Off Season Cruising

[koliver]

After Hobart, the next stop was Philp Island, where the only shoreside attraction offered was the "Penguin Parade". We passed. The next morning, we heard all about it from friends who went. Apparently quite interesting, as the viewing was from a boardwalk that passed above the route of the 6" to 12" tall penguins, and there were lots of them to be seen. The parade has been going on for centuries, observed by masses of tourists for decades, it occurs at dusk every night.
Our next stop was Goolong, where we were tendered in to the Royal Goolong Yacht Station, then got our bus into Melbourne. This very modern city is fast growing, but what we saw of it looks like a very liveable city. an "Arts Precinct" and a "Sports Precinct".

Edit: My pictures didn't load, but we will be in Sydney for 2 days tomorrow, so I will try again.

[koliver]

We are at sea again. Sydney was far too busy to have time to load pictures, and now that we are between Sydney and Brisbane, the internet is again refusing to load pictures.
This cruise has had some of the best lectures. Today's was the Reef Pilot, taken aboard in Sidney, but not really required to be on the Bridge until we reach Cairns in a few days, then at work until Thursday Island, at the north tip of Australia. He will have a career as an entertainer when his piloting days end, and although his intro was to say he is not a public speaker, he had the whole audience glued to his every word. On top of that style, he was very informative about all aspects of a Pilot's life, both the exciting parts and the less so parts. He ended with a video about an Australian shipping disaster of a few years ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m5qxZm_JqM

[SteveK]

Keith I was happy to just read about your adventure and then you throw a curve ball. I have not heard that for a few years, thanks for giving us a good laugh.

[BruceK]

Enjoyed the Pilot`s John Clarke video "The Front Fell Off",fine example of the humour he and John Dawe produced, he is greatly missed.
The little blue (aka fairy) penguins of Philip Island were helped by the removal of the island holiday homes, expanding their residential area. These penguins are found elsewhere, eg. Kangaroo Island off South Australia, even on Sydney Harbour where you sometimes hear their distinctive call.
Cairns,in Far North Queensland is a good base for exploring the Kuranda Railway with return via the aerial Skyline, the Daintree area to the north, and to access Port Douglas.

[koliver]

We are now well into a routine on board. We have met several couples wiih whom we are developing friendship. We also know a few in a different category, though to be fair, those are few.
I tend to rise early, especially on sea days, and get my first coffee at the only open outlet, on level 1. There are other early risers, a changing parade. The guy who needs an audience at all times occupies the central corner stool and after several mornings runs out of new faces, so moves on and is replaced by another. After 60 days this scenario has played out several times and that location had been quiet for a week or so, until a new voice arrived this morning.
Occasionally, an Officer joins in, a few days ago the Captain, so I had my first private conversation with him.
Yesterday was Mooloolaba. The included tour was a bus ride to Noosa. There was a well attended Triathlon or Iron Man, with swimming starting while we were on the beach. I was at the start of an I-M when our son was doing one. so I estimate the crowd for this one at more than the 2500 identically clad swimmers there. Traffic was extreme. Noosa is a cute little beach town, but overwhelmed withe the crowds on this day.
Back at Mooloolaba, a huge marina presence, lots of waterfront homes with docks in front, lots of signs of prosperity.

[Jeff F]

Originally Posted by BruceK

Cairns,in Far North Queensland is a good base for exploring the Kuranda Railway with return via the aerial Skyline...

Great side trip from Cairns. Watch out for salties!

[BruceK]

If you liked Noosa you may like the feel of Port Douglas. Pretty coastal town, beach a little remote and restricted by "stingers" this time of year to a netted area. The "Tin Shed" fishermans club at the northern end has good seafood, beer, etc, covered outdoor dining. We were there Easter last year.

[koliver]

Originally Posted by Jeff F

Great side trip from Cairns. Watch out for salties!

Salties?

[BruceK]

Originally Posted by koliver

Salties?

Salt water crocodiles, as distinct from freshwater variety. Salties can be aggressive and dangerous while Freshies generally would not attack.. They take to the ocean, and are seen on beaches, and in surf. They can grow to 4 metres, and have big teeth. Make excellent luggage and bags though. They are farmed for their skins, and tourism.
Wild egg collecting has involved a man hanging from a helicopter grabbing croc eggs from a nest(litigation pending over a death, what could possibly go wrong) with the nest owner not approving.
Crocs are a protected species, leading to population increase.

[Jeff F]

Originally Posted by BruceK

They can grow to 4 metres, and have big teeth.

6m, 1000+ kg. Largest reptiles on earth. They make alligators look cute and cuddly :-).

https://sightseeingtoursaustralia.co...no%20exception.

[koliver]

OK
We are scheduled to do the Jungle train, Kuranda and Skyrail tomorrow, so will look out for salties!

[BruceK]

Originally Posted by koliver

OK
We are scheduled to do the Jungle train, Kuranda and Skyrail tomorrow, so will look out for salties!

You should be safe up there . Skyrail gets interesting in a cross wind.
Mossman Gorge just north of Port Douglas would be second choice, but you couldn`t see both in one day.

[koliver]

Skyrail was good. It seemed to slow as we were at the towers (upper limit for viewing), a few times, which added to the experience. The muddy waters (high rains recently) hid any Salties from view. The views from the train were also spectacular. All in, one of the best excursions we have had.
As we had only one day in Cairns, we couldn't see the Great Barrier Reef, but those who chose that excursion reported various levels of success in seeing much of the reef, due to high water and strong winds. We will just need to come back another time.
We are at sea again, on our way out of Australian waters.

[BruceK]

The Kuranda visit, train one way Skyrail the other, is certainly worth doing.
On the subject of crocodiles which abound in northern Australia, here`s a news article. So called "salties" are equally at home in fresh water, though I don`t think the freshwater ones like a salt environment.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-...jaws/102012388

[klee wyck]

I am really enjoying this part of this thread as it brings back our visit to Queensland to dive the reef.
We took side trips to take advantage of the area you visited to include Port Douglas, a lovely place, and the Daintree and Mossman.

Part of what struck me while we were there in this region was surely all of the things that the signs were saying were going to try to kill us from the stingers to the salties to the snakes and spiders.
The people were sure hospitable, even if the wild things aren't!

[BruceK]

Originally Posted by klee wyck

I am really enjoying this part of this thread as it brings back our visit to Queensland to dive the reef.
We took side trips to take advantage of the area you visited to include Port Douglas, a lovely place, and the Daintree and Mossman.

Part of what struck me while we were there in this region was surely all of the things that the signs were saying were going to try to kill us from the stingers to the salties to the snakes and spiders.
The people were sure hospitable, even if the wild things aren't!

Glad you survived, you sure picked the right places to visit! I hear the cassowaries of the Daintree forest are not to be messed with either.

[klee wyck]

Originally Posted by BruceK

Glad you survived, you sure picked the right places to visit! I hear the cassowaries of the Daintree forest are not to be messed with either.

Yeah, I darn near nailed one of those strange birds with my rental car on the way back down from Daintree. Good thing I was on the wrong side of the road.....

[koliver]

We arrived Thursday Island (TI) and anchored 5 miles off to get enough depth. Tenders in began at 08:30 in calm conditions. At 09:30 tha anchor came up with an increase in wind and waves and those on shore were asked to return to the ship. As the roundup took a while, the ship made way to windward while waiting for all returning tenders to arrive. Shallow here so the thrusters churned a lot of mud trying to make shelter for the tenders.
All done and away by 14:00, Pilots off by 15:00. TI is a tiny place. All we really did here was give the entertaining Pilot a ride home. Our next stop is Komodo, a few sea days further on.

[BruceK]

Sounds like the ship handled the changing conditions well.

Don`t pat the lizards at Komodo.

[sunchaser]

Keep up the log Keith. It is fun to read about the marathon you guys are doing. Will you be back at Ganges for the late May holiday?