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Published: December 22nd 2005
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"The Promenade at Cairns"
"Looking out for saltwater Crocodiles" 17th December 2005
REST DAY IN CAIRNS
Hi again Folks,
Got up fairly early, then walked down along the beach front to the Lagoon (A sort of lido swimming pool, right on the "Nard") (Promenade) On the way we saw spoonbills and pelicans hundreds of them bobbing up and down on the water like an armada. When you spot Pelicans in the air they looked like the 747 Jumbo jets of the bird world, with their curvy necks and and long beaks with the flabby skin below. Cairns front is peppered with Restaurants of all types, but most of them serve the most wonderful seafood. Then there is the beach front road and then a landscaped grass area with shady trees, palms and shrubs. then a cycle path and footpath which becomes a boardwalk as you reach the centre. We arrived at the Lagoon a huge turquoise pool area with shallow water for kids to play in and deeper water for those that can swim. there is a fountain and neat stainless steel sculptures of fish. There are also plenty of grassy areas with shady trees and pergola's and even BBQ cooking facilities as well as the usual
"The Lagoon"
"Great for swimming and sunbathing" changing showing toilet facilities.
The weather was again very hot so plenty of sunscreen and out of the sun in the hottest part of the day from 12 - 3pm. We also went swimming loads of times to keep cool. Later in the afternoon the sky darkened and looked stormy but nothing happened as we headed back to the Hotel. That evening we had dinner at Diggers restaurant a wonderful meal of peppered steak for me served by a very chatty, bright young waitress who seemed to do all the serving of meals drinks and handled all the bills as well, clever bright lass!!
We then walked back to the Hotel and sleep, we were to be up early next day for "The Barrier Reef"
"THE GREAT BARRIER REEF"
18th December 2005
Hiya Folks,
Woke up 6.00am in some excitement as we are going to Barrier Reef. We packed a light bag with towel, hat, sunscreen, sun glasses & money. The coach picked us up at 7.35, then after a couple of pick ups on the way, arrived at Cairns Marina to catch Quicksilver IV a large 3 decked Catamaran. It had a main
"On the Jet-Catamaran Quicksilver"
"View from the stern with the water jets" deck, bridge deck and sun deck and was powered by two multi directional engines.
We left Cairns at 8.00am for the Agincourt Reef part of the outer reef of the Barrier Reef system. Once we passed the outer marker buoys to the Cairns harbour Quicksilver really picked up speed, with its jet like thrusters throwing water out of the back and the twin hulls carving into the water, it was really spectacular. We picked up some more passengers on the way at a small landing jetty near a cove and soon we were speeding on to Port Douglas. Once at Port Douglas, more passengers and the diving and snorkling crew got on along with all the food supplies necessary to feed over 100 people. We then were heading out 20 nautical miles from Port Douglas heading for a large anchored pontoon at Agincourt reef. As we headed out the sea was a realy deep blue as far as the eye could see.
In an hour and a half we had reached the pontoon, a collection of platforms and buildings anchored at the reef, like a small compact town really. Soon the Quicksilver was was moored alongside and we
"Agincourt Reef"
"We reach the moored platforms" disembarqued. On the trip from the mainland we had been given a lot of information about the reef from a marine biologist who gave a long talk on the fish, coral and what we would see. Also how fragile this eco system is and how it would take very little to destroy it. We also had alot of safety instructions, do's and dont's the main one never to touch the coral because of the impact on this sytem. We were also informed that the Great Barrier Reef is not a continuous barrier but a series of reefs stretching from almost New Guinea in the north 2300 Km to Bunderberg in the South of Queensland bigger than the UK and Ireland put together.
Safety was paramount and because there were jelly fish present we were advised to wear protective blue lycra suits, which any stings could not penetrate. So without further ado we donned these, an all in one affair with a zip at the front. and close fitting hood. Laugh!! well we looked like a cross between a smurf and the Incredibles super heroes. We then had to pick out flippers, mask and snorkels and made our way down
to the lower platforms. We donned floatation jackets at first but soon discarded these because we could not dive down easily.
It was incredible, floating along in inner space, over plate corals, brain corals, clams, great outcrops of bright blue stag horn coral, and the fish, Sargent Majors with the black and white stripes, Parrot fish with their beaky mouths (a beautiful green & yellow they nibble the coral for algae and excrete coral sand at the other end). These fantastic fish are responsible for the most of the lovely soft coral sands that occur in the tropics. We saw large ugly Grouper fish, harmless but they have a wide eyed and rather superior look about them. There were also angel fish in wonderful colours and hues really special. When we came back to the pontoon we decided to have lunch which we got from the Quicksilver and brought it back, it was a seafood and salad meal very nice. We then took a ride in a semi- submersible for a tour ride out looking at various parts of the reef which was fascinating. We were informed that some of the large brain corals were thousands of years old
"Into the Blue"
"We loved it so much, we went twice" as they are so slow growing. Then back to the pontoon, we donned the suits again and went snorkling.
All too soon the Quicksilver blew its horn, we got back on board changed then at 3.30pm we bid a sad farewell to the reef. We had a fabulous time, absolutely a chance of a lifetime experience, one which I will never forget. The Quicksilver was soon speeding us back to Port Douglas where we disembarqued, for a coach trip back to Cairns, for different scenery on the pretty coast road back to Cairns.
Once back at the Hotel we showered changed and out to Cairns for a fabulous meal at Barnacle Bills restaurant. We had a look to see if Nu Trix club was open, but being Sunday it was closed so it was a quick drink in a bar on the way back to the Hotel and dreamy sleep, what a great day that was.
Richie
19th December 2005
Hiya Folks
We decided to have a restful day at the laggon in Cairns, so as I have written about this already there seems no point in writing here, apart from mentioning that this
A Curious silver fish
"Not the happiest looking fish in the ocean" is our last day in Cairns, tomorrow we Fly to Alice Springs, so farewell Queensland, one day I will be back again, there is so much to see.
Keep logging on folks, "The Red Centre next".
Richie
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