Day 71 of 102. A brief and final look back at the last ten days.

Apart from a few mossie bites, I don’t think I have come off too badly from my all too brief adventures away from the ship.  Every arrangement made by my excellent travel agent fell into place as scheduled.  (Thank you, Lucy!) A run of poor sleeps made certain that I was awake in good time for those early starts of which there were three, including my third visit to the Puffing Billy Railway. 

At the time, nine days making my own way across Southern Australia seemed  lengthy as I attempted to savour every moment, as if I might well not be coming this way again. 

I am left with wonderful and hopefully, long lasting memories.

Rarely do I not look forward to setting foot on the world’s only true existing ocean liner, R.M.S Queen Mary 2. But, such was my reluctance, when after nine nights, Cunard’s Flagship would be berthed majestically in spectacular view from platform 1 of Fremantle Station. This marked the start of my long journey back to Southampton and eventually Buxton, where temperatures rarely emulate that of those glorious highs during an Australian summer, where again, unusually for me, I did find the heat really was too much!  But, once on board, the attraction of yet another month on QM2 filled me with renewed joy.

Captain Hall gave one of his overly detailed accounts of our eventual on time departure from Fremantle.  He warned of fairly heavy seas to begin with, easing up two or three days later.  Today, the seas are slightly turbulent, but of little consequence to Queen Mary 2 as she steams ever westward through a further three time zones. Mauritius is just four hours ahead of G.M.T., and it will soon be safe to phone home!

Today is the first of seven consecutive sea days, and it is nothing like as warm as we have enjoyed  in Australia.  However, this is not surprising. Nothing is between us and Antarctica some 2,000 or more nautical miles to our south. At Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, I should be meeting more friends from Church in Buxton. This has been quite the journey to meet up with people I know, either from home or from previous voyages.

I did walk this morning, but nothing like my usual effort. It’s noticeably cooler. Also, despite its being a Gala Night, I have opted to stay casual and dine, with Jo, in the Kings Court Buffet. My body is still telling me it’s almost midnight! It was a lovely day despite not being overly warm. There are six more sea days before we reach Port Louis, Mauritius 🇲🇺.

Many thanks indeed for reading. David 19.20 hrs