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FRIDAY, March 6, 2006
Sailing between Melbourne and Sydney

Burnie's Lord Mayor welcomes an arriving guest

It's a happy and sad time. We've enjoyed every moment of our voyage but it's coming to an end.

The last time we wrote, we were about to cross the Tasman Sea, an often-ferocious body of water where the currents of the Southern, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans converge. Unpredictable currents, shifting winds and high swells often come at us from different points of the compass causing unpleasant sailing. Though we had a few occasional bumps, our crossing to Australia was pleasant.

We made landfall on Wednesday in Tasmania, a beautiful island south of the Australian continent. When the mainland of Australia heats up during the summer (December - February), Aussies stream into Tasmania for its cool climate, lovely beaches and forested countryside. We stopped at a small container port known as "Burnie". Though the town itself had relatively little to offer, you could not fault the townspeople for their hospitality. As we disembarked the ship, the Lord Mayor, clad in his ceremonial purple robe and medallions of office, personally shook hands and greeted every passenger. Once in the little town, local volunteers were situated at a number of spots to answer questions and assist in any way.

Many of us took excursions in Burnie to visit the lovely countryside and to see some of Australia's unique indigenous animals such as wombats, koalas and the island's iconic Tasmanian Devils, feisty little wolf-like critters.

Melbourne's skyline at sunrise	Melbourne's lacework Victorian homes

Yesterday, when we reached the attractive city of Melbourne, we set off on one of Cruise Masters' unique excursions. Our destination was the home of the Barber family, Coliban Park, a historic "sheep station" located about two hours north of the city.

Duncan Barber and Judy Haas

When we reached the farming community of Kyneton, we drove past charming 19th Century homes adorned with Australia's unique lace-like ironwork - once a common sight here. Unfortunately most of these picturesque homes are giving way to modern development.

Joining us in Kyneton was one of our hosts, Duncan Barber, a gregarious Aussie fellow with an infectious laugh and an outrageous sense of humor. After a 30-minute drive into the Eucalyptus-covered hills of their large ranch (originally purchased by Duncan's great grandfather), we reached their home where his mother waited on the porch to greet us and invite us inside for tea (and great homemade cakes and desserts). And what hosts they were! The literally opened their charming home and invited us to explore at will.

Duncan shears a ewe

Following our restorative snack, Duncan led the way down the lane to the shearing sheds. There he selected a young ewe for her first shearing. After putting the sheep on her back between his knees, the young animal endured the clipping without fuss as he adeptly sheared her fleece away. When he was finished he told us that almost all of their ultra fine merino wool is destined for Italy where fine suiting is woven from these long, silky strands. (Apparently most of their wool ends up at the famous Zegna woolen mills.)

After all of this activity it was time for the Barber family picnic lunch prepared by Duncan's mother and her neighbors. Sitting under massive trees on their front lawn, we dined on wonderfully fresh salads, lamb chops (of course), beef, sausage and a sinful selection of desserts including the sweetest, creamiest homemade ice cream imaginable. Before we said good-bye, they invited us for one more experience.

We drove a few miles from the ranch house into the woods to look for kangaroos. As we disembarked our bus, they told us to be very still. Even though the day was quite warm and the 'roos would be resting in the shade, they thought we might see a few. After a few moments we heard a strange call in the distance that turned out to be Duncan Barber driving through the trees on his ATV. Right on schedule, five big kangaroos ran right through the clearing in front of us - the perfect conclusion to our day.

Tomorrow we sail into Sydney's stunning harbor and berth next to the city's opera house. While others head for the airport, we'll spend the day seeing the sights and the evening dining on Australian lobster at the harbor's edge.

Finally, on Sunday, most of us will make our way to the airport to begin our long flight home. Thanks to re-crossing the International Dateline, we'll arrive home (according to the calendar) just a few hours after our departure. (Except for Nadine Allen: Nadine used her mileage to obtain her ticket that requires her to fly on Korean Airlines from Sydney to Seoul, then on to Los Angeles. She has a long day ahead of her.)

Thank you for traveling with us by means of these little postcards. We've had a great time: we've encountered wonderful, old-fashioned hospitality, tasted exceptional wines, seen memorable sights and enjoyed a delightful cruise. When you see us, we'll be weary, of course, but filled with good stories and laden with a number of pictures.

Traveling is wonderful but we look forward to coming home and to seeing you.

Wish you had been with us. Perhaps on another occasion.

Best regards,

Paul Niskanen