14th December - cruising on cuise ship - Lifou - berries

Sunday 14^th December

Brother and sister in sunset light

Another fabulous technicolour Tasmanian sunset last night.  Today is is just beautiful  about 27 degrees, and sunny.

Perfect for the cruise ship travellers.  Win some lost some!

As I was taking this photo a large wallaby bounded past, completely at ease with my presence.  This is just about an inner-city wallaby.  But it can confidently hop away without crossing any roads, up onto the mountain, over the top, and straight into the South West wilderness.  If it so chooses… It looked much too comfortable with city life to be needed such a wide range of territory.

Yesterday I spoke to some friends who had just that morning arrived back from a seven day cruise to New Caledonia and Vanuatu.  The boat was delayed on departure so they missed Noumea and only went to Lifou which, said Cam, was “crap.” 

They then went to Port Vila, which was much better – they both loved it, and would go back here happily.  When are we going to be there with 2XS, so they can do some Vanuatu cruising??

The trip back to Brisbane was OK but…on the last night the seas were huge, the wind was violent, and they rocked and tossed in their tenth-storey cabin.  No portholes so they couldn’t see outside to assess the threat…it does NOT sound like fun!!  The conditions were so extreme the ship wasn’t allowed to go up the Brisbane River so they had to anchor outside and all 2,000 people plus luggage had to be bused to the depot.  Golly and gosh – it does sound challenging!

What do I  remember of this place??  Pete and I spent a few nights anchored off Lifou (one of the three Society Islands off the northern coast of New Caledonia) in 2011.  It has a long thin main town.  

We rode our bikes for miles, along the footpath to avoid potholes and traffic.  I remember very clearly that every hundred metres or so there would be a large pole firmly set in the path, and that both I and my bike were magnetically attracted to each and every pole.  I had to concentrate VERY hard not to ride head first into them.  I also recall even more clearly that we went shopping with our backpacks.  When we got back to the boat something horrid had happened in my pack…my clothes were sodden and the bike seat was oily and ghastly… I had very cleverly put a pack of butter in the very bottom and on top of it had carefully placed…a warm roast chicken…

Probably the cruise ship didn't go to this beach

Back to our Tasmanian island life...we bought some broad beans at the berry farm in Sorell.  This place is total bliss, say Eva (6) and Zoe (4)!  (Not the broad beans so much, for them, but the berries were a great success!)

Too many berries - how to choose??