November 4, 2025

Bosco's Birthday Bash! How convenient that we were in a Port with a Wave Lagoon Pool just minutes away on Bosco's actual birth date, November 3rd.

Super hero party hats were hard to keep on in the waves, especially since these came with the chin straps detached! The party started around 11am and went until pool closing, at 6 pm. Above is the group there for last part of the day. (L to R, back to front) - our life guard, Jeff & Becky, Robert, Gary, Sherrie, MaryAnn, Maui Jim, Scott, Julie, Donna & Butch, Bosco, Me, Frazer and Steph. Sadly, I didn't take any photos in the morning, too busy riding the waves! Special thanks to Jim & Deb for photo's and video below. We also had a rain delay in the early afternoon, where we went to The Precinct Bar & Restaurant, right across from the Pool, to wait out the storm. All in all, we had about 40 friends join in the festivities.

The Ship sail away was at 7:30 pm, so we had dinner on board, where the CREW serenaded Bosco at Dinner with a special cheese burger and song and his cabin door got decorated with words of affirmation from fellow residents.

By Patricia Patrick February 15, 2026
We got up at 6:45am to get to National Park Forts Walk trail in the hope of seeing koalas . Prior walkers mark trails with tree branches pointing in the direction of their sighting and we were luck enough to see 3 markers in our first hour of hiking. It is so stinking hot and humid the success we had made it bearable. The koala population on the island started with 20 brought over in 1930, to escape fur hunters. Today, the island boast 800 to 1000, and they are so cute and drowsy. They need 20 hours of sleep a day! The early morning is when they are the most active.
By Patricia Patrick February 14, 2026
Just off the coast of Townsville, Australia is a special little island (that used to be part of mainland, hundreds of thousands years ago). The island was formed by molten granite that was pushed to the earth's surface with volcanic force.Over time the volcanic overlay weathered away leaving an extraordinary landscape of rounded domes and boulders, many as big as a house and spectcularly perched. Over Seventy Percent of the center of the Island is a National Park. There is lots of wildlife here too - koalas, rock wallabies, snakes & birds.
By Patricia Patrick February 14, 2026
This is my third time in CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA and I really enjoy how walkable, clean and charming it is. The waterfront esplanade and lagoon area is a nice walk day or night. We had 2 nights here in the waterfront Shangri La Marina Hotel while waiting for the Ship to arrive and then 2 additional days in Port.