Copyright - Audrey Plowes - 2010
CHAPTER SEVEN
TOURING IN AUSTRALIA
This is PO SCOOCH reporting from Western Australia.
We arrived here yesterday and, joy of joys, were joined by our victorious spy catchers!
We were informed by Captain Barnaby that Seacat Romeo has been awarded the Bronze Star, and promoted to Leading Seacat for his fearless action in the attack.
Also promoted and decorated for his part in the attack is Ensign Charlie who received the Bronze Star and a promotion to Lieutenant.
Purple Hearts have been awarded to those brave members of our crew who were wounded in battle. Injuries were not severe and all three have been returned to duty after a brief stay in a Naval Hospital. These are Chief Keagan, Seaman Happy and Seaman MurphyM.
We are staying in the WOOF SPECTACULAR HOTEL in Perth. It is one of the few hotels that cater exclusively for 'Animals in Uniform', and this is a picture of some of us enjoying the view from the verandah. (and others indulging in various activities at street level!)
We arrived here yesterday and, joy of joys, were joined by our victorious spy catchers!
We were informed by Captain Barnaby that Seacat Romeo has been awarded the Bronze Star, and promoted to Leading Seacat for his fearless action in the attack.
Also promoted and decorated for his part in the attack is Ensign Charlie who received the Bronze Star and a promotion to Lieutenant.
Purple Hearts have been awarded to those brave members of our crew who were wounded in battle. Injuries were not severe and all three have been returned to duty after a brief stay in a Naval Hospital. These are Chief Keagan, Seaman Happy and Seaman MurphyM.
We are staying in the WOOF SPECTACULAR HOTEL in Perth. It is one of the few hotels that cater exclusively for 'Animals in Uniform', and this is a picture of some of us enjoying the view from the verandah. (and others indulging in various activities at street level!)
Well, we enjoyed a few relaxing hours in the bar, but some of the girls weren't used to 'before dinner cocktails'. Hazel, in particular, who was tasting her first alcoholic beverage, was overcome by --- the FUMES..?! - or so she claims! I saw her making a hasty exit to the bathroom, followed closely by a few other girls. Keeleigh sneaked up and took this picture - which says it all!
Today we went on a tour. We hired two coaches and sped off for the wilderness areas of WA.
Our first stop was a remarkable phenomenon called 'Wave Rock'. It looks like a giant surf wave and some of the younger ones were actually afraid it might fall on them, or break over their heads and wash them into a sea of sand. Spooky, but fascinating.
Jazz, Tallulah and Sage were very much in doubt for their safety, while Kelsie, Roddie and Boomer pretended they were 'surfing' it.
Miss Morgan saw a good story for her magazine 'Bitches n Stitches' while our Chaplain, Bentley, actually made a silly pun! (He must be feeling frisky with Miss Morgan so near!)
Handing over now to PO Scott.
Our first stop was a remarkable phenomenon called 'Wave Rock'. It looks like a giant surf wave and some of the younger ones were actually afraid it might fall on them, or break over their heads and wash them into a sea of sand. Spooky, but fascinating.
Jazz, Tallulah and Sage were very much in doubt for their safety, while Kelsie, Roddie and Boomer pretended they were 'surfing' it.
Miss Morgan saw a good story for her magazine 'Bitches n Stitches' while our Chaplain, Bentley, actually made a silly pun! (He must be feeling frisky with Miss Morgan so near!)
Handing over now to PO Scott.
PO. SCOTT reporting.
On our way to our next port of call we came across a Gypsy Caravan and they allowed some of us to hitch a ride. Charlie and his 'lady friend' Molly Magee rode up front, while Tyler and Maggie tried to sit on top. (Tyler - wearing, of all things, a SUIT - , which he reckoned was to stop him from getting sunburnt!)
It looked kinda romantic though, and I heard Charlie singing, in his 'Bing Crosby' baritone voice, while Molly Magee listened with her head on his shoulder. Ah, sweet love!
On our way to our next port of call we came across a Gypsy Caravan and they allowed some of us to hitch a ride. Charlie and his 'lady friend' Molly Magee rode up front, while Tyler and Maggie tried to sit on top. (Tyler - wearing, of all things, a SUIT - , which he reckoned was to stop him from getting sunburnt!)
It looked kinda romantic though, and I heard Charlie singing, in his 'Bing Crosby' baritone voice, while Molly Magee listened with her head on his shoulder. Ah, sweet love!
Gee, it must be the Aussie climate or something because when we arrived at this nice park, quite a few of our group paired off. The following pictures were taken by me. (I nicked Keeleigh's camera while she was 'coochie-cooing' with Murphy!)
Caught 'em ALL in the act! HA HA!
P O Scott signing off from the 'Petting Park'!
Caught 'em ALL in the act! HA HA!
P O Scott signing off from the 'Petting Park'!
LT. SCRUFFY reporting.
Well, a few days have passed since SCOTT caught us 'Petting in the Park' and we are now at the coast.
It is beautiful here and the beaches seem to stretch on for miles.
We all went for a hike and, when it got heavy going and some of us had blisters, Charlie and Charlie Brown (who have become partners in crime) decided to hire some camels to save our feet. WELL, we might have saved our feet, but we hadn't counted on the blisters on our backsides!
NO MORE CAMEL RIDES for THIS sailor!
Well, a few days have passed since SCOTT caught us 'Petting in the Park' and we are now at the coast.
It is beautiful here and the beaches seem to stretch on for miles.
We all went for a hike and, when it got heavy going and some of us had blisters, Charlie and Charlie Brown (who have become partners in crime) decided to hire some camels to save our feet. WELL, we might have saved our feet, but we hadn't counted on the blisters on our backsides!
NO MORE CAMEL RIDES for THIS sailor!
Scruffy continuing .
We left WA and travelled on to the Northern Territory.
At Alice Springs we were in shooting distance of the great tourist attractions here in what is often called the 'Red Centre'. The colours here are breathtaking and we visited the Devil's Marbles, Ayer's Rock and the Olgas.
Of course, there are always those adventurous members of the crew (mainly female) who get the idea to go rock climbing, or treasure hunting - or whatever!
Yes, you guessed it. LACEY O'QUINN of 'King Solomon's Mines' fame, and her happy band!
They took off to find some secret associated with the Devil's Marbles.
An Aboriginal lad told them that there was some secret writing on them and that it held the clue to some lost treasure.
Oh dear! I guess some of us practical guys had better go find them, in case they fall off a cliff or something!
Lt Scruffy, getting together a search party!
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Meanwhile, LACEY O'QUINN, SCOOCH, MORGAN and several of the other girls were at the Devil's Marbles, accompanied by ROMEO, who volunteered to do the high, dangerous climbing.
They never suspected that the Aboriginal lad was 'pulling their legs' and that there was nothing to be found
BUT, at the 'Devil's Marbles' , they actually found more than they bargained for - (every picture tells a story!)
We left WA and travelled on to the Northern Territory.
At Alice Springs we were in shooting distance of the great tourist attractions here in what is often called the 'Red Centre'. The colours here are breathtaking and we visited the Devil's Marbles, Ayer's Rock and the Olgas.
Of course, there are always those adventurous members of the crew (mainly female) who get the idea to go rock climbing, or treasure hunting - or whatever!
Yes, you guessed it. LACEY O'QUINN of 'King Solomon's Mines' fame, and her happy band!
They took off to find some secret associated with the Devil's Marbles.
An Aboriginal lad told them that there was some secret writing on them and that it held the clue to some lost treasure.
Oh dear! I guess some of us practical guys had better go find them, in case they fall off a cliff or something!
Lt Scruffy, getting together a search party!
.............................................................................................................................................................................
Meanwhile, LACEY O'QUINN, SCOOCH, MORGAN and several of the other girls were at the Devil's Marbles, accompanied by ROMEO, who volunteered to do the high, dangerous climbing.
They never suspected that the Aboriginal lad was 'pulling their legs' and that there was nothing to be found
BUT, at the 'Devil's Marbles' , they actually found more than they bargained for - (every picture tells a story!)
PO. SCOOCH reporting.
When the guys came to 'rescue ' us (as if we NEEDED rescuing! - - - MEN! ) we were a bit embarrassed because we'd fallen for a silly joke. Still, the guys refrained from rubbing it in and we went with them to see the biggest rock ever - Ayer's Rock. (No. We did not attempt to climb it!)
Bentley was interested in the spiritual significance (it is a sacred Aboriginal site) and Charlie was sorry he'd left his plane in Sydney. He'd have loved to see it from the air.
When the guys came to 'rescue ' us (as if we NEEDED rescuing! - - - MEN! ) we were a bit embarrassed because we'd fallen for a silly joke. Still, the guys refrained from rubbing it in and we went with them to see the biggest rock ever - Ayer's Rock. (No. We did not attempt to climb it!)
Bentley was interested in the spiritual significance (it is a sacred Aboriginal site) and Charlie was sorry he'd left his plane in Sydney. He'd have loved to see it from the air.
From here we went to the Olgas - more red rocks. In fact, it seems that EVERYTHING here is RED! I can see why they call it the RED CENTRE.
A lot of the fun we had getting there was due to our unusual means of transport. Look at the picture and you'll see what I mean!
A lot of the fun we had getting there was due to our unusual means of transport. Look at the picture and you'll see what I mean!
This ended our tour of the Red Centre, and tomorrow we leave for the sun and sea of the Queensland Islands. See ya there!
P O Scooch signing off.
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P O Scooch signing off.
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SUNNY QUEENSLAND
CLICK PAUSE BUTTON OF FIRST TUNE THEN CLICK ARROW BELOW IT TO HEAR NEXT TUNE.
This is PO. BOOGIE reporting from Sunny Queensland where they say the weather is 'beautiful one day; perfect the next'. Well, we've been here for three days and I won't argue with that description. When these few days are over, we rejoin the SEADOG in Brisbane.
One big surprise! We have been joined by several new crewmembers who arrived from Pearl Harbour a couple of days ago. Here is a list of them:
- Seawoman MAGGIE 2, who will work with Chief PO FERNANDO in Damage Control.
- Seawoman DAISY, who has been assigned to a gun crew.
- Seaman SHAMMIE, who is in Signals.
- Seaman KRAMER, also assigned to Signals.
- Seawoman SAMANTHA, who is training to be a Navy Seal.
- Cadet MILLY, who had been assigned to the XO as his secretary.
I can't begin to describe this place. Romantic sunsets, - the best diving ever, - great fishing, - yummy food,- warm days cooled by gentle sea breezes and balmy nights! Ah, this is the life! (I think I might retire here!) It's really hard to believe that there's a war raging out there.
We got to know our new friends quickly, and this is a picture of some of us with them on the beach.
One big surprise! We have been joined by several new crewmembers who arrived from Pearl Harbour a couple of days ago. Here is a list of them:
- Seawoman MAGGIE 2, who will work with Chief PO FERNANDO in Damage Control.
- Seawoman DAISY, who has been assigned to a gun crew.
- Seaman SHAMMIE, who is in Signals.
- Seaman KRAMER, also assigned to Signals.
- Seawoman SAMANTHA, who is training to be a Navy Seal.
- Cadet MILLY, who had been assigned to the XO as his secretary.
I can't begin to describe this place. Romantic sunsets, - the best diving ever, - great fishing, - yummy food,- warm days cooled by gentle sea breezes and balmy nights! Ah, this is the life! (I think I might retire here!) It's really hard to believe that there's a war raging out there.
We got to know our new friends quickly, and this is a picture of some of us with them on the beach.
The first thing we did after this was to break up into groups and either go fishing with Casey, or scuba diving, - with Sage taking Dasher's place as instructor and guide to those who hadn't dived before.
Two groups went fishing! Some of the girls went on their own private fishing trip in a long rowboat that they hired. They didn't catch as much as they had hoped because they said Dasaher was 'buzzing' them on his jet ski, and scaring all the fish away! (THIS was why he didn't go diving, no doubt. It was obviously more fun teasing the girls!)
However, they did catch a few good ones. Little Milly caught the biggest; - a fine Red Emperor and Daisy landed a nice Coral Trout after losing her first one to Dasher's antics
The second group that went fishing came home with lots of stories about 'the one that got away', - but even the ones they brought back were pretty good. We cooked them for our tea and had enough to go around the whole crew!
Dasher was really very sorry that he'd upset the girls. He hadn't meant any harm. Just 'boyish fun'! To make up, he gave them extra helpings of the fish they'd all caught that day and shouted them to a few bottles of Australian vintage wine. They did quite well, actually!
However, they did catch a few good ones. Little Milly caught the biggest; - a fine Red Emperor and Daisy landed a nice Coral Trout after losing her first one to Dasher's antics
The second group that went fishing came home with lots of stories about 'the one that got away', - but even the ones they brought back were pretty good. We cooked them for our tea and had enough to go around the whole crew!
Dasher was really very sorry that he'd upset the girls. He hadn't meant any harm. Just 'boyish fun'! To make up, he gave them extra helpings of the fish they'd all caught that day and shouted them to a few bottles of Australian vintage wine. They did quite well, actually!
On our last evening before returning to Brisbane, Ginger caught Zeus and Ginny near the pool, in the sunset, sharing a romantic moment together, and I think it is a nice note on which to end an incredibly romantic tour.
I think it also reminds us of what we are fighting for!
PO Boogie signing off.
I think it also reminds us of what we are fighting for!
PO Boogie signing off.
NOW GO TO THE NEXT SHORT PAGE FOR A SPECIAL TREAT - COURTESY OF LIAM!
