Hervey Bay

Travelled on to Hervey Bay after a wonderful time at Rainbow Beach with friends Lyle and Therese.
Found a quiet van park and thought we would stay just a couple of days but instead are now staying a week and will be leaving on Monday.
Wow this place has certainly grown since we were here last (which was a few years ago).  Lots of shopping centres and a great craft shop where I browsed for nearly an hour.
I have been busy making more quilled flowers for Therese for her wedding invites and also some beaded nick nacks for the CWA stall in a few months. Plenty of reading and enjoying a relaxing time.
There are quite a few repairs going on along the waterfront where there was probably storm damage from the recent cyclone Marcia that passed nearby.  There are huge rocks being placed to protect the banks from further erosion.
There are lots of homes for sale and reasonably priced however still a lack of industry, just more retail some of which is moving from Maryborough.
With a great craft shop, a 72 flavours icecream shop and lots of bakeries what more could you need?

Rainbow Beach

Having dinner at the surf club at Rainbow Beach. Full moon and oh that moonlight on the water.
The last few nights we have had a picnic on the beach and watched the full moon develop.
What a magic setting. We are having 10 days here at the van park before heading further north.

SYDNEY views from the Manly Ferry

Into Sydney

Well we are back on dry land after an amazing journey.

The photos show our last sunset at sea along with the harbour bridge with sunrise behind and wow wasn't that something.  Also a photo of the skyline as we approached our berth.

Now we have found out where to vote as we wont be home in time and we have visits with friends and rellies to coordinate for our days down here.

Life is wonderful and the cruise has been a great finale to the go go of the previous 3 months.

Now what could be next??

As they say in the classics 'watch this space'.

AUCKLAND

Only 1 more port of call before Sydney and the end of this adventure.
Auckland is showers and 15deg today so a touch of winter after all the sunshine of our trip and certainly during our Pacific Islands leg.

Our choir performance went great and there were tears in the eyes of the audience when we sang the Maorie farewll last night for our departing guests.  Our night before Sydney we sing I still call Australia home for evveryone before the two dinner sittings so that should put the ship awash!

Thanks to all who have emailed about the blog, glad to know you have enjoyed our journey with us,  so till next time take care and get our there and see a part of this wonderful world we live in,    even if it is just another street away from where you live

FIJI getting close to home

We are ashore in Fiji today and taking advantage of a cafe with wifi.

Our time is drawing to a close and you wonder where the time has gone.  We crossed the Equator and received a certificate and yesterday we crossed the International Date Line and have officially lost the 25th Aug as we went from the 24th to today the 26th so we have another certificate to celebrate that.

As we were here in Fiji just in March we are just strolling around trying to avoid the folk on the streets trying to entice you into their stores.  With the ship in they are out in force so we are being kept busy.

Our choir performs tomorrow enroute to Auckland so rehearsals are in earnest now.  I had to round up a white t shirt in Pago Pago to complete my uniform so now I am all ready.  They took the official choir photo the day before Pago Pago so I had to wear a t shirt back to front so I had a plain white top!!!  More than one way to achieve the desired result, but it was uncomfortable and not the way to go.

I have included a photo of our latest towel fella courtesy of our steward.  They are so clever and must practice for ages to create all the different animals they can make.

Also a photo of the Police band playing at the quay when we arrived.
We have 2 days at sea to Auckland then 2 days ashore there and at Bay of Islands before 2 sea days back to Sydney and the end of the line so hopefully I will be able to keep the blog going till then.

AMERICAN SAMOA

Have arrived here today (Friday) and trying for internet here in Maccas but not sure of success as email doesn't want to work.
Travelled 5 days at sea after leaving our third port in Hawaii and the seas were fairly calm but you could feel the swell.
We have had a full moon the last couple of nights and what magic that was.
Western Samoa is a lot like Fiji and the folk are very friendly.
We went for a bus ride to the east $5 for the 2 of us return and then we went to the west which was along the coast and was so lovely for only $6 return so we gave him 10.  The water is so clear and clean and the colours like jewels.