Tuesday
25th May 2004
We put on our ocean going legs this morning for
our trip to Green Island. We managed to sleep in a little before
getting ready and driving through Cairns to the wharf where we were
to catch the 'Reef Rocket' to Green Island.
We had pre-paid out tickets but were still required
to check in at the office and receive our boarding passes etc. As
we had chosen to only do a half day trip to the island, we had to
travel on one of the smaller catamarans that was called 'Reef Rocket'.
This name would have been derived from the speed at which the craft
traveled over the water. It departed the wharf at about 9.10am and
headed straight out to the island at a good rate of knots, passing
some of the other vessels that were on their way to the island as
well.
We arrived out at Green Island at about 9.55am and
disembarked on the jetty that leads in to the beach and the Green
Island Resort. This island is quite a small cay that is quite mature,
with considerable green foliage over everything above the high water
mark. We took a stroll around the resort and a short way along on
of the boardwalks into the rainforest area, then returned to the
beach and watched a huge variation of shapes and sizes making out
they were a lot younger than they looked while they paraded their
swim wear into the water and attempted reef viewing with snorkels.
It convinced us that we would remain covered, even if only with shorts
and t-shirts.
It was then time to walk back out to the end of
the jetty and board the 'Semi Sub' which is a boat that has a submerged
viewing area that passengers sit in to view the reef and fish as
it drives around the coral reef areas. This is similar but not as
large or roomy as the Coral Bay version of the
same thing. We had about 25 minutes in the 'Semi Sub' viewing the
coral formations before changing over to a glass bottom boat that
took us for another 25 minutes of viewing the coral and fish. Initially
I was disappointed with the lack of colour in the coral until it
was explained that the light filters the colour out when underwater
at any depth unless it has been lit artificially. This explains why
on my previous visit to Green Island in 1969 we viewed the brilliant
colours of the coral from a submerged observation room, they had
lights shining onto the live coral and it did have many shades of
red and green. You learn something every day.... But it looked brighter
and more like the brochures back then.
It was then time to get back onto the 'Reef Rocket'
for our speedy journey back to Cairns. This trip was even smoother
that the trip out in the morning, completing a pretty good half day
trip to Green Island.
Once back in Cairns we drove around until we found
the Cairns Central Shopping Centre and one of us' knew there was
a 'Just Cuts' hairdressing Salon in that centre. The salon was located
and some her hair was left behind. Then we located a Subway store
so between us we enjoyed a foot and a half of their rather tasty
sandwiches (or rolls).
Then it was back to the caravan where the colour
of that shorter hair changed to one that was more acceptable to 'one
of us'. WE also received a telephone call from our son Travis and
Fiance Lana to let us know they have now taken up residence in our
home in Kalamunda for a while. If the locks have been changes when
we get home I guess we will get the idea and have to keep on traveling
in the caravan, however 'one of us is breaking her neck even more
to get home now.
'One of us' has also just reminded the other one
that it is time for a "nice cold glass of wine" so the 'other one'
will
probably have to have a cold beer as well - just to be sociable mind! |