From Coast to Coast,Broome to Darwin in style.

[mannej]

JohnK, I was able to see the photo's of lunch when the TR was first posted. However I was unable to see other photos of which I can now see.

Go figure!

 

[drron]

JohnK, I was able to see the photo's of lunch when the TR was first posted. However I was unable to see other photos of which I can now see.

Go figure!

Oh My goodness.They are nearly all back right now.I told you my computer works differently to any other didn't I.:shock:

 

[JohnK]

I can only see 4 photos! The rest still have a red X.

 

[drron]

I can only see 4 photos! The rest still have a red X.

Not a single one left now.I must be the recipient of a targeted offer.
Uploading some more photos for next post-though should i bother.

 

[drron]

Now i can see 3.Am on yet another computer so lets see.Only thing I can think of is some problem with picassa-even when i used FT the pictures were sourced from picassa.
So lets get on with the Orion.After inspecting Our cabin and having the boat drill it was down to the Leda lounge for some Pre dinner drinkies and a presentation of tomorrows activities-basically not much.some shore excursions in Broome for those that had just arrived then the welcome coughtail party as we began the cruise.
At the lounge we met Kurt who became our waiter.Immediately called me Drron-I am sure they are clued up as to who is on board,only 90 of us and we each had our photo taken preboarding.Still impressive service.Kurt certainly knew how to impress as after about 4 days i became Sir Ron.You could tell a few of the other pax were a little unsure of my real status.I had thought we would be slugged really high prices for our wine but in fact a little cheaper than at Broome restaurants.
After the briefing it was down to the Constellation restaurant meeting the incredible Maitre'D Clinton.There was always a 4 course menu put together by Serge Danserau but with at least 8 alternative courses you could have if there was something that didnt appeal.I thought the serge D dishes were always good both visually and from the taste point of view so rarely strayed from these.
Just in case you hadnt had enough when you got back to the room there were Lindt truffles left at the turndown.Again the housekeeping was of an incredibly high standard.here we were looked after by George.Nothing was too much trouble.When i would come back from an excursion and leave my sweaty clothes hung over a chair to dry we would come back to the room to find them all folded neatly.Mrsdrron felt she would like to take him home.
The next morning we arose to a choice of 4 breakfast options-continental in the Galaxy lounge,full buffet on the Leda deck,a la Carte in the Constellation restaurant or room service-this was available 24/7.Most days we went for the full buffet.
Next-We Are Sailing,We Are Sailing
But just an attempt at a few pictures of sunset-the last one will have a link that can get you to the full album of Broome and cruise pics.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Slqzpx7rANI/AAAAAAAAOkU/gf4CRyX9UzU/s800/broome 008.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/SlqzqCWaOAI/AAAAAAAAOkc/pTBdsYEBIIw/s800/broome 013.JPG
And the Orion before any other pax were up-I saw every sunrise.

Picasa Web Albums - ron

 

[drron]

Well we are finally sailing.just thought I might try and repost a couple of pics of our cabin-tried something different with 2 out of 3 of the last post and seems though they have stuck-

Now allthough we are sailing the first thing to do is partake of the buffet lunch-seafood and pasta-really good.Then a couple of talks on what we will be seeing in the next few days before the full life boat drill.Beats a bored FAs safety demonstration as on JQ this weekend.
After this bit of severe physical exertion naturally it is a complimentary Champagne and coughtail party on deck before we have to retire and prepare for the Captain's Dinner.Really no different to other dinners but Coffin bay oysters,swordfish with semi dried tomatoes,a really tender steak with well presented veggies and a large cheese platter really went down well.Service was very good-but then it should be considering the price of the cruise.
The next morning we were anchoring at the Lacepedes as the sun rose.Basically low lying islands with breeding colonies of the brown footed coughy and lesser frigate bird.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Slq0ElOQocI/AAAAAAAAOk8/a5QoN4JSrKY/s800/broome 029.JPG
Sunrise with the first birds heading off to find brekkie.
We are assigned to the second group to go ashore-fantastic gives us a good deal of time at the breakfast buffet.Smooth ride to the beach in the zodiac.I have to say though after visiting the Galapagos last year and seeing the blue footed coughies up close this experience pales.there the animals have no fear and come up to you.here it is as usual and even if you were allowed to get close the birds would startle.So here is what you are waiting for-a photo of massed coughies-

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After this we sailed to Cape Leveque-naturally whilst enjoying another buffet lunch on deck,this time with an Asian theme.
At cape Leveque we walked the beach,talked to a group of Queenslanders fishing there and went for a swim

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Naturally drron is the furthest out-and I promise most of the time i was actually swimming up and down the beach to valiantly try and overcome the effects of all that eating.
Next Talbot Bay and the Horizontal waterfall.

 

[drron]

After getting back from our swim it was a quick shower and down to the Leda lounge for a drink before the recap for the day-with photos-then the introduction to the next day-this time the horizontal waterfalls.After this it was to the Leda deck for a seafood buffet.Some very nice food such as yabbies and BBQ tiger prawns.However the crab-blue swimmer and alaskan snow crab had obviously been frozen.
After dinner we always felt tired and retired to our cabin-a little reading and soon we were asleep.I was waking about 5am and would get up and walk the top deck whilst enjoying the sunrise-

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Slq2OUISLgI/AAAAAAAAOl4/ACEXGOWBTUQ/s800/broome 072.JPG
This worked up my appetite for breakfast.Sunday and after brekkie we are in to the zodiacs and off to the horizonal waterfall-slack water so not impressive now-

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Slqxq33Kz0I/AAAAAAAAOiY/WZDeuZpm29w/s800/AD broome 042.JPG

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Then into Cyclone creek and some amazing rock formations-

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Slqx2SAhPbI/AAAAAAAAOi0/P44vys_UcrQ/s800/AD broome 077.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Slqx2jm_0aI/AAAAAAAAOi8/Z-aiLZ9Sgxg/s800/AD broome 085.JPG
Then back to the falls which are beginning to look more impressive-

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Slq2ocL_dfI/AAAAAAAAOmU/rp3nULBymGk/s800/broome 138.JPG
Back to the Orion now for another beautiful buffet lunch.
Next the fast boat through the falls.

 

[drron]

After lunch it was back into the zodiac for the traverse to the fast boat pontoon.The wind had come up and it was very choppy.At one point i went up about a foot off the seat and came down destroying the seat.At the pontoon a couple are fishing.Anything they catch has to be pulled in fast-

Tied up is the usual transportation from Broome-

And then we were off.The fast boat is definitely a must do if you come here.Naturally operated by a Kiwi couple.It was awesome and photos just cant capture the experience.One older lady surprised all of us by saying that was the best cough she had ever had!Anyway some pics-

Back to the boat for a shower,nanny nap then high tea and watch the sunset before drinkies the presentations and dinner-really good tonight.Tomato,onion and garlic tart.Barramundi and prawn on potato,pear and mushrooms.Beef cheek and beeef tenderloin.Yoghurt and honey crumble with fresh fig and marscapone.All delicious.
A good sleep tonight as tomorrow an early start at Montgomery reef and our turn at fishing.That is next.

 

[drron]

Monday morning it is up early for brekkie and off on our fishing trip.
Sunrise-

The boys certainly got into the action but all we caught were batfish which are definitely throwback material.Mrsdrron catches the biggest fish-Golden trevally-

And a giant shark!

Drron meanwhile imitates the michelin man on our way to Montgomery reef-you get to do this as well as fish today-

The reef is amazing.trillions of litres of water pour off it twice a day as the tide drops-

We also meet up with another cruise ship-note it's own helicopter-

On our way back to the Orion we see turtles,rays and eagles.more importantly are served bloody mary's which go down well.A real;ly fantastic morning.Time for a shower and change and off to lunch.today an asian theme.Sashimi,sushi,noodles and stir fries-all very nice..The Orion meanwhile steams towards Raft Point-that is next.

 

[drron]

After lunch we anchor off Raft point.The destination today are galleries of Wandjina art.Drron sets off in the zodiac-

And we cruise past the point-

After we arrive people have their photo taken hugging large boabs.Drron notices an overlooked outcast-

We then commence our climb up to the galleries.I spot a kimberley rose and partake of some bush passionfruit-not too many as they have a good laxative effect.The views are spectacular-

We then reached the galleries-

Due to the 6 image limit this is to be continued.

 

[drron]

Some more Wandjina art-

So it is back to the Orion and the zodiacs are loaded-

Once again it is a quick shower,get some photos of sunset,drinks in the lounge,the recap of the days activities and the plan for tomorrow before dinner which tonight will feature the golden snapper caught by the other woman in our fishing party of 4.You have to wait until the next post for that.

 

[russ]

Wonderful photos of the Wandjina art!
Have you seen any Bradshaw art up there?

 

[drron]

Yes,another 2 days into the trip we saw Bradshaw art.The best gallery though was no photos but have some pics of lesser galleries.

 

[drron]

First of all Monday's sunset-

Then for dinner.We started with Kingfish sashimi-

The trimmings for our fish-

Then the golden snapper-

And just to prove that we enjoyed it-

The end of a big day.it was off to bed and drron was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
next is tuesday and the Hunter river plus a chopper ride to Mitchell falls.

 

[drron]

Tuesday and another early morning brekkie as we are on the first chopper trips of the day to the Mitchell falls.This means that we miss the morning zodiac excursion up the Hunter river at low tide-the best for crocodile sightings.This flight is an extra but if you have paid a lot to be here why miss it?First another sunrise-

Then a short zodiac ride to a beautiful beach where our chopper awaits-

about a 25 minute flight to the Mitchell falls-spectacular-

Being in the first group we have the place to ourselves for an hour.Walk to get a good view of the falls-

Then it was off to have a swim at the top of the falls.Such style-

Next Mitchell falls continued.

 

[drron]

Some more of the falls-

and the wildflowers-

The swimming hole-

The first chopper takes off-

And a final view-

Next back to the Orion.

 

[drron]

We fly first of all over the mitchell river-

Then over the hunter river-

And here through the binoculars see a croc.Then Naturalist Island-

before coming in to land on the beach of the Island-

On every excursion there is always set up on the beach or somewhere accessible a refreshment station with juices coughtails or snacks-

So back to the boat and as we were the first out some time to veg.I am reading a biography of Shackelton.We have already decided we will go to Antarctica and very likely it will be on the Orion.
Today lunch is curries and pizzas.There is always a great selection of desserts but as usual I really do not have room for them.Soon after lunch it is our turn to cruise the Hunter River.That is next.

 

[drron]

Unfortunately by the time we do our zodiac excursion it is high tide.Those that did the morning one saw lots of crocs at low tide.Our trip was rather boring by comparison.The scenery though is once again in credible-

And as the sun goes down the changes are amazing-

Then as we think all is lost on the way back we see a croc-

hopefully you can see him.
next fun and games on the way back to Orion.

 

[drron]

On our way back to the ship a pod of dolphins decided to play with us.It was a great half hour.At least you can see a tail-

As we got to Naturalist Island there was the zodiac with maitre'd Clinton and hotel manager Ian giving out icecreams.

By now the sun was going down fast.The colours were magnificent and it turned into one of the best sunsets I have seen-

I loved this so much the next post will be more of the same-sorry.

 

[drron]

The sunset continues-

And finally back to the boat-

After our shower,drinks in the lounge and nightly presentations it was off to the back deck for everyone tonight for a BBQ.As well there were pastas and a passable paella.The croquembouche decided me to partake of dessert tonight.
I will leave with a couple of shots of sunrise next morning as we cruise to Bigge island-

So next is Wednesday and Bigge Island.