Censored !!!
Saturday
9th
Last full day in Australia. Take a trip to the Kuranda Rainforest via the Skyrail Cableway and then back on the Kuranda scenic railway. There are great views from both. In the evening the group has its farewell dinner at a local bar.
Friday
8th
A day trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Leave Port Douglas harbour for the one hour boat journey to a platform on the reef.
First thing I do is have a trip on the Semi-Sub with its great views of the reef and its fish.
After lunch on the platform its time to put on the Lycra suit !! and go snorkelling. Spend about an hour just swimming around, admiring the amazing colours of the reef and its fish.
The reef is in the Coral Sea, so this is the third Ocean I have swan in,
in two weeks.
Thursday
7th
A group of five including me, after a night on the beer decide to go White Water rafting on the River Barron near Cairns. I manage to stay in the raft but get soaked. This evening it rains for the first time on the trip after two weeks of hot and sunny weather.
Later
in the evening find the Barmy Army again in the Cathedral Inn by the ground,
this time they are signing ‘We’re going to win 3-2’. Have
a great meal – Game pie Aussie style – Kangaroo, Emu and Wallaby,
washed down with the local Coopers Pale Ale.
Wednesday
6th
Meet Geoff Boycott in the lift at the hotel and he thinks England will now lose 5-0 after being ‘Bloody Awful’ on the last day at Adelaide. Fly to Cairns via Sydney, takes about five hours. From Cairns it is an hour bus journey to the next hotel in Port Douglas (towards the top of the East Coast).
Sunday
10th
Leave Australia with the view England still hold the Ashes, only just, when I leave for England. Three visits to Australia, 6 test Matches and no England wins. Bring on 2010/11.
Thirty-four hours later, after leaving the hotel in Port Douglas I’m back at Astcote, via Cairns, Sydney, Bangkok, Heathrow and Milton Keynes.
A great holiday, only slightly spoilt by the cricket results.
Reported by John Stretton.
Eng
1st Inns – 551-6 dec
Aus 1st Inns – 513
Eng 2nd Inns – 129
Aus 2nd Inns – 168-4
Aus 1st Inns – 513
Eng 2nd Inns – 129
Aus 2nd Inns – 168-4
Adelaide - Defeat from the jaws of a draw
Saturday
2nd
A days cricket to remember, as Collingwood scores 206 and Pieterson 158 in a record partnership of 310, in a total of 551/6 declared. By the fourth evening it looks like the match will end in a draw, as the Aussie’s bat well to reach England’s score.
Tuesday
5th
Think the Test will end in a bore draw, so cannot decide whether to go to the cricket or go sightseeing. Finally decide to go to the cricket until lunch to see what happens.
I don’t believe it !! By late afternoon England have lost the Test by 6 wickets. Only England could lose a Test match like this. When I have calmed down, I realise what a privilege it has been to see Warne & McGrath bowl – two great players.
Friday
1st December
1st day at the Adelaide Oval. England win the toss and bat, but still no Monty, cannot believe the decision to leave him out.
Wednesday
29th
Time to leave Brisbane, to catch an early morning flight to Adelaide – home of the 2nd Test Match. When I check in at the hotel there are England players everywhere. They are stopping in the same hotel, as well as the English Press.
Walk
around Adelaide, which like most Aussie cities is on a grid system, so it’s
very easy to find your way around. From the City Centre – Victoria
Square, jump on a tram to the local beach – Glenelg, again it’s
a wonderful beach and I have a swim. This time it’s the Southern Ocean.
Danger
- Swimmers in white pants !!!
Tuesday
28th
Four of us decide to visit Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, after a short train and bus ride journey we are on the beach. Went for a swim in the Pacific Ocean – no sharks here today. Enjoyed fish & chips and more xxxx in the beach bars.
Quickly
leave the ground and decide to catch a train to visit Australia zoo –
the late Steve Irwins zoo. Watch the crocodiles being fed – Crikey!
In the evening meet up with others from the tour group and find the Barmy
Army’s HQ, the Pig ‘n’ Whistle pub. Have a great evening
drinking the local beer XXXX Gold and singing with the ‘Army’.
The favourite seems to be ‘We’re going to win 4-1’.
Monday
27th
By midday England have lost by 277 runs.
Aus
1st Inns – 602-9 dec
Eng 1st Inns – 157 all out
Aus 2nd Inns – 202-1 dec
Eng 2nd Inns - 370 all out
Australia
Zoo and the late, great Steve Irwin
Day One, The Gabba, Brisbane
For
the next three days England play some good cricket, but only in short spells,
by the end of the fourth day it looks like Australia will win easily.
John and the Holy Grail - To watch England win in Oz in 2006
Wednesday
22nd
Arrive in Brisbane early morning and manage to stay awake by doing some sightseeing around the city. By 8pm can stake awake no longer, so off to bed!
Thursday
23rd
First days play at the Gabba. Arrive early to watch the first ball. The ground is full and the excitement is building, Harmison runs in and the first ball is a wide fielded at 2nd slip by Flintoff, oh dear, hope this isn’t a sign of things to come.
Monday
20th & Tuesday 21st November
Left Heathrow at 10pm, the plane is full of England supporters as well as the group of forty I am travelling with. The flight to Singapore takes twelve and a half-hours, then after a short break of two hours, only another eight hours to Brisbane.