Australia

Jan. 13th, 2001 - Well here we go. Monday at least we are on our way south. Driving to San Francisco to visit with a couple of Anne's brothers and then on the 20th it's off to LAX for the flight to Australia. Well we did just that. Visited the Bros and took the long flight from LAX down to Oz land. Did get some sleep on the 14 hour flight so we weren't totaly bagged out and when Ken and Barbara picked us up we did a bit of a tour at a place called Manly, had an ice cream and tasted some of the warmth that we came here for. Both the renewal of the friendship and the weather.

Speaking of the weather - it is very warm here (but isn't that one of the reasons that we came ?) Its been unusually hot and muggy with the daytime temp running around 33-38 degrees C. (you'll have to figure out the conversion to F.) and a humidity in the 80% range.

On the 23rd after trying to get used to the idea that we had lost a day of our lives we headed for a look at one of the many beaches and a swim. Ken and Barbara had provided us with proper outfits and a Boogy-board for the kid. We went to a beach named Pearl Beach and Ian was soon in the water and "riding the waves" What a kick! The waves were smallish there - just right for him to learn this new art. On the way home we bought a packet of fish and chips and enjoyed that for lunch back at the house.

We went next door to visit with Veronica and Kamil and the snake. The latter is a diamond python and is over 2 meters long. A lovely thing of gentle personality and I soon had it draped across my shoulders. An amazing feeling having him crawl along there. They also have a pool which we all get to enjoy late in the day for a welcome cool-down. Note of interest - all the pools have salt added and thus are saltwater instead of being chlorinated. Easier on the eyes.

Jan 25th - Yesterday was a toasty one. 39 degrees C!!! Spent the morning at a place named The Entrance which is the entrance from the sea to a series of inland lakes. This is like most waterside resort areas with pricey food and lodging but we took a picnic and ate under a huge Norfolk Island Pine and. Ian went wading in a great kids pool/fountain and then later we hit the beach for a little boogy-boarding.There are tons of beaches all along the coast with fine tan colored sand.This is the summer vacation for schools so the beaches are packed with kids swimming and surfing. Even tho we are using 45 sunscreen, we are showily losing the pale Oregon winter look..Anne and a Blue Bottle Jelly met and she got stung on the ankle which is like a whole bunch of bee stings in one place

Well here we are on the 26th of January and it is Australia Day !! This is equivalent to our 4th of July and there are all sorts of goings-on. We drove down to Gosford to the south a few miles and were just in time to witness the reenactment of the landing of the first settlers on these shores. That is since the Aborigines did it several thousands of years before. Anyhooo, there was the reading of the proclamation from the King and the toasting and the firing of the muskets and the cannon and the singing of the National Anthem.

Then there were the raft races (the rafts being made of innertubes) and a sailing regatta and a fly-over by the RAAF. We partook of steak sandwiches and lemonade and corn-on-the-cob. And we looked at the many booths offering things for sale like a small fair. Ian went down a slide a couple of times and just when we all about to be cooked we headed home and rehydrated and waited for the sun to get off the pool next door for a real cooldown.

We are off tomorrow for the north and the reef and some really tropical weather so the continuation of this will have to wait a week or so.

Flew to Cairns (pronounced canz) and Gaorge brought us from the airport to the Trinity Holiday Apts. It is about a block from the beach and is modest in scope and design. After putting our things in the room and a walk along the beach we were quite pleased with our choice of this place. It is very low key with a few restraunts and shops and a lovely streach of coral sand. Found the grocery store and bought a fridge full of stuff and got ready for the week.

The weather was fine tho pretty hot and the lady at the desk advised us to do the reef as it is hard to tell when the weather might change so we booked a trip there for the next day. Got up early and the bus took us into Cairns and the harbor and we boarded the Big Cat. As the name implies, it was a very large catamaran and was about 3/4 full. This could mean a lack of service but we fould the service great right from the start. Out at Green Island by 10:30 and a ride in the yellow submarine to view the reef in comfort and with some instruction as to what we were seeing. That afternoon, after a wonderful Ausie Barbique lunch we were taken out farther on the reef where the coral was better. Ian had gotten a bit spooked on a little swim off the beach so we were worried that he wouldn't try again. But upon getting to the other dive area one of the crew (Dane) took him in hand and put him in a lifevest and swim-ring and told mom and I to get lost and then proceded to tow him all over and even got a sea cucumber for Ian to hold. Save it to say we all had a great time and Ian was read to give it another try. Back to our digs and dinner on stuffed chicken (like we would do a turkey) and the first of many mangos.

Jan 29th.... Up for toast, coffee and papaya and a pickup to the "Opal Mine" a shop with a video on how opals were mined and a nice explanation on the different kinds of opals. We, both came away with some earings and went next door to "Wild World" a zoo-like place that we had planned to spend the morning and ended up spending the entire day. We heard some very informative talks on snakes and crocodiles and kaolas and birds and got to wonder among a few dozen kangeroos and feed them by hand. Ian really loved that and we spent a good half an hour watching him do it. And he got 'Roo Poo on his Shoe'. Then the Cane Toad races which Ian's toad won and got a little prize for. A pet of a koala and a wombat and held an baby aligator and a bus ride home. Chicken sandwitches another mango and a beer for dinner and a night walk on the beach and to bed.

Jan 30..... Bite the bullet --- go for it!!!! ---- see if I can drive a car on the wrong side of the road without getting us all killed. Tiny car with the shift on the left of the right seat steeringwheel and here we go. Fortunatly, the road to the north had few roundabouts and not much traffic so had some time to get the hang of it. Lots of "STAY LEFT!!!!" from the next seat. But we arrived at Mossman Gorge in one piece and did the 3km walk thru the wet rainforest with wonderful sights and sounds (the jungles are a constant cacophany of bird and insect noises). There were Giant fig trees that I hope to add pictures of here upon our return. By half way thru we were all dripping with sweat and then Ian went running past me to be ahead when a "Hairy Mary" caught his legs. This is a tendral like lead of a climbing plant which has barbed hooks its lenght and he was brought to a sudden and very painful stop. You can imagine the panic that ran thru him. I got him untangled and the little bleeding wounds (counted 35) clear of the barbs. He cried for some time as we went along towards the car park and by the time we got there he was settled down and back to his jaunty self. Washed the wounds and irrigated lots of water back into our bodies and drove on thru the forest and cane fields to the Daintree Rainforest and a ride on the Daintree River in a riverboat where were spotted 2 small Crocks and 3 white herons and there was a white-lipped green frog on board for a close inspection. Then on south again and then a bit west to find the High Falls Tropical Fruit Farm where we got to see about 80 or so different fruit trees and do a tasting of several of them. Stopped at another fruit stand and fleshed out our rather large stash of tropical fruits and had mango/pinapple sorbets and after a quick look at Port Douglas it was home and a wonderful dinner at L'Unico Italian Rest. Anne shared her mussle dish with Ian and I had a very tasty linguini dish with sun-dried tomatoes and pepperoni. Locked my reading glasses in the car. No worries, will fetch them in the morning.

Last day of Jan 2001 ..... Off on the Sunbus to Tjapukai an aborignal cultural center. It rained last night so the temp is a bit lower but the humidity is thru the roof. Loved this place and learned a bunch about the culture and the history and the aboriginal thoughts on the creation of the world and people and everything else. Were treated to dancing and the playing of the digeridoo and tribal medicine. Then off to the spear throwing for a try at that - it's harder than it looks and none of us came near to hitting the target. Then over to Ralph and a lesson at tossing the boomerang. Ian caught on instantly and around and back again went his toss. I had fair luck and so did Anne. We were there all by ourselves at this point and so got to do lots of tosses as we helped and fetched our own boomerangs back. Had lunch there and went to the dance show a second time and the same with the demonstration on the playing of the digeridoo. Off by foot to Smithfield and a Chemist for some Meds for Anne's cold sores and Ian's leg wounds. Got some very nice whole meal bread and meat at the market and then over the road to catch the bus home. We got on the bus and a lady a few seats ahead of us asked if we might have left a camera bag on the bench at the stop? A quick check and it was seen that it was the video camera that had been left. I went to the front and told the driver that I wanted off to run back and hope that it was still there. "Hang on" he says and after asking the passengers if they minded being a few minutes late, turned around and went back. There was another bus at the stop and I thought that the camera was surely gone but they have two-way radios on the busses and our driver and the other driver conversed that the camera was in the position of a young lady who would meet me with it. She handed it to me in the road and I got back on the bus very much relieved and happy that there are really so many helpful and honest folks here and abouts. Back to the room for a bite and a night swim in the sea. The water temp was 30 degrees C. We swam in an netted enclosure to keep the jellys at bay and for the most part it works well.

Feb 1 ....... Took the train up to Karanda and were treated to great vistas and many tunnels whilst going up the Barren Gorge. There had been enough rain in the last few weeks that there were also many waterfalls. But just traveling thru the jungle is really neat. At the top the town of Karanda is mostly touristy and with the exception of the Butterfly Santuary not too interesting. Then a ride back down on the Skyrail over the jungle with two stops each with views and one with an interpetive center. Then back on the bottom and I bought a digeridoo at Tjapukai. It is to be shipped home. Dinner at the digs - emptying the fridge as we had only one full day left here.

Feb 2nd...... Hired a car again. Even smaller than the last one!! Headed south thru Cairns and then a right and up and up thru many curves onto the tablelands. The entire eastern coast of Australia is a range of mountains and upon climbing these one is into the tablelands. This is not unlike Mexico's high plateau. But in the tropics, it isn't dry but great farmland. And very beautiful!!!! Saw the Cathedral Tree and the Curtain Tree - fig or banyan trees of massive girth and height, several lakes each in an extinct volcano, and miles of rolling countryside all green and growing. Had a chat with a man we met at Trinity Beach who owned a fast food shop (not at all like a Burger King!) and then on across some more of the tableland thru a thundershower which almost stopped us. And passed an area with termite mounds all over the place. Down the hill again from Karanda and back home with the skies dark and the lightning and thunder starting. Dinner again at the Italian palce and while chatting with an Irish couple after dinner, the rain and wind hit with a vengence. Walked home the block in the warm rain and packed for the trip back down to Sydney on the morrow.

Ian and buddy

Another travel day. This, as you know, is the least fun part of traveling. Up earlier than usual to be sure that all is packed and then off down to the office to catch George and his van for the ride to the airport.

Just when you get to know a place, you up and leave it. Look back at Trinity Beach, past the grocery and the beach and the motel - knowing that it is probably the last time we will ever see it. No tears but a sadness none-the-less. Made a new friend and then just up and leave. George keeps up a patter and that helps - or does it? Will miss his cheerfulness. His daughter is off this day to collage and he talks of her being so far away too.

Pretty easy flight back to Sydney where Barbara and Ken awaited and then off to visit with Don who is a sailor and has won all sorts of pickle dishes and is the champion of the Pelican class of all of Australia. Has a splendid home overlooking Middle Harbor. We had tea and little cakes and watched the sailboats returning from the day's regattas. Don and Donna's daughter was there and it was she who diagnosed that Anne had ODed on mangos and that was the cause of the swollen and quite red left cheek. My-oh-my, the price we sometimes have to pay for the moments of enjoyment. Off of the mangos for a while!! Back to Niagara Park and dinner and catching up on the news and telling of the tall tales about the find time in the north.

A day in Sydney.......Caught the train at the bottom of the hill and off we go. Southwards - clickity-clack for the better part of 2 hours. But the sun is bright and the scenery is wonderful. Mostly Bush until right before the city and bits of water mostly on the left (east). Going south and the water is on the left?? Not the ocean really but it is in that general direction too.

Into Central station and a transfer from the "country train" to a "city train" and off at City Hall. We are right in the heart of Sydney here. Business folks walking to and fro and just slightly less formally dressed than one would find in other large cities in the summer. A bit more of a relaxed feeling.

First stop was the rejuvenated Queen Victoria Building with its wonderful 100 year old facade and 21st century shops. It had two clocks that did all sorts of things including the beheading of Charles II and the other clock did the history of Australia. The first clock was British and it did some other historical things besides chopping off heads. "Pretty Cool" piped Ian. Did a little shopping then off to the monorail and a once around and then another half as we realized that the station that we wanted was 'back there'.

Right in the middle of the city is a beautiful Chinese garden and it was a good place to be as the sky had clouded and the rains came with the wind. Found some refuge in a small building and soon found ourselves festooned in Empirical Chinese garb. Lots of photos later and less $25A we then had some tea and scones and when the weather lightened walked back into the center for a bite to eat and for me souci. It was cheap and good!!

Rode the subway on down to Circular Quay and there it all was. The Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Opera House and the place that all of the ferries left from to transport zillions of folks to all parts of the city. There were the green and yellow slow ones and the white sleek cats if you needed to get there right now. Over there on the right is the building that IS Sydney and on the left the bridge that IS too. Both impressive even on a grey day. We walked around and on and in the Opera House. Well, sort of in as the foyer was as far as we could get. But it is impressive standing right next to it.

And up there on the bridge, that massive chunk of steel, there were these little ants who paid substantial sums of money to walk up one side of the structure and wave at the whole world. I really wanted to be one of those ants and perhaps the next trip will take the time to do just that. The view had to be forever to say nothing of the test of the cardiovascular system and whether or not there was a smidge of acrophobia.

Let's have a bite at the food court near the Town Hall and it's "home James" on the train, all very tired but heads full of good views.

The rain has set in. Ken is off doing his hydrology work (he's semi-retired) and we are showily but surely getting ready to head up into the famous Blue Mountains. Most often,when Ozies go on a holiday they book into a 'self-catering' type of place of they are going to stay more that a day. So this means packing all the bedding (the white parts) and food and towels as well as the normal clothes and toiletries. Tis a bit of a production and it took up the first half of the day but finally we were off in the mist, Barbara at the wheel.

We stopped on the way at the end of a short ferry run at Barrara there was a nice dockside eatery that was run by a expat American. Sat out on the covered porch and even tho it was still quite cloudy, it was warm and very pleasant. As we sat there enjoying our repast, a kookaburra came and sat on the rail not 2 meters away and waited in vain for a bit of table scrape. Pretty neat having one of these fabled birds so close.

On down the road in the drizzle with Barbara driving and Anne in the front being the navigator. I was content to snooze in the back seat with Ian who at this point was beyond snoozing and was fast asleep. Over hill and thru dale and up and up until at last we reached Katoomba at the edge of the Blue Mountains. At this point it was late in the evening so we hunted around til we found the house that we had booked. It was a really old house (1905 or so) and in some ways looked that old. It did have a charm tho and we were soon settled in and had the kettle on and a fire going in the wood stove. I had tried to split some of the wood that was provided. Like iron it was!!! And the small hatchet wasn't up to the task so had to make do with the larger chunks. After some time there was a merry little blaze and the chill started to slip from the room. Yes it was chilly. I couldn't fathom that being the case in Australia in the summer. To the extent that I had not brought my long pants on the trip up into the mountains. I was chilly!! Fortunately Barbara had been the good mother and hostess and had brought one of Ken's warm shirts and so I wasn't just in the t-shirt and shorts that I had brought. She saved my bippy.

The next day dawned with more of the same drizzle which when that stopped left behind clouds which hung in there right at our level so the were no vistas. And that is why one travels all that way - the vistas. Barbara was quite unhappy as any really caring tour guide would be. All those wonderful sights were not to be seen. We drove from pillar to post looking for something. Nada!!! We did drive up to a nearby town (Blackheath) to visit a glassblower and had a nice chat with him and his helper. Keith Rowe was his name and he was just firing the furnaces for the season. Had a look at his really fine pieces and headed out to see ifin we could see something of the vistas but the mist hung in there.

Okay!!!!! Enough of this foolishness!!!! If we can't see the real thing, we'll see it at the local Imax. Got to the theater and guess what? Next showing was to be almost three hours away. It was getting almost comical. "Let's do the train thing" ,Anne said with a note of finality. So off to what was touted as the world's steepest railway and I think they just may be right. At points it angled down at 52 degrees. It had been built to haul miners and the coal they dig to and fro from the cliffs below. And when we got down to the lower level we found ourselves BELOW the clouds and so had a pretty nice view of the Blue Mountains. At least this part of them. Pretty cool. Even Ian was impressed. Back to the top via skyrail and off to a Tai restraunt for some dinner.

The final day there dawned clear and warm - soon to be hottish and all of the mist was gone and the sights that we had come to see were there for the taking. Saw the Three Sister and Katoomba Falls which we had only heard the day before. And we could see why it had taken better than a half of a century for the early explorers to find a way across the expanse. Of course, the aborigines had been doing it for countless thousands of years. But who's counting?

Another day in Sydney. Both Ken and Barbara were busy and we had but the one day before we were to head north to Southwest Rocks so Mom, the kid and I jumped on the train and chugged to the city. It takes about an hour and a half or so to do the trip which is quality time for reading or looking out of the window or playing cards with the 5 year-old. This same 5 year-old discovered that he was able to see Mom's cards reflecting in the window and used this to his advantage. Until he got so tickled that he could do it that he gave himself away with much mirth.

In at Central Station and off on the local to downtown at the Town Hall station. Getting the hang of it. Know where the lou is so the kid can pee. Always a good thing. Old traveler's saw - whenever you find a bathroom - use it. Got a bite at the food court and then off on the underground again to the Circular Quay. There waiting in all of her hugeness was the Q.E.2 laying at dock with the Sydney Harbor Bridge as the backdrop. Pretty dramatic!!

After a fit about a foot that was "hurting" (?) the kid's shoes were readjusted and we were off into the Rocks - a part of town that in the near past had quite the reputation of being pretty rough. This was the dockside area where the sailors would let off steam and find a place for the night. Most of the Rocks is now gentrified with chichi shops and such but somehow has retained a tiny slice of the flavor of what it must have been like. Would be a neat place to stay for a night or two in one of those old hotels. Or rent a flat for a month or two. Any how we wandered around for a bit - up under one end of the bridge and then down where Ian and a fisherman ( a man of the streets, I believe) had a great chat. It was worth the trip just to see how kind and instructive this man was towards the little guy. I was so charmed by the way he treated Ian that my camera stayed by my side - one of the 'missed' shots that I wish I had a second chance for. Then around and under the bridge and more of the Rocks, a lemonade and the finding of the golden charm for the Anne's brother and to the Quay to catch the ferry to Manely.

And a lovely ride it was too! Onto the big green and yellow ferry and away from the quay past the QE2 and then on your right the Opera House as we turn north up the harbor. Out there on the water the cityscape opens out a we can see where the gentle folk strolled across the green of the botanical gardens just past the Opera House. "There is the pleasure boat owned by the richest man in Australia", points out a helpful shipmate having found out where we are from. "And over there is Murdock's house - one of them. And that thing in the middle of the harbor is where they stuck a prisoner for solitary-confinement." It's a bright sunny day and Ian and I venture out onto the deck and watch the landscape breeze by. The heat from the sun is balanced nicely by the wind out there. We are now passing the entrance and can understand how the harbor was passed by many early sailors. It just isn't very wide at all. That is North Harbor over to the left. Just one of many arms that makes this body of water so delightful and safe. It was once said that "one could hide a thousand Men-of-war in here". Just a short stop at Manley. It was here a couple of weeks ago that we had our first taste of Sydney on that very first morning. It was at this ferry terminal that we had an ice cream and watched the ferry depart and wished we were on it. Then back up the waterway watching the sailboards and sailboats working back and forth in the bright sunlight. Back to the Circular Quay and up to the left behind the Police Museum and into the broad expanse of the Botanical Gardens.

What a wonder refuge right here in the middle of the city. Rolling lawns, a lake, wild Sulfercrested Cockatoos, Ibis-looking birds with long slender down-curving bills. A wedding or somesuch being set up over there in a pavilion and people queing for a movie that was going to be shown out on the water on a floating screen as soon as it got dark enough. We were getting leg weary and so it was time to walk back up to the city center and get a bite to eat and head for home. It was farther than we had imagined and we were even more tireder and a bit grumpy. Most of the food shops had closed for the day even tho it was just around 7 but we did manage to score a souci shop that was selling boxes of cut rolls for $1A and some fries and a salad and drinks. All big servings as the shops were happy to rid themselves of leftovers. Found our way back the Central Station and our train to the north. We ate our dinner as the darkness fled past the windows and thought about the grand time we had just had and Ian made friends with two young lads who were heading for a bit of camping and fishing. Sleep came easily that night. Tomorrow we are to head up to Southwest Rocks.

A week to go. Just a week! The whole vacation has flown so quickly. And now it's time to pack another version of our stuff although it isn't much different from what one would pack for a three day trip. Make sure that spoilable foods are packed. Then off in the middle of the afternoon and soon out in the country on the road that goes the entire length of the east coast. I am more comfortable by this time having the person sitting in the front left seat turning to talk. Over hill and dale and up past Newcastle and kilometer after kilometer of gum trees. Am sure that if I gaze long and hard enough that I WILL spot that koala sleeping in his tree. We stop for petrol and something to eat but I don't fell much like eating fuel stop food and there doesn't seem to be a real restraunt or cafe anywhere. Seems strange that someone hasn't located out here to catch the hungry. But that's the case for most of the long way. But then at last a right at Kempsy and the last few Ks to SWR. It is dark now and I can only guess as to what the land around us looks like and then we find the place that has been booked for our week. Nice place. Pretty new and with all of the amenities of home. All the stuff is in from the car and I head up the road where I find a pizza joint and then the bottle store. We dine on very good pizza and very cheap wine. It tastes oh so good.

Took a little stroll that evening and found Horseshoe Bay. It was just barely visable in the dim light but looked inviting. Even entertained thoughts of a night swim but it was both too late and too tired out so opted for bed instead. But it was good to be this close to the ocean again.

The next day dawned a bit on the cloudy side but didn't look like rain and was still warmish. This was nice as we could use a break from the heat and surely didn't stop us from heading down to Horseshoe Bay sunscreen and boogi-boards in hand. Now Horseshoe Bay is just a little bay about 200 meters across and is perfect for those of us who were not up to the big waves of the ocean but still wanted a bit of a challenge. One could wade out quite a distance which was a definate advantage for loading Ian on a wave for a ride. When we saw a good one coming he would be turned shoreward and given a little push. He would then completely dissapear only to reappear as the wave shortened closer to the beach his little legs kicking like mad. He would ride it until he grounded out on the sand and then was up and ready for another ride.

This seemed to be our routine for the rest of the week. Up around eightish and have diced fresh fruit and yogert and toast for breakfast and then off to the beach for a couple of hours of fun and frolic in the water. Then back to the digs for lunch which were fresh bakery rolls with cheese, meat and beet root and pickles. Beet root is the key there. They are sliced and pickled and the Ozies wouldn't think of eating a sandwitch without it. Actually, it is a very nice thing to do to a sandwitch.

The afternoon would be divided into exploring the surrounding area via car and a nap and dinner. And by the time the washing-up was done it was time for Ian to go to bed and a bit of reading ourselves and to bed as well.

Ah those sunny or most;y sunny afternoons! And how were they spent? Well on one of them we went to see the Goal (pronounced like our jail) a roofless building out on one of the points where the Gov. kept the bad guys and then during the W.W.II bit kept the local Germans in the same way we did the Japanese-Americans. It struck me how parallel our two countries have grown. Some of the same kinds of triumphs and some of the same kinds of follies.

Another afternoon we went looking for kangaroos and found a couple of herds. Pretty cool seeing them in the wild like that. And we walked out on the jetty to where the river met the sea and Barbara related stories of her great-grandfather who had been the first river pilot here and some of his advertures with the "Cheerio" up on the Great Barrier Reef. One of the first to ply the tourist trade in that area.

And another day meeting her son Justin at the park next to "Little Bay" for a barbecue and a close encounter with a hungry kookaburra who was willing to take a bit of lamb fat right off a fork and then beat it on the limb to stun it before eating. And a walk down onto the beach at Little Bay which most years didn't exist because of the sand coming and going. It had come this year and it was one of the prettiest bits of sand in the world. And then after dinner it was up to the little lake at the top end for another vista of the sea and some ducks to feed. Then bidding Justin a good night and to beat the mossies we piled into the car and Ken said we should take a look at the lighthouse. Since it was good and dark, that is just what we did. As we parked the car we noticed that there was a sign that the keeper's house was also a B&B and this seemed to say that it was okay for the public to head on up there. When no one met us at the first landing with a snarl or a gun we continued on until we were right at the base of the fully functioning light. In the pitch black it was wonderful to watch as the cut-glass lenses swung slowily sending not one and not two but three beams as a set out over the inky sea. We went to the north side and looked out over the stillness. Over there farther to the north there was lightning spelling out tomorrow's weather. To the sea side just black overreached by the three beams of soft pale light. It was cool and quiet and wonderful up there.

A couple of the other afternoons we just lazed at the digs and read or shopped or went for another dip in Horseshoe Bay. We caught a blue-tongued lizard for Ian to get a up-close looksee. And then it was nap time for some of us most every day, which those of us so inclined took an inactive part in.

The 14th of the month of February came due whilst we were there so the good son Justin was kind enough to look after the kid whilst the two gallant gentlemen of the party took their ladies to the finest eatery in town for one fine Italian dinner.

Ian on Little Bay beach