Hi my name is Giddy. It has been all most 2 weeks since my last post. We have been dealing with the Tasmanian cold since Cairns.
As we left Sydney we enjoyed the skyline views.
Since our last post we travelled north up the Queensland coast to Airlee beach where someone sneezed on us. As we cruised into Airlee beach the clouds were drifting through. We enjoyed the day sailing on a catamaran even though it was overcast, and it rained several times on us during our 8+ hours trip. The temperature was a mild 25 ( 77 degF).
After Airlee Beach we cruised into Cairns where Jim went snorkeling in the 32+ (90 deg ) sunny weather. The snorkeling was nice and watched several yellow tails devour a jellyfish. The snorkeling area was a protected area approx. an acre in size about an hour north of Cairns on the Great barrier reef. Going snorkeling with approx. 100+ people is the not the best approach to enjoy the reef. Too many kids and adults who run into even though you are in a large area. Many of the mid-large fish disappear as more people entered the water, however the coral was beautiful and enjoyed watching the little fish. It was enjoyable but a significant cost to go snorkeling vs benefit, lesson learn is pay more for private trip. This trip was comparable to Caribbean cruise snorkeling. Our earlier trip in 2010 to Great Barrier reef, was unforgettable on a private charter with various opportunities to see the reef. The wetsuit is needed since it is stinger season which meets “bot jellies’ that are size of fingernail and are another one of the top 5 poisonous things in Australia.
As we sailed from Cairns back to Sydney, Bonnie was first to succumb to the Tasmanian cold followed by Jim and myself. When we arrived in Sydney several days later, we travelled to the Chemist for some medicines. The day in Sydney was nice around 20 (68 deg ).
We left Sydney and then cruised to Hobart, the capital of Tasmania where the temp was only 14 (57 F). We travelled inland via coach to the town of Plenty to Mt Fields National Park. This was my request to visit my great Uncle Gnarl. Uncle Gnarl introduced us to some of his forest friends the Tasmanian Pademelons. The pademelons are forest kangaroos usually smaller body size. Jim hiked up to top of Russell Falls and to smaller falls called Horsehoe falls. We had nice opportunity to explore the park and chat with uncle Gnarl, then it was off to Salmon ponds which opened in 1861. The Salmon ponds were developed by settlers of Tasmania to import trout and salmon eggs, this provided the stock for the freshwater fishes into the rivers. Today Tasmania is one of the key fly fishing areas in the world. Uncle Gnarl had planned for one of his platypus friends to meet us and gave a tour of the ponds. We also stopped in a town called Richmond at the old hotel for a picture.
Overnight (Jan23rd ), we sailed around the south tip of Tasmania and heading to Adelaide. We should arrive in Adelaide on the 26th where we are heading to town of Hansdorf an early german settlement in the Barossa Valley. This area was helped founded by Jim’s great uncle Johann (John) Menge. (https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/menge-johann-2446). Bonnie also picked up a new hare since there are no rabbits.
Well, that’s all for now and I am signing off for today, Giddy out