird, called the Jesus bird, because it appears to walk on water. The other cruise was conducted by an Aborigine who gave us much information on culture and customs. We stayed overnight at Kakadu Lodge. Think of KOA Kamping Kabins, but with air conditioning, a fridge, bedding, dingoes howling in the background, and stern warnings not to leave the paths at night because of venomous snakes, and you get the picture.

Litchfield and Nitimluk

We also saw Litchfield and Nitimluk National parks. The waterfalls (Tolmer, Wangi) were impressive, and the swimming in the plunge pools at Florence Falls and Leliyn (Edith Falls) delightful. These were the pools without crocodiles or carnivorous bats! We saw huge termite mounds, bigger than the one in the picture. These are built by the termites to avoid the wet. They are even more impressive when you realize that two thirds of them are underground, just like icebergs. We took a lunch cruise through Katherine Gorge - again, something we couldn't have done three weeks ago.

So today, Anzac Day, (like Remembrance Day, chosen because it is the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli), we are at the airport at 5:00 a.m. to fly to Cairns, the last planned part of our adventure. We are still learning ( I didn't know that Darwin and environs had suffered so much bombing during WWTwo) , still having fun, and still talking to each other!

Best sign, at Batchelor "We like our lizards frilled, not grilled"

Yes, Helen, ever since we arrived in the north, I have been checking under the toilet seats for spiders!

The Ghan, Uluru, and Heat!

The group of intrepid campers. Guess who is who. Here's a hint. Ross is not in this picture because he was taking it.

Our guide, Steve.

Do we look tired? We are! Note the flynets!

Twenty-six hours after boarding the Ghan Train in Adelaide, we debarked in Alice Springs. We hadn't paid for a sleeper berth (took Red Kangaroo service, rather than Gold)but were lucky enough to have two seats each for sleeping. Gradually the suburbs of Adelaide disappeared, and what was to be our view for the rest of the journey appeared. The view was greener than expected, but flat as far as the eye could see, with the exception of a few low mountain ranges. Some cattle found a bit of shade, but otherwise there was no sign of life.

The Ghan is interesting - begins Sundays and Thursdays in Adelaide ( and two other days from Darwin). From Adelaide the journey is 48 hours if you go all the way to Darwin, as has only been possible for the last three years. As there is only one rail line, the Ghan pulls onto side tracks and stops to allow freight trains (more important than people trains) to pass.

I woke at 5:30 a.m. and watched the sun rise on the horizon, over the same type of country I watched before I went to sleep. The only sign of life was a lone campfire - very mysterious.

As we were approaching Alice Springs, the attendant said it was "warm" not "hot" in Alice. That turned out to be plus 34 degrees. Quite a shock to the system. For a few minutes I felt like I couldn't breathe. As long as the sun was out for the next 4 days, it was that hot. We left the comfort of the Alice Springs Resort at 6 a.m. Tuesday, and headed out camping, with Steve, our guide. Think of Crocodile Dundee without the whip or big knife, and you have Steve. He was a walking encyclopedia of information. Thankfully we were only a group of 10 in a van for 24, so we had lots of room. Our group included Mette and Torbin, and their children Mia (10) and Anders (7) from Denmark, Frans and Tim (father and son) from Holland, Albert and Josette from Paris, and us. Believe it or not, I became the translator for Albert and Josette, as they spoke very little English. I managed to be able to tell them how long the trails were at least!

Our two camps were much like camps at home, with permanent canvas tents and wooden floors, equipped with two cots each. No lights, so I was really glad I packed the suggested flashlight, as when the sun went down it was dark! As a result we enjoyed two more nights to view the spectacular sky of the southern hemisphere. I have never before seen the Milky Way so clearly.

Our day would begin with wakeup at 5 a.m., breakfast, and on the road to our trail for the day by 6. There were three major trails we tackled:

1. The Olgas - first afternoon, so in the heat of the day we walked and climbed for 6 km.

2. Uluru (Ayer's Rock) - the Aborigine do not want people to climb it, so we walked around. It was a very flat trail 8 km long.

3. King's Canyon - again 6 km. of spectacular views, beginning with a 20 minute climb straight up.

Needless to say, my knees have been tested! All walks were spectacular (we kept saying "My word!" in Heather's honour). We will show you lots of pictures if you are interested, but will not be able to convey the majesty.

So...we lived through flies (note the "flynets" we are wearing), heat, very strenuous climbs, but we also enjoyed great company, wonderful scenery, terrific food, and a shower at the end of each day. All in all it was another once in a lifetime experience. (And.. the flies disappeared as soon as the sun went down, unlike our mosquitoes)

Today we boarded yet another plane for Darwin. As we approached we saw green below rather than dry red sand, along with overflowing rivers. We are now in a tropical paradise, but more on that in the next entry!

Great Ocean Road

I thought I wouldn't blog again until after the Red Centre, but I finally got a picture on this, so here is another entry. Yesterday, we spent the whole day on the Great Ocean Road, and this was the highlight. All those pictures you see of the 12 Apostles, huge monoliths of limestone standing out in the ocean, can't truly show how magnificent they are. I really was overwhelmed. Can't wait to show you all our pictures at home.

I am finding that the computers here load these pictures rather slowly. I will try to add a few more, but it may have to wait until we are home. Suffice it to say that we have lots of pictures, and every day I find new wonderful things to explore.

We are in Adelaide just for today. Tomorrow the train. No worries!