We are now well into the second day on board Pacific Dawn cruising up the Queensland coast to PNG. Our first stop is to be at Alotau on Milne Bay. The weather has been good so far and the seas very calm, no rocking or rolling.

The team of happy cruisers to PNG

The team are currently equal top of the ‘cruise along’  trivia quiz competition, heading into tonight’s round. The team comprises the 4 Hayes kids and their respective husbands and wives who are off on a family get together on the high seas. Led by the matriarch Cheryle (husband Peter) ably supported by Sandra (Don), Leanne (Russell) and the youngster Stuart (Marie) we are a confident lot, having been big trivia winners in the past. Leanne is boasting her ” P & O Winners canvas bag”  from our last trip. Sandra is the scribe and faces enormous challenges in recording the correct answers which are whispered, followed by nudges and wink winks. There is much noise and commotion as the game progresses. Lip reading is a required skill. It will be a challenge to stay on top, there is stiff competition afloat this time around.

Going under the Gateway Bridge, plenty of room to spare.

Away we go down the Brisbane River

Looking towards the Gateway Bridge

Pretty quiet on board this ship, no rowdy elements except us! Have had an interesting film and lecture today on PNG society and adaptation to the modern world. More instalments to come of this over the coming days. Very big attendances at this. Not! It seems there are other attractions.

It was a good trip down the Brisbane River and then up the coast with the sun setting on the Glasshouse Mountains.

Sunset at the Glasshouse Mountains

It was sea all around us, on both sides of the ship!

Food has also been good and we are looking forward to dinner tonight, following breakfast and lunch interspersed with morning and afternoon tea. It has been a  constant effort to stay away from the food and moderate one’s intake.

That’s all for today. I need to keep these short.