The word is, we’ve travelled 1800 km in the bus. Now farewelled the crew off for their next (repeat) trip and I’m settled back into the Cairns Colonial Club Resort where I started this blog 2 weeks ago.
just reviewing some topics I had planned to mention and found some photos that probably should have got included. So a random bunch in no particular order,
The food was great. Sometimes I thought I should take a photo of the plate but I’d usually taken a mouthful before remembering. One highlight that didn’t get a photo was our remote lunches. (Catered lunches often provided too much on the plate for me at lunch time. ‘Debbie’ (our assistant director) lunches were set up on a portable table beside the bus miles from anywhere. A selection of breads/rolls (I always went for the flat bread) with sliced meats, salad items, condiments etc. Take as much or as little as you want. Come back for seconds. Always plenty. What was left was usually distributed to strangers in the parking area to top up their stores. Always much appreciated.)
So we’d get on the bus. The first day, pick any seat. Then it turned out all the seats were numbered in a seemingly random fashion. Each seat had a diagram attached. If you are in seat 7 today, you move to #8 tomorrow and so on. (We did have a couple of spare rows, so if you got one of the back seats on a rough-road day, you could move forward, but remember your proper seat number for tomorrow’s rotation!)
there was quite a gap and walls between the front row and driver’s seat, but you could still be a backseat driver! We had a front view video mounted high at the front of the cabin. Just a bit hard to take photos from if we were travelling though..
Outback spirit lodges had a similar set up for the communal area. At Lotusbird, the cabins were more upmarket than at Moreton.
At Bamaga, we had evening entertainment. A group of islanders who tell some of their stories in dance. (And one who gave a bit of an introductory history lesson as well.) their musical instruments were interesting – the long thinner one on the left was made of bamboo and hit with sticks making a sharp sound. The other two were drums, hollowed out trees with a leather-type covering over the narrow end which was hit by hand. They sang accompaniament. The headdress on the young man is the inspiration for the central part of the Torres Strait flag. Two men dressed similarly, would turn their heads quickly and sharply in time, with the headdresses moving quickly. Very impressive. I hope they’ve got good chiropractors!
And a blurb about the telegraph line, if you can read it.
So now I’ve got to come back to normal life. For the last 2 weeks, we arrive. The word is that Debbie will check us all in and collect the keys to hand out. By the time you are in your rooms, your bag will be there. Meet at X at 5:30 for 6:00 dinner. ( or sometimes 30 min later.)
so yesterday I arrived at my new digs. A bit early and room not yet ready, so I checked in and then went to find some lunch and write up some diary. Eventually back to reception. Collected the key. But when I got to the room, my bag wasn’t here! and just now I looked at my watch. How long have I got before I’ve got to be at dinner? It’s a bit tricky to become deinstitutionalised!
Today it is seriously raining and a bit cool. Had planned to sit by the more remote (of 3) pool and swim and read. Hmm. Tomorrow (Wednesday) I’ve got a reef trip. You might get a report on that if I don’t drown and I’ve got any energy left.
travellingkathy 