At last, we saw what we came for! The Great Barrier Reef in it’s magnificent glory! We had the best time ever in Mission Beach (two hours south from Cairns) where we spent a long weekend at our friends Michelle, Jamie and Bonnie’s house. On Friday we went out in their boat to do water sports off Dunk Island (a resort island about 15 minute by boat off Mission Beach). They had all geared up with wakeboards, surfboard and some discs. I had the best instructor ever in Michelle who did the discs with me and got me up and on the go most of the time. Surfing behind the boat was excellent and after a brief affair in the water it was no problem whatsoever. I found a new hobby, I just LOVE water sports…especially with the warm water here you don’t have to worry about freezing. The middle-aged rich people staying at the Dunk Island resort had something to watch as Greg, Michelle, Jamie, Henkka and I did our best to impress in the bay waters.
Michelle and me on the discs...
Ooops! Going down for a drink...
Henkka learned his lesson about letting go of the rope in time...ouch!
Greg goes for a jump on his wakeboard...
A happy surfer...me!
Riding after the boat...
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Yesterday we had the Great Barrier Reef adventure with what turned out to be the best weather of the year at the Reef. Calm waters and sunshine made for a spectacular undersea adventure. Jamie spear fished on the depths and caught us dinner, a big saltwater trout and two big crayfish. He later threw them on the barbecue in true Australian tradition.
I spent hours snorkeling and saw so many different fish, reef, underwater mussels, clams, snakes, slugs and even a reef shark that swam up to me a couple of times. We had company on the surface with dolphins dancing around us making the trip back to shore even more magical. I saw so many different fish (even Nemo!) that it’s hard to even remember now, a complete sensory overload with colors and movement all around me. The huge schools of fish would just swim around me, small fish and big ones with no worries about what we were up to trying to catch dinner. The jellyfish were out in their thousands, which was a bit freaky at first but most turned out to be harmless and with so much to see you forget they are even there and just push them out of the way. It was a perfect day and we saw so much that I couldn’t almost sleep just remembering all the life below the surface.
I spent hours snorkeling and saw so many different fish, reef, underwater mussels, clams, snakes, slugs and even a reef shark that swam up to me a couple of times. We had company on the surface with dolphins dancing around us making the trip back to shore even more magical. I saw so many different fish (even Nemo!) that it’s hard to even remember now, a complete sensory overload with colors and movement all around me. The huge schools of fish would just swim around me, small fish and big ones with no worries about what we were up to trying to catch dinner. The jellyfish were out in their thousands, which was a bit freaky at first but most turned out to be harmless and with so much to see you forget they are even there and just push them out of the way. It was a perfect day and we saw so much that I couldn’t almost sleep just remembering all the life below the surface.
The reef as seen from above...pictures from below will be developed later!
The hunt is on...Jamie finding the good spots to spearfish...
Jamie and his prey!
Michelle and me happy after our snorkling...
The dolphins followed us home...
Dinner!
Henkka in a "Swedish-colored" stingersuit...
Dinner "al fresco" at the Dore residence...
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Up on the New Horizon resort, a few minutes drive from where we were staying we took a break in the warm pool. Bonnie 3 ½ months old had a good time in her new swimming gear.
Up on the New Horizon resort, a few minutes drive from where we were staying we took a break in the warm pool. Bonnie 3 ½ months old had a good time in her new swimming gear.
Happy hour in the pool....
Check out this beauty we found lurking outside the window...
And this fella in the garden...
We had visitors in the backyard...that had no manners!
Checking us out...
The big butterflies...
Breakfast on the patio with the Dore girls, Bonnie and Michelle...
Doesn't look too borning.. ;-)
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