Last Day of eclipse tour

November 15

Meeting at the hotel lobby at 8am, we were collected by bus to drop us off at the Kuranda Scenic Railway.  This steam locomotive railway takes one up the lush mountain towards the table lands, at a slow sedate pace, making many twists and turns along the way, going through many tunnels.  For those familiar with Puffing Billy in the Dandenongs, it feels similar.  However, many more people died completing this railway from either rock cave ins, disease, or snake bite.

Arriving at Kuranda, Ralph procured our tickets for the return trip down the mountain, this time via the Skyrail cablecar.  However, we had a couple of hours to spend in the picturesque village of Kuranda first.

Mum and I had morning tea, and had company

The last official event of our tour was a nice way to end it.  I’m still sad about totality, and will probably ruminate over it for a while, wondering if we could’ve done anything differently on eclipse day.  But that’s life for ya – got to get used to dealing with disappointments!

Off to Melbourne for some down time at Mum's house now.

Eclipse Day

November 14

This year, there have been three special solar observing events that I’ve been looking forward to.

-The May annular eclipse; from Toronto I was able to observe a partial annular eclipse from the airport with some friends before the sun set.

-In June, the Transit of Venus – a rare event which will not occur again for over a century.  A group of us observed first and second contact from the Toronto RASC’s observatory in the Collingwood area before sunset

AND

-A total eclipse of the sun.  I’ve been solar observing for some time.  Indeed, I was the person who started the Toronto RASC’s solar observing sessions.  I have been observing the sun in hydrogen alpha and white light for years, but have never been fortunate enough to witness a solar eclipse.

Which brings me to today.

Wake up call at 3am, mustering in the hotel’s lobby at 3.45.  Our intrepid leader Dr. Ralph Chou got us on the bus, and off we went.  Lots of traffic heading north, not so much heading south.  Arriving at the Wangetti beach site (which was pre arranged a long time ago) police and emergency services where present.  Roads closed off, many people walking the 400m to the beach.  Ralph’s  friend had stayed overnight at the beach, setting aside a spot for us, away from the tide line, and on some vegetation higher than those further down on the beach.

We setup under starlight – Orion was high overhead, Venus and Jupiter blazing brightly.  A good omen, or so we thought.

As first contact descended at 5.44am, clouds obscured the view, however shortly afterwards we were able to see the moon munching it’s way across the solar disc. 

Yay for that at least.

Would we see totality?  The clouds looked like they might be cooperating…..

As the seconds ticked down to 6.38 second contact (or totality) a cloud moved in front of the sun at the last moment.  SHIT!

Suffice it say, I was not a happy camper.  These things happen I know, but I feel very disappointed not to have seen Bailey’s Beads, the Diamond Ring and of course the solar corona streaming out from behind the moon.

Other folks were more philosophical about it – I’ll get over it - it's been a great trip otherwise.  But my 2012 solar trifecta was not to be. 

Guess I’ll have to wait until 2017.

Cairns day 2

November 13

Although tomorrow is eclipse day, we had the day off.  Took another boat trip (this time shorter) to Green Island – same setting up routine as yesterday upon arrival.  The winds and tides had churned up the bottom of the ocean somewhat, limiting visibility under the water.

The fruit bats are everywhere!  There were hundreds of them hanging from the mango trees outside the hotel.  So cute……..

Eclipse day tomorrow – forecast is looking a bit iffy.

Reef

November 12

Arrived in Cairns late last night – today after rising early (again) we went to the Great Barrier Reef on a large Quicksilver catamaran – there were about 400 of us on the boat I believe.

The weather was choppy – my sister was turning green pretty much the whole way out to the reef – about an hour or so.

The cat sidles up to a large pontoon, which is anchored in place.  After transferring to it, we got outfitted with masks, flippers and snorkels (and black coverall suits, to protect not only from the sun, but from stinging jellyfish).

We saw a lot of fish, but the reef that we were sitting over was looking pretty bleached (ie, dead) L  Global warming is considered a culprit.  

Lest we forget

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November 11

Darwin is a very resilient and interesting place.  In recent history, twice decimated. 

During WW2, from 1942 to 1943 Darwin was repeatedly bombed by the Japanese, over 60 times.

In 1974 Cyclone Tracy almost completely flattened the city, with about 90% of the buildings destroyed.  New, extremely strict building codes are the norm now.  Gord, our bus guide, was telling us that even an outdoor shed has to withstand winds of 300 km/hr.

Today is Remembrance Day – we hope to find the Cenotaph after brekky.

http://www.anzacday.org.au/education/tff/memorials/nt.html

Update - just got back to the hotel after walking around Darwin for a few hours, and observing the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph this morning.

 

Wonderful view

November 10

Ubirr, where there were more wonderful rock drawings, walking up to the height of that point of land where we were treated to a 360 degree view of the local environment.

Throughout this whole trip, I’ve been thinking of the astrospouse, and how much he would’ve loved this all so far.

I’ve got a sore throat today – frack me can’t I get better now?  C’mon body – cooperate.

We were reminded constantly to keep drinking – the bus drivers along the way have had water jugs under the bus to keep our bottles topped up.  

Back to Darwin on the bus. 

"That's not a knife..."

November 9

Stepping out of the airport in Darwin was like stepping out into a sauna.

After spending the night in Darwin, we drove a couple of hours to Kakadu.

This “Crocodile Dundee” territory is unworldly – replete with ancient cave drawings and a lush, verdant river system teaming with life.  We went on a 2 hour boat cruise on the Yellow River, and in that time saw countless birds and crocodiles – and this was in the hottest part of the day when we were not expected to see much.  Wonderful.

Spent the night inside a crocodile.

http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/jabiru/jabgg/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=mdpr-_-GoogleMapsAU-_-hi-_-jabgg