Today we were on our own until noon, when Laurie P. picked me up for lunch and a few accommodation inspections — I have to work some of the time while I'm here.  This evening we joined Laurie P. and Maggie for one last dinner. Maggie is the marine biologist/zoologist that our partners work with here in Cairns. She was a joy to meet. Now it is 11 p.m. on Thursday evening and the car comes for us at 4:15 a.m. in the morning — I still need to pack, so I think I’ll sign off for tonight.

Tomorrow my faithful companions, Marylin and Yvette, head back to the U.S. and I head southwest to Adelaide to visit with my friends Maree and Jono and get a few snuggles from their eight month old son, Jedediah!