More fun down under

Hello again from sunny Australia.  The past two days saw our intrepid band of Americans/Aussies venture out of the cozy confines of Bribie Island and head toward Marcus (Mahcus) Beach and and  to Mooloolaba.  That will be the new field sobriety test for the Irmo PD, pronouncing the word Mooloolaba.

At Marcus Beach we met with friends of Jacq's the Palmers (Palmas) and had lunch.  They have a beautiful house that is on the bluff overlooking the beach and the Pacific ocean.  And I think that its the entire ocean that you can see from the Palmer's house.  The view is like something from a travel brochure.  Lunch was a delightful combination of a fruit salad with Chinese Gooseberries, Apricots, and other local fruits; sliced watermelon with cheese and onion; and chicken.  After lunch we chatted about things while keeping a wary eye on the cricket.  The Ashes are being contested and in Australia that is much more important than anything else, including nuclear war.  The Aussies are up at day two of the five day game but have struggled with the bats.

After dinning we regretfully took our leave of the Palmers and headed down the coast to Mooloolaba.  There is a place called Underwater World.  Its an aquarium that specializes in the local favorite, sharks.  Austin and Shannon were signed up for a cageless swim with the nasties so we made our way to the tank.  About the same time, a real cracker of a thunderstorm showed up and threw everything but the kitchen sink at us.  The kind of storm that would have had the wife-beater wearing, trailer dwellers talking about the freight train that just ran through the yard.  Since they don't get tornadoes here, all we got was lightening, thunder, rain (buckets) and hail.  That being said, power was lost at the aquarium and the dive was off for the day.  Giving our erstwhile explorers another 24 hours to ponder the toothed wonders.  We headed out with our heads hung low and returned to Bribie to wait out the storm.  But not before both Sarah and Michayla received a fishy, whiskered kiss from a Aussie seal named Porsche.

The next day dawned bright and clear and our party split up for activities.  Jacq, Shannon, Austin and I headed back to Mooloolaba and Michayla and Sarah headed to the mall with Jacq's sister and niece.  The trip back to the aquarium was very quiet, all were thinking of the possibilities that come from swimming with the apex predator of the area.  We got to the aquarium and the appetisers got ready for the menu by putting on a wetsuit and taking a quick scuba class.  They learned how to breathe through their mouths and clear their masks.  Also, how to ask for help once in the water.  The most important instruction?  Keep your hands to yourself.  The sharks are hand fed so when your hands come away from your body, its lunchtime.  That's the kind of information that is key to having a good time.

Into and out of the training pool and our young explorers were deemed marinaded and ready.  They headed around to the top of the large ocean tank and Jacq and I headed down to watch the festivities.  The tank is similar to the one at the Ripley's aquarium in Myrtle Beach.  A very large tank with an acrylic tunnel for the public to go under the water.  It was in this tunnel that Jacq and I waited.  Into the water went our dynamic duo along with two other swimmers.  At first, the fish, rays and sharks were wary of the interlopers but they gradually became interested.  Finally, after about 10-15 minutes, all of the nasties were swimming around the brave explorers.  Finally, after many pictures and a bit of video (hat tip to Sarah Buck who loaned us the Flip video camera) all survived the swim and returned to us with all of their fingers and toes.  Shannon and Austin were delighted with the swim and both are thinking of learning how to scuba when they get back.

We left the aquarium and stopped by the Ettamogah Pub on the way home for a bit of authentic Australia.  Of course the cricket was on while we had a couple of drinks at the table.  Then it was back into the car.

At early evening we weathered another thunderstorm.  I am beginning to realise why Queensland is a sister state to South Carolina, and one of the reasons is weather.  Afternoon thunders just like summertime in South Carolina.

Finally we made it back to Bribie where all of our bravery (its not easy watching family swim with sharks) was rewarded  by Jan with a repast of no equal.  Steaks, Rissoles, Salad, Fruit with Rice Pudding and Banana Cream pie where on offer and all were exquisitely prepared.  Today is Saturday and we are headed to the beach for a relaxing afternoon in the sun (with the requisite sunscreen).

I have to swap computers to upload photos so check back later to see all the great shots!!!


Cheers!