June 14

Well, it wasn’t really part of our purpose for being here, but the Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world. This morning we decided to take a boat ride out to the reef and go snorkeling. I saw a stingray and a big turtle along with all kinds of fish and coral and sponges. Things did not go that well for Mr. Harding and Mrs. Morris.Peter made a friend, but was disappointed they didn’t have a mask to fit him. We all got very cold.
After lunch we went to the Bat House. At the Bat House they rehabilitate flying foxes that have been orphaned. They were really cute, but their claws were sharp. My attempt to hold one did not go well. We learned about the differences between micro bats and macrobats. Ma
crobats don’t necessarily have sonar like micro bats. Macrobats have a better sense of sight and smell and eat nectar and fruit. Microbats eat insects. We went on a self guided tour through the rainforest that they are regenerating. It was formerly cleared for cattle. They have done a great job replanting the rainforest here.
This evening we took a cruise on the Daintree River with Dan Irby. Dan is from Tonkawa, Oklahoma and graduated from OSU with a degree in physiology. After spending many years doing medical research he ended up taking people on river cruises. It was a fabulous cruise. We saw several large saltwater crocodiles. We saw a White Lipped Tree Frog and learned that it is the biggest frog in Australia, and the biggest tree frog in the world. Dan said he had a surprise for us and that it was 6 km. up the river. We kept seeing flocks of cattle egrets fly up the river. Well, we rounded a bend and flocks of cattle egrets were congregated on the trees and they just kept coming down the river in waves. They looked like a waterfall. I tried to capture it with a picture, but II don’t think I did a very good job.
Did you know Australia has no hummingbirds? I didn’t! The bird that fills that niche is the yellow sunbird, according to Dan.
We were traveling in mangroves which grow in tidal zones. The river looks like it is flowing the wrong direction as the tide comes in. At the base of each mangrove the roots look like gnarly twisted masses. They have all these little points coming up from the bottom, These are breathing tubes.. Because the roots are always underwater, they don’t get air, so they grow these tubes.
Finally we got to see the Southern Cross. This is a constellation that you can only see in the Southern Hemisphere. And we saw the big dipper upside down!



And now a small moment from Mrs. Morris.
Adventure. What comes to mind when you hear that word? For some an adventure is as simple as a trip to the mall. For others it is snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. Along with thoughts of adventure comes knowing your personal limitations.
This particular adventurous morning began as most of our other adventurous mornings. It was our first morning to wake up nestled in the Daintree Rainforest. We had our usual morning coffee, breakfast bar and the anticipation of what the day would bring. This day brought the nervous anticipation of snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. Now, I am not one for swimming in anything but a cement swimming pool, but being the good sport that I am, I agreed that this would be a good adventure. After all, who comes this far, and is this close to one of the Seven Wonders of the World and doesn’t experience it to its fullest?!
During the short, winding drive to Ocean Safari I sat in the back seat thinking, are you really going to give this a go? After all I am the one who ONLY waded along the shore of Coco Beach in Florida while Mrs. Harding frolicked in the waves. But again being the good sport that I am I sat in silence. We arrived, purchased our tickets, donned our wet suits—due to the cold—and waited for departure.
The boat ride to the reef was, let’s see how did the brochure describe it? Exhilarating?! It rivaled any roller coaster ride I have been on as of late and fostered my anxiety of what we were preparing to do. After a bumpy 25 minute ride we arrived at the reef. The snorkeling master gave his presentation on safety while snorkeling, where to snorkel, how to put on your mask and clear your snorkel—just say two—and if you get caught in the current you’ll end up in Papau, New Gineau! All the while I am thinking, there is no way I am getting into that water!!
One by one the other participants eagerly lined up to receive their masks, snorkels, and fins and plopped right into the water. I politely waited allowing others to go right ahead, then politely said, “No thank you.”
At first I felt overwhelmed, embarrassed and relieved. I had spent a lot of money to do this, others had never snorkeled before and were giving it a go, it had to be safe were all the arguments I had with myself and still I could not convince myself to leap into the water. Trying hard all the while not to cry as I explained to the snorkel master that I was not getting in and I was truly ok with that decision. I slowly relaxed and focused on a 7 year old boy that had taken the leap and was already back on the boat. Slowly the attention on me was gone and I fell into the rhythm of the rocking of the boat and watched all the others enjoying their swim. Mrs. Harding was in heaven as she viewed a turtle and sting ray.
So my adventure today was not of the positive adventure type. My “better safe than sorry” side won out. And that’s ok because I am still here in Australia and not in New Guinea! I was reminded today of something else I’ve always know—listen to your gut feelings and knowing your personal limitations is the right thing to do. Adventures are in the eye of the beholder. I’ll see you at the mall! Tomorrow holds another adventure!