Day 5 – Sydney – Darwin 20/5/12

-->

Day 5 – Sydney – Darwin 20/5/12

Weather – Fine, Sunny, 22C – 26C

Sunrise – 6.38am

Sunset – 6.19pm

This morning Sun Princess continued navigating through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. At 5am we passed Cape Grenville. At 10am we entered Adolphus Channel and passed Cape York shortly after. Just over an hour later we entered Prince of Wales Channel and transited the Torres Strait, clearing Goode Island about noon. We then passed Booby Island within the hour, and entered Arafura Sea on a westerly course towards Darwin, crossing the northern edge of the Gulf of Carpenteria.

I was surprised how close to the coast we went around Cape York, and through the Torres Strait, very striking place. The water is a light turquoise blue, and quite shallow, in places there was as little as 5 metres of water below the ship, which was evidenced by the sight of sand plumes in the ships wake.

Another Sea Day. Sorry if the Sea Day posts are a little repetitive and boring, but by their nature, they are the relaxing days, and we have no trouble in doing the relaxing bit.

Laps of the Promenade deck again this morning. Donna lost her cap overboard, blown off by a fresh breeze over the deck. Gee..now she will just have to go shopping..shame about that :)

We had a smaller table for breakfast today, a couple from Perth (Willetton), who are also going all the way round. Apparently 880 of the 1900 passengers on board are going the whole cruise. Being Sunday, I had bacon and eggs (of course)..not as nice as Donna usually cooks, but still yummy.

We spent an hour or so on deck, with camera in hand, as we transited Adolphus Channel and went around Cape York. It was so calm out there, light breeze, and the odd social chat.

Trivia – well we had a bit of a form slump today, 6 off the lead. The team that sits near us is setting the pace, we are marking their paper, perhaps we will need to erase some of their correct answers and do a bit of editing :)

Lunch with another Perth couple (Morley), also going all way round. Some of these lunches are becoming a social event in themselves. As an example today, we were so engrossed in our discussions about life, family, travels etc, when we looked up the restaurant was almost empty, and the staff were preparing the restaurant for the next meal setting :)

Donna, did the Line Dancing class, and I hit the pool and the deckchairs for some vigorous afternoon activity – some call it soaking in the spa and pool, then reading on the deck chairs..very relaxing.

The Milk and Cookies cart trundles by, and the waiter forces warm cookies, straight out of the oven into your hand. Then the little man who looks after the ice cream stall threatens you with bodily harm unless you agree to partake in at least a small cone.

So you retreat back to the deckchairs, where of course you bump into people you now know who insist on buying you a beer. As is customary, the favour must be returned. The rest of the afternoon is now history, as buying a round, is rotated, and only ends when dinner looms !!! hic.

I have been asked to join the water volleyball team by the guy we met at breakfast. Obviously I was sitting down at the time, or he would have realised a short arse like me aint gunna be much good to the team...I am not even sure if I can touch the bottom of the pool. I must test that out before the game tomorrow. Last time I played volleyball I broke my leg, surely that could not happen again !!!

Dinner tonight was again just fantastic, although I am not sure that I can cope being with the same people for another 100 nights – it would have to be the funniest , most boisterous table in the restaurant. I am sure our waiter will ask to move to another table as we are always amongst the last to leave, just have such a good time. Imagine how the dinner conversation would go with topics like these, one who lost a cap overboard (Donna), one who lost a camera lens cap (me), one who lost his room card 3 times in one day and had to get it replaced each time, one whose horse won a race in Tasmania, one who won $1300 on pokies, one who was sure he saw a seal, another who was sure he saw a crocodile, who was eating a seal , that was chewing on a cap, etc etc etc, it just went on and on and on, until the belly was hurting from laughter – probably had to be there.

Final sea day before Darwin tomorrow. After tomorrow we are down to double digits (99 days left) so we probably need to start thinking about the next one as this one is nearly over LOL