Our Australian Adventure- Cairns

     Our next port of call was Cairns (pronounced "Cans" by the locals). It seems that we were to be the largest ship that had entered their cruise ship terminal. The details, as I found out later, were that the approach to the berth is via a narrow channel, only 90 meters wide. Our ship was about 50 meters wide so there was not a lot of room for error. Add to that the winds and currents that caused us to "crab" through the channel and we didn't have much "wiggle room" at all. Add to that the fact that we had to wait for the right tide. There was only 2 meters of water under the keel!!!! That means that if I were standing under the boat as it passed, it would clear me by about an inch!! If that wasn't enough, once in the terminal dock area, we had to execute a 180 degree "about face" turn. Due to the narrow channel, we had very little clearance from the dock. The captain told me that it was the most difficult maneuver that he has ever done (but he had a great time doing it!). 

     This is the approach looking into Cairns. You can barely see the buoy markers in the water that outlined the channel into the harbor. 

     Here we are while making the 180 degree turn. Not a lot of clearance. 

     We spent two days in Cairns. On the first day, we took a bus to an aerial tram tour of the rainforest canopy. You boarded a gondola car (like a ski resort lift) and traveled 7 miles over the canopy with three stops to get off and walk through trails. 

     Here is the view looking back as we just left the departure station. 

     Above you can see where the ocean meets the shore as we made our way up the mountainside.

     My opinion, everything in nature in Australia is out to either hurt you or eat you! Look at the needles on this palm leaf and stalk. Like a cross between a Palm tree and a cactus. 

     I don't have a clue what this plant is but it was very pretty and unique. 

     The return trip we took via the Kuranda Scenic Railway. We wandered along through the mountains that we had just crossed over. 

     Anybody remember the song "I Come From a Land Down Under" by Men at Work? There is a line in the song about some guy giving the singer "...a Vegemite sandwich." Well, here Geoff is proudly displaying his packet of Vegemite. He really liked it on toast in the morning. I tried it and, first of all, you DO NOT spread it on like jelly! It goes on very sparingly. Secondly, it may be high in Vitamin B, but it is very salty. Too much so for my taste. But anyway, we had to try some. 

   After an evening touring the shopping markets downtown, we got up early and met our excursion boat for a trip out to the reef. I've never been on a dive quite like this one. There were about 50 folks on this boat. Some were there to snorkel, some were there getting certified to dive, others had just been certified, and some of us were experienced divers. The tour operators gave us the option to dive with a guide (for an extra per person fee) or we could go out on our own. We chose the latter and after reviewing the bottom map and getting a briefing from the dive master, we were off.  We had two dives at two different locations on the reef. It was magnificent!

  This particular spot on the reef presented us with a myriad of coral the likes of which I have never seen. There were some marine life, but the showcase was the coral. 

     The different sizes and shapes were unbelievable. Along the way we passed several "Live Aboard" platforms. Here folks come to stay for several days and dive and play. There were even helipads where folks were shuttled from the mainland to the platform. 

     All too soon it was back to the ship and we made our way out of the harbor. That night, we were greeted by yet another towel animal...

   

Our Australian Adventure- Sydney

     On Friday, Nov. 11, 2011 (11-11-11... easy to remember) we boarded a plane in Kansas City and began our Australian expedition. With us were our "world traveling partners", Brenda and Geoff. We left KC at 5:00 pm and headed to Dallas where we boarded the Boeing 747 shown above and departed for Australia at 10:00 pm. We flew all night long, and in the process, crossed the International Date Line. We touched down in Brisbane (pronounced "Brisbin" by the locals) for a quick refueling stop at 6:30 am. It was now Sunday, Nov 13th. After a short stop, we took off on our last leg of this trip and landed in Sydney. After a quick cab ride we arrived at the cruise ship terminal and boarded our home for the next 11 days... the Royal Carribean ship "Rhapsody of the Seas".

     As you can see from the picture, our ship was berthed just across from the famous Sydney Opera House. We look remarkably well here I think. We have been on a plane for the last 30 hours or so, not much sleep, and have just settled in to our cabin.

   Behind us was the bridge nicknamed "the coat hanger". The Harbor Bridge is another famous landmark and, for the sum of $200, you can walk along its span and stand at the top of the bridge. Many famous folks have done so and their photos are in the museum. Oprah, Al Gore, Prince Harry of England are just a few of those. 

   We left the harbor and sailed overnight to Newcastle. There were some Newcastle locals as passengers on the ship and they told me that it took all night to sail to Newcastle and it takes 2 hours by train from Sydney! Go figure.

   As you come into the harbor, you see a weather station at the top of the hill on the peninsula. Newcastle is one of the largest coal shipping sites in the world. There was no berth for our cruise ship so we had to dock in the loading yards and be bussed into town central.  Below is the view of our ship in port from the location where the bus dropped us off!

We walked through town on our way to the beach and noticed something unique. There were many mature trees along the sidewalk and extending out into the street. Rather than cut down these magnificent trees, the just paved around them.

  Along the coastline of Newcastle is seven miles or so of beaches. We strolled along one of them and watched as folks bodysurfed. I tested the water and, even though it is almost summer here, the water was too cold for my liking.

There was also a public seawater pool that consisted of a large open pool and a smaller lap pool. Here the water wasn't much warmer than the nearby ocean but much gentler.

Around the corner from this pool was a beach that had just recently hosted a large beach volleyball tournament. This day, there were several groups of young kids being trained to be life guards. We watched as they ran into the surf and practiced rescuing a swimmer in trouble. Lifeguards are well respected in Australia and positions are competitive and much sought after.

 Looking out at the end of the beach is the weather station that we passed when entering the channel. This piece of beach is all manmade! In the 1800's the rocks and sand were built up over several years by convict labor to create this manmade breakwater for the harbor. This particular place has a connection to WW II. We took the picture from the high ground around Ft. Scratchley. Here in 1943, a Japanese submarine fired several canon rounds into Newcastle. The naval guns at the fort returned fire. It was the only hostile action of WW II that took place on Australian soil. We met a volunteer guide (named Mick of all things. Shades of Mick "Crocodile" Dundee...) who showed us around the fort. He was a delight to be around, very funny and informative. He took us on a tour of places that seemed off limits to the regular public (we had to unlock the doors to get in to the exhibits). Mick told us that our ship line had paid them to fire the forts guns in salute to the ship as we left the harbor. He told us to make sure and not stand on the side with the big red target on it... funny guy! Anyway, we picked up a prime viewing spot on the deck as we left and, sure enough, the guns fired not once but twice. It was never announced on the ship so only those fortunate few who were on deck got to see it. We had the insider info!!! Below you can see the cloud of smoke just exiting the guns.

Over the next couple of days we were at sea headed towards the northern town of Cairns (pronounced "Cans". The "R" is silent) On the way each evening, when we returned to our stateroom after dinner, we found a different towel animal (created by our room steward). I will share some of them with you below...

The Elephant

The Koala

The Monkey

Back from Down Under

    Here's hoping that everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving!

    Well, we made it back from a fantastic time in Australia! About 15 hours flying time but well worth it. Now we have just 2 days to do laundry, pack the motorhome, run a bunch of errands, and head south to Alabama. Once we get settled in there, I will dig through the 600+ photos that we took and put together a couple of blog entries to cover the trip. I also want to upload some of the better photos to a web album for your viewing pleasure. Watch the blog in the near future for these updates!

Time to Start Packing Up

     Well, it's nearing that time where we have visited with a bunch of folks, seen all of our doctors, worked on the car and motorhome, and now have to start packing up again to hit the road. We have had a wonderful time seeing friends and relatives! Birthday parties for two grandchildren; Halloween Trick or Treating; a canoeing trip; and now getting ready for a whirlwind visit to Australia! A lot to pack into a few short weeks. We haven't been able to see or do nearly all of what we would have liked to, but then we rarely do. It's amazing how fast an empty calendar can fill up!

   As you can see from the above picture, both Belle and Misty were "Bees" for Halloween. They made a cute pair!

   Anyway...we are now preparing to fly to Australia for a two week adventure cruise. When we get back, we have a couple of days to clean everything, pack it up, and hit the road south. After we get settled in Alabama,  I will post some blogs and pictures covering our time Down Under. Until then, everyone have a great November and Happy Thanksgiving holiday.

Ozarks in the Fall

   We took a long weekend and went to Branson, MO with the family and our friends, Brenda and Nikki. On the way down, we stopped at Lambert's restaurant outside of Springfield. Lambert's is famous for their "Throwed Rolls". This is exactly what happens! Frequently, one of the staff comes out and announces "Hot Rolls!!" and you signal him/her that you want one. It will soon be on it's way to you via "Air Mail". The food is plentiful and really good. It is a popular tourist spot and several busloads of folks came while we were there. There might be a wait, but is is worth it!

   From Lambert's it was on to Branson.

   The grandkids really enjoyed Silver Dollar City. The Wildfire roller coaster really gets your blood going! At the bottom of the first drop the track looks like it is going to send you several hundred feet down into the valley. But at the last minute it twists and you go through all of the loops and twists you see in the picture.

   Amanda, Barb, and Brenda are in the second row. I volunteered to stay behind and watch the grandkids.

   Here Tori and Belle are captured hanging out at the Cornicopia. Filled with dozens of pumpkins and vegetables of all kinds it made for a good picture. We spent the day enjoying shows, checking out the crafts (it's the Harvest Festival where craftsmen from around the country set up booths and display their wares), and eating waaaaayyyyyy too much home baked goodies.

  That evening we had dinner at McFarlain's Family Restaurant in Branson. Here exists a little known secret in Branson. The Rising Table! It is best if you invite several of your unknowing friends to a meal at McFarlain's but when you check in ask the hostess if the Rising table is free. If so, you sit at what appears to be a normal dining table in an otherwise normal dining area of the restaurant. You and your friends order your meal and enjoy the food. (which is very good, especially the honey cornbread!!) Unknown to your guests, the table has begun to rise, ever so slightly and slowly. You don't really notice it but soon, your plate is almost at your mouth's level! It's fun to watch as the unknowing victims begin to realize that something is "different" but can't quite put their finger on it. Finally you all share a good laugh while the wait staff brings out a certificate for all to prove that you were there. Oh, two other things; first you usually have to publicly sing something (as a group) in order to get your certificate (Tori had us all do "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star") and the table goes back down just as slowly as it came up!

   Here is the table at McFarlain's. It started at Belle's waist and is now nearing her chin. Nobody has a clue yet what is happening but shortly they figured it out.

   I have tried building a web photo album page. Go to the link below and see if you can see anything in the "Back in KS" album.  Brad's Web Albums

Chillin' at the Lake

After arriving back in Kansas, we have filled our calendar with time for friends and family. One of these trips was a day trip to a small lake in Winfield, KS. Our friends, Steve and Roma, have a big pontoon boat that they use when their kids and grandkids come over. It has a large open deck where everyone can fish or just hang out. We brought our lawn chairs and Roma brought lunch. We did have to wait for just the right conditions because the summer has been hard on all of the reservoirs in Kansas this year. In fact, if you go a little closer to the shore in this photo, you will run aground as the water is only a few inches deep! How do I know this you may ask???  Well because we found out first hand! We were cruising along, minding our own business, when all of a sudden the motor began throwing up all manner of muddy water and we ceased our forward movement. We were a good 150-200 yards off the shore. So, while Steve gently reversed the motor, I grabbed a long aluminum pole. Doing my best Venician Gondola Driver imitation, I "polled" us off of the sandbar. Took us about 15 or 20 minutes but we eventually got free. All in all the winds stayed down, the sun was shining, and the temps were very pleasant for us this day. We just wandered around the lake, stopping and tying off in a small inlet to drown a few worms (i.e. fishing). We also shared many laughs and stories.

We had our picnic lunch on the lake and then headed back home. We had a great time and it will probably be one of the last boating days for this season.

Canoeing in the Ozarks

We have been on the go a lot since returning to Kansas, but we took some time out to troop out to the Ozarks with our friends Brenda and Geoff for a weekend canoe trip. We drove from Wichita to Springfield, MO where we met up with our friends. After a night’s stay, we set out for the Eleven Points River and the access point in Greer, MO. Here we unloaded all of the gear and then Geoff and I drove our vehicles to our planned exit point, near the town of Billmore (about a 40 minute drive away, but 38 miles via the river). Here we left Geoff’s truck and the canoe trailer for our return and we drove back to meet the ladies who were waiting for us at the put in point. 

    Here we have dropped the gear and are about to drive down to our planned exit point. 

    The put in point was sandy and made it very easy to get the canoes loaded.

    A loaded canoe and smooth water. It was a great day on the river. Unfortunately, both of us hit some rough spots and fast water later on and dumped the canoes. The gear got a little wetter than we had planned and the day was getting late, so we found a good campground and set up home. 

    Our weekend home. Notice everything drying on the line. 

    We even spread out around the fire and hoped that things would dry out a bit. Overnight the temps dipped to around 40 degrees and it was a bit chilly crawling out of the sleeping bag!

    The next morning warmed up nicely and Misty even began to enjoy the trip. You have to understand, she is NOT much of a water dog so even convincing her to get in the canoe was a major accomplishment!

    The scenery along the river was spectacular. In a couple of weeks, the fall colors will be in full force and the trees should be amazing. 

    We reached our second campsite in the early afternoon. It was warm and sunny and we were approaching the major rapids on the river (as marked on our maps). We decided to set up camp and get everything dried out before trying to dunk ourselves again. Also, the next marked campground was 10 miles down river and only a half mile from our put out point. No sense rushing things and ending too soon! So, we got everything dried out and took some time to explore the area around our campsite. We found a major feeder spring that looked like something out of Yellowstone. It was crystal clear and the deeper it went, the bluer the water. 

    This picture doesn’t do it any justice but it was a remarkable sight. 

    The next morning we awoke to 36 degrees! Luckily, the sun rose quickly and by the time we had our breakfast and loaded the canoes, it was warm and comfortable. We hit the rapids almost before we knew it and navigated them without incident. In fact, I think that we had rougher waters the day before. We saw deer in the river and came upon a bald eagle majestically surveying his territory. Paying us no heed, we slowed our canoes and took some pictures as we floated by. 

    Misty was really beginning to get used to this “canoeing” thing and relaxed enough to take a nap. It was pretty funny in fact, as Misty was snoring loud enough that Brenda could hear her from 30 yards away! She finally woke up in time for us to put out and load up. We had a great time and enjoyed getting out in the wilderness again. If only for a little while.