Green Island

Dear Family and Friends

Wednesday arrived and we were excited about our day trip to Green Island. The bus picked us up just after 8am, collected some other people and took us to the jetty where our boat was waiting our arrival and it was a big boat. It had three levels to it so in peak season it would be packed. I estimated there were around 150 - 200 people on board. Staff said it was a quiet day. Friday and the weekend were going to be busy days again for them.

The weather could not have been nicer. It was warm, even at 9am which was our departure time, but not too hot. The middle deck which was where we chose to sit was air conditioned and thus our journey out to the island was very pleasant. There were complimentary ginger tablets for people to use if they were likely to get sea sick but the water was very calm on the way out and you could hardly feel any movement from side to side. It was only when you crossed over the wake of another boat that you felt any rocking.

On arrival at the Island the boat moored at the jetty for the day and you could go on and off at your leisure. We had booked in to have a semi sub tour and this was due to commense straight away so we remained on the boat. When you boarded the sub you climbed down into the hull of the boat and there were windows on either side where you could view the fish and the coral structure of the reef. The colours on some of the fish were amazing. There were little black and white striped fish which I think the woman said were soldier fish. There were quite large silver fish which later we found that their colour was actually brown and red as they loose their redness when under the water. There were sea turtles along with other unusual and brightly coloured fish. My favorite fish were the parrot fish and like the parrot bird they were a combination of various bright and beautiful colours ranging from greens, purples, blues and yellows and oranges.

The reef itself was not as colourful as I had expected but the variety of corals that we saw in just a very small area was amazing. The reef had been affected by Cyclone Yasi but nothing too bad. The pieces of the reef that had broken off would just settle onto the floor of the ocean and just become part of the reef. The water was also very green partially due to the cyclone and partially due to the level of algae in the water.

From the semi sub we transfered immediately on to the glass bottom boat and once more ventured out to the reef. You got a very different perspective of the reef from this boat. We were able to see giant clams as well as many little ones. It's hard to descibe it as every piece of coral was a different shape, size and colour and the camera shots don't give a true reflection of the colour.

By the time we returned to the boat lunch was served so we headed to the serving area as others headed out to the boats for their turn on the reef. Lunch was a smorgasborg of salads and a curry with white rice. Their was also pineapple and water melon to be had after.

We didn't go into the water at all but we watched as many people went snorkelling. Even close to the shore we could see the fish and coral from the jetty. You could go paragliding if you wanted to and we could see a sea plane coming and going throughout the day.

By 3pm everyone was back on board ready for our hour long journey home. In fact it was close to 5pm by the time we were dropped off at the caravan park.

The day was really lovely in every respect so thanks Dallas for giving us this memorable day in our journey round Aus.

The new fridge has been fitted so it is nice to have it back again.

Whilst we have been here we have had an unexpected chance to catch up with family. Ken's cousin Peter has been up here debreifing officers and people who have been working in and around Tully and Cardwell. He had a little bit of free time and so came to the van to see us. Peter is Bram and Stan's younger step brother and we haven't seen him for close on thirty years. My first thought when I saw him walking to the van was that he could easily be Ken's younger brother rather than a cousin. It was a great couple of hours catching up on family news.

We are also going to see Stan and Connie on Sunday as the army have sent them up to continue working with the people at ground zero. There is still much to be done and the armed forces have now moved out. Stan and Connie have done this sort of emergency work before at the Newcastle Earthquake and the Kempsey Bus Crash and other major incidences. They have also been Chaplins for the police, ambulance and SES volunteers for many years.

That's about it for now.

All our love and God bless

Ken and Lyn.