Friday, April 4, 2025

What a blessing to FINALLY arrive in Cairns Thursday night.  The first 3 flights all operated on time, but then we were delayed out of Brisbane, right when we were feeling DONE with our journey.  I am so grateful that we consumed  our No Jet Lag pills, but even with those, we still had our limit.

Since we arrived later than expected, we simply dropped our bags in our room and walked to a family style dinner to meet our travel mates.  We are a group of 39.  There wasn’t much dilly dallying over dinner as we all were more than ready to get some rest.

We were up early for a quick breakfast before meeting at 7:30am to transfer to the Reef Fleet Terminal.

But before we explore the island, Ivonne and I decided to check off another thing from our bucket list ….

Our group then boarded a glass bottom boat and motored around some of the island’s reefs.   As with everything, there are differing opinions on whether the reefs are dying or not.  The bleaching of the reefs is due to warming ocean temperatures, but as in life, cycles abound. 

All new adventures deserve a cold one afterward, ESPECIALLY in this humidity.

The island is small, beautiful, and very quiet.  Before lunch, we found a completely empty beach where we scattered the very last of Dennis’ ashes.  It felt so appropriate on the Eve of 6.5 years since his passing.

We toasted him at a yummy lunch at Emeralds.  I had Baramundi  (delish fish!).  But the most amazing synchronicity …. we met new travel mates at lunch, and their names are Lynn (my middle name) and Dennis.  If that’s not a sign that ALL IS WELL ….

We arrived back at the hotel late afternoon and had a couple of hours to chill before walking to dinner at the Cairns Aquarium.  MORE GOOD FOOD.  Whew!

We took a stroll after dinner to the Night Market.  It’s a large indoor area with lots of vendors. I bought a pair of Reef sandals, but my feet are a little sore from walking in wet sand in my water shoes.  And I’m just not used to this humidity; it does make my body feel tender. 

More adventures tomorrow, the 2nd day in Cairns.  Speaking of, they do pronounce it CANS.  Even though the Kiwis disagree. 

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