Click to Zoom MV Reef Queen

Today was a lazier "kick-back" kinda day we'd been saying it was time for.  It occurred for the wrong reason though.  Rus is really feeling under the weather.  Just about miserable.  I'm hoping that this stuff will break loose for him soon.  Maybe a flight out of here and a new location will cure him.  We had our usual breakfast from a little hole in the wall place next door.  It's kinda neat because they have figured us out  so quickly.  They know exactly what you want and how and are one step ahead of you.  The two ladies there don't speak much English but I've watched them work for two days.   They give special treatment to everyone and recognize when you come back.   There are TONS of eating places like this all down the Esplanade.  They just pop a few tables out on the sidewalk in front.  The ocean is right across the street.   You can pick out the favorite spots by just looking down the block.  At night there is an entirely different array of places that you completely missed being tucked in there during the day.  They don't open till 5:00 p.m. and then are probably open till about the time we seem to get up each day!  What an assortment of exotic foods available.  Andrew has learned so many of them.  I'd have to practice awhile to know the name and then know what it was!!!

Click to Zoom Welcome to Fitzroy Island

We opted to throw on some wash this morning early and take a 10:30 a.m. ride out to Fitzroy Island National Park.  We were on a luxury three level pontoon (catamaran) rich with facilities.  It had to hold at least 500-600 people.  I counted when we got off and there were 27 of us!!!  It's like a ferry that runs out twice each day.  It takes people over that are going to stay on the Island and today brought home about 100 kids that must have taken the 8:30 a.m. ride over.  Those teachers had their hands full!  Rusty talked to one of the crewmen and was fascinated by the boat.   It was powered by jet turbine engines with their distinctive whine.  The turbines drove two massive jet pumps that were about two meters in diameter.  The boat cruised at 30 knots and was built in Brisbane.  You can see why they've done so well with their aluminum boats in the Americas Cup.  Their marine architects are state of the art and all over the country you see things made out of aluminum.   The captain was very careful during the docking procedure because of the limited maneuverability of the water jet pumps.  Rus doesn't know how many gallons per minute of water they put out but they could level a house in three seconds. Fitzroy Island would have been a great place to just hide away for three days or so.   It was very under-developed and natural and absolutely beautiful.  Green Island is not terribly far away and that seems to be where most folks go but we've heard it's very built up and commercial.  This island had hiking trails and natural areas of rainforest.   There were lovely secluded areas along the beach and snorkel and diving gear available. Much more was available than we could think about in an afternoon!  We had a lovely buffet lunch out by the pool and then went down to the beach.  Rus just kinda laid out and napped.  He's just feeling crummy.  I sat out on some rocks and just soaked up what I could!!  Don't want to be out in the sun much so it's best to enjoy it from tree shade along the banks!  The sun is hot!

We took a spin around in the glass bottom boat with a guide and then caught the ferry back.    We've cleaned up and will head out for dinner and then to the Internet cafe to link up. Then it will be time to pack up.  We'll be headed to Tasmania tomorrow and it's a long flight.  We'll be covering some mileage!