Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Day 35 Cairns Sydney

When: Day 35 Cairns, QLD and Sydney, NSW

 

Where: Cairns and Sydney

 

Weather: sunny and warm in Cairns. Much the same in Sydney

 

What: travel day to Sydney

 

Who: just us

 

Wine: will know later tonight

 

Whine: last night in Australia

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: how did 5 weeks go by so quickly?

 

Wild: we got a good view of the Great Bugger-All while flying

 

Wildlife: no wallabies, no koalas. So it goes.

 

Water: Pacific Ocean

 

Wonderful: the amazing view we got flying over Sydney.

 

Here's a few random pics:

 

 

Monday, 9 December 2013

Day 33 Cairns

When: day 33 Cairns

 

Where: Cairns, QLD

 

Weather: cloudless sky, about 30c. Gorgeous.

 

What: last day lazing in the sun

 

Who: just us

 

Wine: Lindeman's Origins Cabernet Merlot 2009

 

Whine: these beautiful tropical birds shit all over the place (including on me!)

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: the internet has been down for the most part during the last day (and still not totally back).

 

Wild: we survived without it (mostly).

 

Wildlife: a really bizarre looking insect that looked like a moving piece of wood (photo will follow when we get proper internet - see above).

 

Water: much to the chagrin of Brent, I swam in the ocean today. I'd guess the water temperature was about 28c. I survived to tell the tale (marine stingers, or box jellyfish, are known to be in the area at this time of year and swimming is not advised).

 

Wonderful: the resort planted two trees in honour of my birthday. Kinda.

 

Day 32 Cairns

When: Day 32 Cairns

 

Where: Cairns, QLD

 

Weather: mostly sunny but breezy. High 30

 

What: beach and pool day

 

Who: just us but we took the girls to the airport

 

Wine: Giesen Sauvignon Blanc from NZ

 

Whine: cocktail hour just isn't the same without the ladies.

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: it appeared that we were the only two guests at the resort today.

 

Wild: I discovered today that there are two types of Flame Tree.

 

Wildlife: crazy crab jumped a foot in the air as he scurried across the beach.

 

Water: Pacific Ocean

 

Wonderful: the wind today kept away the March Flies (mostly)

 

Saturday, 7 December 2013

Day 31 Cairns

When: Day 31 Cairns

 

Where: Cairns, QLD

 

Weather: little shower overnight. Mostly sunny. A few clouds and about 30c

 

What: nothing but the beach and pool

 

Who: just us, and Wendy and Lorie

 

Wine:Rocky Gulley Cabernets from Western Australia (this is the bottle that the Qantas Flight Attendants gave us).

 

Whine: I want to come back in January!

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: Brent's glasses fogged up in the high humidity.

 

Wild: we found a rare bug (see below). It hissed at us when I was poking it with a stick.

 

Wildlife: rhinoceros beetle.

 

Water: pool and bay

 

Wonderful: the rain overnight seemed to scare away the March Flies.

 

 

Day 30 Cairns

When: day 30 Cairns

 

Where: Cairns and Port Douglas

 

Weather: cloudyish in the morning and a bit breezy. Calm and hot by late afternoon

 

What: Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef!

 

Who: me, Brent, Lorie, Wendy, Melanie, Hannah, Calum and Liam.

 

Wine: Saltram Eden Valley Riesling

 

Whine: too bloody hot in the afternoon!

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: this British woman who asked the skipper to stop the boat while she was walking because it was hard to walk with her wine glass!

 

Wild: the turtles were amazing!

 

Wildlife: all the fishes and coral. Amazing.

 

Water: the Pacific Ocean and Great Barrier Reef

 

Wonderful: the amazing new friends from the Synergy.

 

Friday, 6 December 2013

Day 29 Cairns

When: Day 29 Cairns

 

Where: Cairns, Queensland (sometimes called Far North Queensland or Tropical North Queensland or The Deep North)

 

Weather: sunny and very warm. About 32c

 

What: Beach and Pool day

 

Who: me, Brent, Lorrie and Wendy

 

Wine: Cape Schank Tallant Pinot Grigio 2012.

 

Whine: it's hot when I'm not in the pool but then I get a chill when I go in the pool!

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: just realised that in a weeks time, we'll be back home.

 

Wild: saw two geckos fighting over territory. Lots of room here and plenty of bugs, but they still fight. And one was mocking me most of the morning.

 

 

Wildlife: these frogs. Tree frogs.

 

 

 

 

Water: the Bay

 

Wonderful: we still have another week!

 

Wednesday, 4 December 2013

Day 28 Cairns

When: Day 28 Cairns

 

Where: Between Cairns and Port Douglas on the Captain Cook Highway

 

Weather: sunny and gorgeous. About 30

 

What: beach and pool

 

Who: just us

 

Wine: Bird in Hand Pinot Gris 2013

 

Whine: it's so hot and there's hardly any wind!

 

Winery: none

 

Wtf: I followed the inukshucks and found this

 

 

 

 

Wild: the pool is not heated but around 26c. Lovely.

 

Wildlife: bloody horseflies (possibly kangaroo flies here). Got bit twice today. Fortunately I'm charged up on prednisone and don't seem to be having a reaction.

 

Water: this gorgeous bay

 

 

Wonderful: these three palms in front of our room. Just like Gilligan's Island.