At last! A reason NOT to do housework! "It just silts up again." I love it.

We did go out to the barrier reef yesterday. What a wonderful trip. If you ever want a good look at the reef go to The Wavelength in Port Douglas. It is personal and educational. We had a 45 minute snorkel and then moved to another location. We got a lecture on how the reef was formed and why it's so delicate as well as the sex life of corals. Then we got a guided tour of a part of the reef with a guide pointing out interesting features and naming particular types of coral, sponges, sea cucumbers, and fish. We saw giant clams and staghorn coral, parrot fish, angel fish, and various small fishes. At the first stop we met "Killer" an enormous maori wrasse. The crew feed him squid bits and we all got to pet him. At the last stop I was preparing to enter the water when one of theguides came out and decreed that swimmers wear a skinsuit because there were small stinging things in there. He'd just been stung twice. Since there was no suit to fit me I did not go into the water.

On the way out Charley and I tried singing over the noise of the motor. It was tough but we surprised the passengers and crew with our efforts. And they surprised us by egging us on to do more songs. On the way back they awarded us with beer. (No beer allowed until after the last dive.)

By the end of the day we were totally exhausted. I had planned to go out on Shaolin today but I am just going to veg out instead. I need to do some laundry and maybe take a nap. I need to be rejuvenated for my excurion to Sydney. I believe those folks are planning to do their best to exhaust us in the most pleasant ways. I don't want to disappoint.