Great Barrier Reef...

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Trip Start Jul 23, 2010 Previous
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  Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia
Thursday, July 29, 2010

Up relatively early for breakfast today as we're off to the Great Barrier Reef with "Quicksilver", sailing in a huge twin hulled wave cutter. As the description suggests this boat supposedly cuts through the waves, rather than ride up and over them, making the journey much smoother and subsequently more comfortable. It takes about 90 minutes to get us out to a large two level platform that's permanently moored on the outer reef at a point named Agincourt Reef. It’s a bit overcast again to start with, but it should be clearing up soon. Nice vessel, and very fast, I saw a pair of Humpback Whales soon after we left port, and only just managed to get a distant photo by the time the camera came on!
The girls went in snorkelling as soon as we arrived and were out in the water for quite a time, while I snapped away with the camera and checked out the underwater observatory. It didn't seem long before munch time was soon upon us again, and the food out here in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef was great, it being a varied smorgasbord style buffet with both hot and cold choices... hmmm...!!! After lunch it was more snorkelling for Elaine & Elise, with me again doing my paparazzi stuff. After they finished doing their Hans & Lotte Hass impersonations (only the older ones amongst you might know who they were, the rest of you can look them up on Wikipedia) we took a trip out to the reef edge in their semi-submersible vessel, boy was it hot in there, but well worth it, what an amazing living structure the Great Barrier Reef is. Not long after this we were all called back onto the ship to head back to Port Douglas. As those of you who know me will know, I don't much like being on or in the water, but I have to say that it was an absolutely fabulous day, and what's more we weren’t sea sick! So it's a "well done" to that wave cutter designer, whoever he or she was...!!!
From the marina we decided to take the short drive up to the viewing point on the headland to get some photos of Four Mile Beach. After a bit of preening back at the apartment, it was into town for dinner, which we decided to have at The Hogs Breath Cafe. And a good choice it turned out to be, more good food, the Australians certainly know how to cook... and eat!!! We have to be up early again tomorrow for a seven o’clock start to what is going to be a very full day, so it's home and straight to bed now... see you all later!!!

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Pool area at Lychee Tree Apartments	We're heading right out there for 90 minutes...	Here we go...	Sister ship to the one we're on
Leaving Port Douglas	Rainbow in the spray from the outrigger	A pair of Humpback Whales	Snokelling area on the platform
The snorkellers...	Snorkeller Elise...	A Black Bream	Some of the huge fish by the platform
An Indo-Pacific Sergeant	A Surgeon Fish	The Reef itself...	Leaving Agincourt Reef platform
Impressive wake...	Coming back into Port Douglas	Sugar Wharf, Port Douglas	Four Mile Beach from the viewing point
The Hogs Breath Cafe by Port Douglas Marina	Anticipation of that first ice cold Tooheys...!!!	Elaine's refreshment...!!!	Great Roadkill menu...!!!
The girls at our table in the Hogs Breath Cafe   Comments!	Our marvellous desserts...	...and this lot is meant for two to share...!!!

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