Whitsunday Island

 February 10, 2025

Mom packing light!

Happy Birthday to my dear mother!

She is 88 years young today and still going strong. She's in the rotation to play piano preludes for our church's services. I wish I could convince her to sing with the choir too because her voice is still a pure, clear soprano. And don't mess with her in a game of Hand & Foot. She comes to play!

When I was a kid, she was a model and was regularly photographed for a syndicated exercize column in the Des Moines Register. She and Dad were avid square dancers and had dozens of matching outfits. As a grandmother, Mom also played on a competitive volleyball team. I've always been so proud of her beauty inside and out, her accomplishments and positive attitude. 

She still lives in her own home, but while we're on the Sky, she's visiting one of my sisters and I know she's having a wonderful time! Best wishes, my dear little momma!

Today, we're in the Whitsunday Island chain just off the northern coast of Australia. In fact, the islands are so close, their electricity and potable water comes from the mainland. The island group was first mapped by Captain Cook who used the date of the chain's "discovery," for it's name--Whitsunday (celebrating the 7th Sunday after Pentecoste) 

Anybody else see the giant kangaroo in the sky?

We're on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef but the overcast sky has muted the usually vibrant blue and emerald water. It's also making it impossible to view the reef from above the surface. 

The tall flat-topped mountain is called Passage Peak and is visible from many other parts of the island chain. Cook used it as a point of reference for his early charts.

But we still took an island cruise to see what we could see. The Whitsunday's have been developed into a world class resort destination including a PGA level golf course on one of the islands. Scuba diving and snorkeling is big business but they are careful to protect the reef. It's illegal for a dive boat to drop an anchor. Instead there are strategically placed bouys in desirable diving areas that boats can tie up to for two hours at a time. After their alotted time, they must move on and give another group a chance.

Back on the Sky, the Viking crew was celebrating the Superbowl with a special culinary event while the game was broadcast on the big pooldeck screen and in our staterooms. Sadly, there's no joy in Mudville. Our mighty Chiefs were thoroughly trounced. It wasn't even a good game. 

However, congrats to the Eagles. Better luck next year, Chiefs.