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January 13 - Australia: Cairns

Too early for a witty title:  Jon's run #45

Today was the speedwork day of the running week.  I'm coming to realize that I need something to mix up the training a bit and I'm using the day I run sprints as one attempt to keep the running from getting stale.  It also helps because in the back of my mind I'm strongly considering trying to run a marathon when we get to the States in the spring.  This could end up being really difficult because it's so hot here, even at 4:30 in the morning.  And if I want to seriously train I'll have to start getting up even earlier to avoid running in the hot part of the day because my runs will have to get longer...this could mean getting up at 3:45 or even earlier.  That just sounds crazy to me and I've been known to do some crazy things, too many to even begin to list right now!

The run was a nice one.  Because my run is finished before the sun is really up I've taken to running along the water by the Esplanade in the mornings.  The setting is nice and every once in a while I get to see a nice sunrise.  There wasn't much of a sunrise to speak of but the run was still nice and I even saw a few other hearty people out at this hour.

Jon and I were both on today, and it was a nice and easy day of work.  We only had 11 people registered to come aboard Sea Quest, so Horst let some of the staff go home instead of working.  Jon was one of the "released" staff, although he came out with us to get some dives in.

Burkie's Defective Joystick

On our way out to the reef, the crew was hanging out in the wheelhouse (as usual - it has the better air conditioning and the least amount of customers!).  Burkie was complaining about the mouse on his computer keyboard not working correctly.  Instead of the mouse most of us are used to, the boat's keyboard has a joystick - theoretically to make it easier for the skipper to use.  So, Burkie's joystick was acting up and as he said, "the little nobby thing keeps disappearing".  

I don't need to tell how this conversation degenerated.

I was titled "computer geek" and was recruited to help disassemble the keyboard to find out the problem with "Burkie's Nobby".  Some of the helpful suggestions from the peanut gallery:

So Burkie and I took apart the keyboard while throwing around silly double entendres with the rest of the crew.  Because the keyboard was still connected and I was sitting on a metal bench, I got two little electrical shocks.  This prompted the winning response: "Woa!  There's still some life left in Burkie's nobby!".  

In the end, we managed to fix Burkie's Nobby, and it's as good as new.

Burkie and his little nobby

Snorkel #1: Hastings Reef - Angel's Bommie

The weather was pretty windy, and the sea was very choppy.  So Burkie took me and my four snorkelers out on the dinghy to the far side of the reef.  This way, the current would pull us back into the boat and we wouldn't have to fight with the slight swells.  I had two couples snorkeling today: one woman was six months pregnant and the other had been suffering from a stomach ailment.  Despite all the terrible things that could have happened with these two ladies, everything went just fine.

There wasn't a lot to see because visibility was so poor, but they seemed to have a good time.  Before I headed back to the boat, I saw a school of about 40 juvenile cuttlefish swimming in the current.  They look like baby squids, so it was kind of cool to watch!

Snorkel #2: Saxon Reef - The Wild Side

The two ladies decided to stay dry for a little while longer, so their husbands went in to snorkel without them.  Because this was an easy snorkel and because the ocean was a tad bit calmer, I decided to stay on deck and to help Horst with the other passengers.  Jon went down for a dive by himself - which is a big no-no in the scuba industry, but something that is overlooked for dive masters and instructors on occasion.

Don't tell them I said that!

Jon in his sexy Dive Gear

He came up after 30 minutes, intending to refill his tank and to squeeze in a quick third dive.  But I talked him into giving his tank to me and manning the deck while I went under.  We have to have 100 dives each in order to sit for the Instructor Exam in February, and Jon has about 6 more dives than I do.  So he kindly handed over his tank and kit and I went down for a 15 minute dive.

My Loner Dive - Saxon Reef: The Wild Side

It was kind of cool diving by myself.  I didn't have to worry about keeping tabs on my buddy or his air.  I only had to worry about myself.  Having said that, I understand why the Scuba Diver Commandments include "Thou Shalt Not Dive Without a Buddy".  If anything happened to me, there would be no one to go for help.  So I kept the dive short and sweet, especially since I needed to be back on the boat at 2:00 and it was already 1:40.  But I'm glad I got to squeeze in a short dive.

We were back in Cairns by 4:30, and the city was covered in rain clouds.  So we finished up our boat chores in record time and were home by 5:00.  We made Red Curry Beef for dinner and had ice cream for dessert.  Now it's 8:45 and I bet Jon has already fallen asleep upstairs.  

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