Day 3 has gone by much like day 2, but no beading. After a better night’s sleep and a not terribly exciting sunrise, we had an early breakfast and then did 2 laps of deck 10, the top deck, equalling half a mile. (4 laps being the full mile). Back to our room for a relaxation session. I sat on the balcony for a bit but it was in the full sun and got too hot. Took our sewing etc up to deck 9, but had lunch instead, then found a table to sit at and sew for a while, but once again it got too noisy so we retreated back to our balcony. Now a quiz question, what is the collective noun for flying fish? Keep reading and I’ll tell you, lol. Whilst enjoying the balcony, no longer in the sun, we watched many glides of flying fish, fascinating little things. Last night’s dinner was one of the formal ones but tonight was back to casual wear.
When sitting out looking at the incredible blue of the water and the flat horizons, one can understand the idea that the world is flat, and all this water, it’s just amazing. How brave were those who ventured out in those early sailing vessels and discovered new countries, taking months to get anywhere over this vast expanse.
As the blood moon eclipse wasn’t visible here I just took a photo of it as it was, lol. The Captain in his 12 noon briefing said that this event last happened in 1964 and that the gang planks would be 3 metres out of position for 7 hours at Broome because of it’s effects on the tides, hence changing us to Port Hedland.
Well not much to write about on day 2. Woke up early after an awful night’s sleep, lol, it will get better I’m sure. Took some sunrise photos. We went to breakfast, the range of food they provide is astounding! Went for a walk on the 10th, top deck and watched Geraldton getting closer. We set anchor quite a way out from the shore and tenders were used to ferry people back and forth. We stayed on the ship, did some sewing, beading, reading, game playing and eating, plus a little more walking. We fled the deck when the dance music started, way too loud, and relaxed in our room. I managed to get the dongle working so did some Internet stuff. The Telstra reception has been quite amazing with at least one bar showing whilst all this way off the coast. Just as we were getting ready to go to dinner I saw something out in the water. A couple of whales were tail waving and splashing around, so we watched them until the ship had gone too far past them. Another lovely dinner, then a wander through the shops, and then time for bed. Forgot to mention yesterday, but the Broome visit has been cancelled, we are going to Port Hedland instead. Something to do with the size of the tides.
Okay, here we go with Day 1.
Got up early, finished packing and washed the floors!!! Helen arrived with Mum and we headed south to Fremantle and Victoria Quay. Getting rid of the luggage was easy, just pass it on to the young man waiting in the doorway and then joined the first of several queues. Queue one getting inside the terminal. Queue 2 waiting outside to get into the building again but on the other side up an ascalator. Queue 3 moving as part of a long snaking queue headed for check in. Queue 4 waiting for someone to be free to check us in. Queue 5 security and baggage scanning, and then the shortest queue of all Customs, who were supposed to be on strike and should have taken the most time. So around 2.5 hours of standing we got to our stateroom on deck 6. As we hadn’t yet had lunch and it was 3 pm, we found our way to the Windjammer, deck 9, which is at the front of the ship and we are almost at the end of it lol, we will walk off the food this way. A small lunch even though the range was enormous, we headed back to see if our luggage had appeared. it had so unpacking ensued. We then had to find our emergency muster under lifeboat 13 on deck 4 for our safety instructions. Had a wander through deck 4 and then sat on our balcony for a bit before heading back to deck 4 and dinner. Lovely 3 course meal and good company at a table of 8. now back in our room with a rocking boat and a single bed, will be interesting to see how we sleep. Will add a couple of photos tomorrow.
Left this morning at 7 and got back at 7! We headed for the local train station at Gowrie and caught the train into Flinders Street Station, which took about half an hour. Had breakfast in the station whilst Maria wandered around. From there we caught a tram down to the Docklands and did lots of wandering around the streets. The Melbourne Star (giant ferris wheel) is located here as well as heaps of shops and restaurants. Lots of virtuals here, untouched by Maria, I had got a lot of them when here in January, but there were lots of new ones and lots of physicals as well. Back along the harbour we had lunch at a lovely bakery and kept going. Finally for a break we caught the city circle tram and rode around in that for an hour or so, capping virtuals as we went. Walked up and down the cbd for a little while and then about 4 we caught the train back to our station and then drove back towards Melbourne and Princes Park to make a start on the boomerang virtual garden. We had to drive through quite a lot of rain, but it had stopped by the time we got to the park. Stopped off for some supper – 2 minute noodles, and then back to the motel to cook and eat them!! Leaving here just before 7 for the airport and the flight home.
We were packed and ready to leave Rosebud at 7.15 and it wasn’t raining!!! With only a couple of detours to get 4 virtual amethysts, newly released munzee type and to fill up with petrol, we got to the airport about 9. Left Helen and Gary checking in their car and we went to check ours out. We found a nicely munzeed park, Edwardes Park, fairly close to the motel and had a lovely walk around the lake. It was cold and overcast, but dry; and it was a popular place, lots of people and dogs out.
We then checked into the motel, room is a little small, but we won’t be here much lol. We headed off to an interesting munzee collection, but discovered an even better one before we got there, so we walked that instead. We stopped for a late lunch, 3.30, at a Red Rooster and then carried on walking. Back at the car, because we were relatively close, we carried on to the emerald garden, where Maria got really cold walking around capping those unreachable from the car. By this time it was dark, so headed back to the motel to recharge electronics and ourselves ready for a big day tomorrow in Melbourne.
Left this morning about 8.15 and only had to walk for a couple of hours and we have finished Rosebud. There were a few we didn’t get because they were missing, but on the whole we have done very well, 1869 munzees capped and about 75 kms walked. But, and isn’t this just typical, it didn’t rain today! Once we got home and got reorganised, Helen and Gary went geocaching and Maria and I had a walk along the beach hunting for shells, as Maria turns them into wind-chimes. Found a few of them already occupied much to Maria’s disgust as they were nice shells!
Stopped off and had a pie on the way home. We then relaxed, played a few games and Maria vacuumed. Kay and Anthony popped in for a chat and Helen and Gary returned with dinner. Helen & Gary and Helen & Maria are playing an online scrabble game. So they are relatively quiet, LOL.
Packing tonight as we have to leave about 7 tomorrow and heading for the airport, Helen & Gary coming home, Maria and I heading off to Melbourne for a bit more munzee hunting. If it’s raining we are going to hop on a free tram and ride around the city capping virtuals, and if it’s fine, going to go out a bit further and walk a street or 2.
Once again left about 8 and walked for about 3 hours, and it rained for at least 2.5 of those hours! Very wet morning, and seeing as how the rain map showed only tiny little showers we were rather put-out and rather wet by the time we got home again. Had an early lunch and left about 1230 and still encountered rain, but not as much as earlier. Mind you the shoes were still wet, not long enough drying time, LOL. Forgot to add in the 5 kms we did the first day we arrived, so including today it’s about 65 kms so far. The people here are very friendly, everyone we have encountered has been interested and encouraging. One lady did say that it was unusually cold and unusually wet this year, typical, lol.
Gary picked us up about 4 and we came back to the house to relax a little and to get ready for dinner out tonight with Kay, Anthony and Callum. And of course, it’s not raining and we can actually see some blue (shhh) sky!
Left a bit later this morning, just after 8 as we had quite a late night last night. We had a great meal out with Eric, Natalie and Brett in Croydon, which was about hour and half from here. Got to bed about 1015, and had a awful night’s sleep!
Had quite a wet morning out, but it did get better. I must get myself a raincoat that breathes, the inside is wetter then the outside when I get back to the house, LOL. Came back here about 11 for a cuppa and then stayed longer and had lunch as it kept raining. The 4 of us went out after lunch and walked a few more streets. Saw some great trees covered with lichen, there was a street full of them. Also saw the strangest intersection sign ever, it looked like a windmill. Obviously an intersection with narrow roads on every side. Gary returned home and we did another 4 streets and it didn’t rain though it did get colder. We have capped nearly 1500 munzees so far, and walked about 45 kms.
Once again we three left just after 7.30. It had been raining most of the night, so it was very soggy out there. It was not quite so cold this morning, but we have become weather predictors. When that really cold wind blows hard it will be followed by rain!!! Lots more streets and munzees and a some photos of proteas. We sheltered at one stage in a Macdonalds from a very heavy squall, and then did lots of walking. Gary picked us up and we went shopping and then home for lunch. After a rest we took t the streets again for a little while. Will add photos tomorrow morning, as we are going out to dinner now.
BTW, we rescued 2 rosellas yesterday from inside a protective net over an olive tree. The hole down the bottom was small, we have no idea how they managed to get themselves trapped.
Us 3 girls left this morning just after 7.30, and did some street walking, cold and windy, but not raining. The sun was actually quite warm for a few minutes. The gardens are lovely, very green, lots of camellias and proteas in flower and spring bulbs coming up everywhere.
After coming back here for a cuppa and a rest we all headed out again. Headed towards Port Phillip Bay this time and had a walk along the beach walkway. There was a long trail of virtuals along the pier, but it was closed for renovations. So we got what we could. Maria picked up a lovely shell to take home, but it was already home to a hermit crab!! We then had a chicken pizza for lunch which was very nice indeed. Then on to more streets. Walked 17.5 kms and was very glad to get home. No rain today which was good.
