A holiday almost complete

Here we are at the end of our first holiday as a new family.  We have had some amazing adventures, seen whales at play whilst standing in the pouring rain - almost killing my camera, held a massive python at Australia Zoo, the boys loved seeing Bindi perform and the jumping castle.  We have looped the loop a number of times on the lethal weapon ride and trekked large distances both in the wilderness and in the cities. We have camped, cabined and hotelled; and I was a little disappointed when I had the best tropical fruit, not in the tropics but in Adelaide - not tropical fruit season yet. 
We have had highs and lows, and have come out with a great relationship.  Tay has learnt almost all his times tables and has found he has a love of photography.  Seb walked every step of our 14 km walk and Sonny has put in some massive days of solid driving.  We have met family and formed great friendships. 
Home in two days.  Will then have time to remember what we have accomplished.

A day in Green Island - Paradise

Photo by my darling

Aah, beautiful water

Up early this morning to head into Cairns, worried about the heavy clouds that seemed to hover low, with cries from the back seat of 'where are we going', 'I think you have gone in the wrong direction', 'we will miss the boat' and 'I think we have gone too far'.  No matter how much reassurance that we left early enough to have time to check in and look around, that we have a GPS to tell us where to go, and we were in the car park and we still had an hour and a half before we could get on the boat.  Once we picked up the ticket the boys wanted to sit on the jetty and wait for the boat, even though it was still an hour away.  I think  we will be getting the boys a watch so they can get to grips with time. 

The Boys Exploring

On the boat they were very excited, one running all over the boat, loving the splash of the spray from the stern, the younger hugging close to Dad, happy about the free biscuits.  As we got to the Island the clouds stayed behind, revealing the blue green water one would expect from the Barrier Reef. 

Glass bottom boat once we departed from the Catamaran ....... We saw a sea turtle!!!!!!!! I think I was as excited as the boys. We also saw lots of other bright coloured fish and many different types of coral.  The guide was thrilled with the rapid fire questions from our littlest.

A fish from the Glass Bottom Boat

Once on shore it was strait to the dive shop for snorkels, the boys could not wait to get in the water.  With the young ones we snorkeled between the flags, so not over the reef, but we did see bright fish and some that were very curious of us, would dart away when we tried to get close to them but would come strait back to us when we moved away from them.  This was my first time snorkeling and once I got used to breathing through my snorkel, I stopped swallowing as much sea water and spent longer with my head under water. 

On the way to Green Island

Beach Walk

Tummies growling, we headed back for lunch and then a walk around the island.  Too soon it was time to leave, taking many happy memories with us.

Wow, my first Blog post!

My family in the Moss Garden, Carnarvon Gorge

Carnarvon Gorge

Moss Garden, Carnarvon Gorge

Fording a river crossing in my sedan - we made it!

A view from Carnaron George

Echidna

Today is a big day.  Not only my first blog post, but also my birthday!  I have been on the road for the last week with my new family travelling through inland Australia.  We have seen deserts and rain forests, flat dry pains and tall lush mountains.  However, even the dry places are thriving at the moment with drifts of wild flowers and grasses.  We have travelled from Roxby Downs to Broken Hill to Cobar to Cunnamulla to Roma to Carnarvon Gorge to Charters Towers to Cairns.  We are staying with family close to the Atherton ranges and the view from the veranda is stunning.