Cairns and reconcile cost/benefit

15/9/2016 Qld Cairns. (Landed 6.30am 11/9/2016) Flight was uneventful with the standard level of economy class discomfort. It was a no-frills Jetstar flight that was cost-effective and on time. I medicated my cold and slept for the next 24 hours.

By the 14/9/2016 I had sorted the images I had collected and reconciled the bills accrued, so I could evaluate my expenses. At $167 per day for the 14 days travelling, including airfares and coach/scenic-flight,boat trips,  my costs were what I anticipated. Interestingly this was about the same as the daily costs for my 2015 European Study tour.

15/9/2016 Sent off the "Dissertation" chapters that I had been working on. Double-checked/edited the blog and did some serious library work re 3D printing. I may have to go to Townsville campus of JCU for practical advice.

Back-story of the Dissertation chapters was that the external hard-drive I took with me as a back-up, would not read (it had died) when I got home but I assumed the computer copy was OK. However, I found that Word defaulted to the last version saved, which was the back-up version. For the whole trip I had actually been working on the external hard-drive not the computer. I "begged" the IT techs at JCU to try to salvage my files from the dead hard-drive and got most of the data back. They found it was a software "re-write" glitch rather than hardware malfunction. I had to reformat the text and re-write whole "missing" sections of the first two chapters but at least the gist of my manuscript was still there. A case of two steps forward and one back.

At the same time as I discovered the corrupted hard-drive I found that my smart-phone had reprogrammed itself while rolling around in my day-pack. At one stage I thought that it too had died but patient "maze-running"got me through the menu system and the phone functional again. The final blow was as I was rewriting my document, the wide-screen, graphics-enabled HD monitor "blew" with a loud pop and the classic disappearing screen image down to a central dot. Dell explained that monitors are "throw-away" (they prefer the term "uneconomic to repair"), mine was no longer in warranty, and advised that I should buy an up-to-date replacement. I used my smaller, older, non-graphics monitor instead.

WA Perth -travel Cairns

10/9/2016 WA - Perth-transfer Airport-Cairns. Up early to put my laundry through, grab a shower and an early breakfast. All sheets towels etc down to hamper, room cleared by 10.00 am, key deposit returned, then wait in "Internet Room" working on computer. Stay close with no tours planned on a "travel" day. I got caught getting from Rome to the airport, when I tried to travel by train to Rome on the day I was to fly. A unexpected wildcat transport strike nearly cost me the flight out.

On a walk around the local area I found the Number 40 bus stop to get me to T3 terminal for my JetStar flight tonight. Looked up the airport lounges and there is a Qantas Club in the T3 terminal so I should be "centrally located". Weather is overcast but not raining. My Cold is still with me but the "night/day" Codral keeps me functioning. I must remember to take my Pseudo-fed prior to the flight tonight or I may get eustachian tube "squeeze" with the air-pressure changes.

Worked on blog and journal in YHA but time dragged. Plane does not leave until 11.50pm so it was a choice of waiting at the YHA or waiting at the Airport for hours. I think they will let me into the Qantas Club after about 5pm but not all day. I will hang out till 3.30 - 4pm at the YHA then walk to the Number 40 bus stop andcatch the bus through to T3. The Number 40 busses leave on the half hour and take about 30min. Given 30 min to get my boarding pass and luggage checked then it should be just about right. Only problem is that sometimes they will not take luggage until 2 hours prior to a flight, which will be difficult.

In the event it was difficult. Local bus got me to the airport by 5.00pm as planned and I got to the Jetstar boarding gate but as I feared, Perth Jetstar does not board until 2 hours prior to the allotted flight, so not until 10.00pm.

Now my negotiation skills were really needed. I managed to "talk" my big bag through security and I carried it up to the Qantas Club [which was closed but I was redirected to the Qantas Business Lounge]. I was told to take my bag back downstairs at 10pm and have it checked through then when the gate was open. Not bad, I managed to get into the Qantas Lounge on my invoice and QC card, without the magic boarding pass. Ate what was effectively a full meal then sat back watched Qantas television and updated my blog.

WA Perth -Swann Valley Winery/Chocolate

9/9/2016 WA Perth-Guildford - winery tour

Booked half-day wine and chocolate tour for the afternoon. (Includes lunch). Sorted my "stuff" for the return to Cairns and worked on Computer until 11.30. Made my way to the railway station to catch a local train to Guildford station, the designated pick-up point for the tour. Filled in time wandering around the historic Guildford then caught-up with the tour. Three wineries a lunch and a chocolate factory then dropped off in Perth at the same coach stand as Integrity used. Easy navigation back to YHA and a self-catered dinner. Checked on the booking-out/store luggage deal with YHA reception and printed off the Jetstar ticket info for tomorrow.

WA-Perth/Rotnest

8/9/2016 WA -Perth -Rotnest Is.

Up early to light breakfast and a walk to the pick-up point for the transfer bus to the Ferry. All went well despite the cold, overcast weather. Seamless transfer to the Ferry with a bumpy ride across to Rotnest. Again a seamless transfer to the Island tour bus. Said goodbye to the bike-riders who looked decidedly chilly. Surprisingly diverse coastline/seascape. Much like Shark Bay where there was low sandy beaches but also rocky reefs and ocean coastline. Waves were spectacular at West Point. Back in Perth by 7.30pm and had a quick self-catered dinner.

Essentially I have now completed the Tropical/Sub-tropical retracement of Baudin’s Voyage (as per my project proposal). The weather has been cold (and wet on occasion) but has not hampered the trip in any way.

Checked with reception re a possible tour for tomorrow but too late to book, try again in morning.

WA Perth

6/9/2016 WA Transfer Monkey Mia to Perth.

Pick-up at 6.30pm at reception and dropped off at Overlander Roadhouse at 8.30pm. Integrity Bus arrived 9.30pm and we set off for Perth arriving at 6.15am next morning. Little to no sleep.

7/9/2016 WA Perth.  Walked from bus drop-off to Train station in light rain and found a café that was open. Light breakfast and a cup of coffee, waiting for a break in the weather. 7.00am walked to YHA hostel and booked in. Changed the YHA booking from 2 nights to 3 nights (? why the booking email I sent screwed up I do not understand). Found my room and investigated the amenities. Then used WiFi to book my Jetstar flight back to Cairns on the 10/9/2016. I got a $189 special that cost about $240 after I added luggage. Not sure of the booking/charge process, it seems to add costs randomly.

Went to investigate the Rotnest tours and found a ferry/bus or a ferry/bike for around the $100 which seems fine. It depends on the rain. There is also a short wine tour that looks interesting. I will try to book Rotnest for tomorrow.

5/9/2016 WA Monkey Mia/Shark Bay

4/9/2016 WA Monkey Mia. Extensive walk through the bottom end of Francis Peron National Park and along its southern shoreline. Booked a 25min scenic flight over the opposite coast of Francis Peron National park with views of the Dirk Hartog Island coast across Western arm of Shark Bay. It was not possible to “cruise” the entire bay because of its massive size. Overflight was the only practical solution. 

Overflight took about 30min and flew the coastline of the Francis Peron National Park both east and west coast. Fauve Island and extensive seagrass beds, and a variety of low coastal formations from cliffs to sandy beaches.

5/9/2016 WA Monkey Mia. Extensive walks along foreshore north and south of the Resort. Laundry and packing for travel back to Perth tomorrow.

4/9/2016_WA_Monkey Mia

Bus arrived - got to Overlander Roadhouse at 21.00 pm (9oc) to be picked up by "Mike" the shuttle operator and got to Monkey Mia after midnight. No front-office staff so they had stuck an envelope with the room key and a map of the Resort onto the door of the Reception office for me. It actually worked; after a long trip and a bit of maze running I found my room, with the help of the map (essential).

Next morning (3/9/2016), I formally signed in with Reception and was directed to the wharf to book/pay for my Aristocat 2 nature cruise. 

This cruised for 5 hours within the Eastern arm of the Shark Bay Marine Park, with long stretches along the coast of Francis Peron National Park. Pearling barge tour, dugong and dolphin sightings, and I got a view of the near-shore sea-grass beds.

4/9/2016 WA Monkey Mia. Extensive walk through the bottom end of Francis Peron National Park and along its shoreline. Booked a 25min scenic flight over the opposite coast of Francis Peron National park with views of the Dirk Hartog Island coast across Western arm of Shark Bay. It was not possible to “cruise” the entire bay because of its massive size. Overflight was the only practical solution.  

WA Coral Bay transfer to Monkey Mia

1/9/2016 Coral Bay Ningaloo WA. Comprehensive self-directed walking tour of the foreshore both to the South and North of Coral Bay township. Last laundry completed and I worked solidly on my Dissertation, completing the two chapters I owe to my academic supervisors for this year. I am ahead of my schedule but need to complete more art works. 

I received an invitation to dinner at a local resident’s (Julie and Bill) house for tonight. Excellent food and I took a six-pack of Mercury cider. They had a bottle of Vas Felix white, which was superb, but they also own an apple orchard so the cider was appropriate.

2/9/2016 Coral Bay Ningaloo WA. Last day, mainly travel oriented. Cleaned room, returned all my cutlery, packed and put my big bag in the luggage store then worked on my computer (Journal and Thesis chapters). Check-out was 9.30. Bus is due at 2.45-3.15 according to my ticket so I planned an early lunch then a wait.   Printed out my booking sheets for Bus and Monkey Mia accommodation. 4 days at Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort and the bus booked back to Perth on the 6/9/2016. I will book tourist boat trip when I get there and confirm my return shuttle to the Overlander Roadhouse.