We all joined up in Melbourne on April 30, 2008, for our OAT Australia tour. 
Melbourne city scape from memorial steps. Yes, it true, the picture below was taken when we were playing "peek aboo" with our tour guide who had to use the men's restroom in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. We had Vincent stumped for the moment, upon his exit from the men's room, because we were all hiding behind this huge Ficus tree: 
Now where did that tour guide go? Vince Haberfield was his name. 
Vince give us a tour of Melbourne. "Nancy it's over there" 
We did some walking with Vince! Man, did we! 
This guy wasn't in our group, was he? Ned Kelly was his name. 
Judy and Jax off on another adventure. 
Judy and Nancy at the Melbourne museum. 
Chuck and Tom after a long day's work. 
On to Adelaide. 
Judy and Jax at Cleland Wildlife Park in Adelaide. 
Mary Ann and Jim with friend. 
Same "friend," different humans. 
The real star of the show. 
We liked this statue near the university. Nancy, too. 
He is from the South Torres islands just off the NE tip of Australia. Gave us a wonderful performance. 
We liked the migration museum in Adelaide. 
On the tram ride down to the beach town of Glenelg south of Adelaide. 
Nice evening in Glenelg. 
Sunset on the South Ocean Gulf of St. Vincent. 
Alice Springs from War Memorial Hill.Video - Lookout Station in Alice Springs from previous picture
Lest We Forget. 
The Southern Cross and the Commonwealth Star (six stares and the territories) on a blue field with the Union Flag in the upper hoist quarter -- The Australian National Flag. 
Alice Springs walk. All went to the Flying Doctor's museum. Tom and Nan to the Pioneer Women's museum. 
Telegraph Station at Alice Springs. 
Alec - our living historian at Alice Springs. 
Here is how it was .... 
Throw it like this, Chuck. 
What form Nancy!! The one of Tom throwing and having the returning boomerrang hitting his leg has been omitted to save his dignity.
Did we win? Julia and Nancy go for a camel ride at bus stop on the way to Ayre's Rock. 
Cute aren't they? No, not the camels!! 
The Olgas (Kata Tjutas). Big rock formations near Uluru. 
Beautiful "high desert" landscape. 
Marilyn is having fun. "These are big!" 
Vince and Nancy all smiles. 
Ayers Rock (Uluru) just before sunset. Vince pours the drinks at our sunset "Rock" party. 
Jamille and Jax take it all in. 
(F)Nan, Julia, Wanda, Judy, Jax, (R)Tom, Jim, Mary Ann, Marilyn, Chuck, Jamille. 
Good food, good drink, good friends. 
The line up to make sure the Rock stays put. 
It did!! See the changing colors. 
Wanda helps herself to more goodies. For the record, we all had the expectation that the OAT guides were not supposed to imbibe while on duty; so we are not sure whether Vince was the exception or the rule and who enjoyed the champagne more. 
Looking good! 
Tom, Nancy, Marilyn, Chuck and the Rock 
Chuck and Tom .... and Uluru. 
Sunset on the desert. 
Nan's bucket list got shorter. SHE DID IT!!!! Helo flight over Ayers Rock at sunrise. 
Sunrise over the desert. 
See the dot --- that's Nancy! 
Ayers Rock is impressive. We walked around most of it. 
Vince is telling us that it was this big, but it got away. 
Keep those pesky flys off me!! 
Vince leads the way and Chuck has his trusted Sony camera ready. 
Tom couldn't go up the rock; so he jogged around the base --6 miles. 
All these images in the rock have special meanings to the Aboriginees. 
You gotta see it to believe it. 
Jamille sit-down strike during Vince's "walk around the Rock." 
Nice seat, I protest too. 
Let's all go on a sit-down strike. 
Read all about it. 
Port Douglas harbor. 
Our hotel. Sea Temple, in Port Douglas. 
Chuck did his laps, the rest of us had fun dog paddling around. 
Dinner at the Ironbar in Port Douglas. 
Wavedancer; our "ride" to the Great Barrier Reef. 
On our way to the Great Barrier Reef. Wild ride!! 
Low Isle where we snorkled, swam, glass boated and ate. 
Great scenery on/from the boat. 
Captain Tom is happy to be at sea. Meanwhile, back to the Barrier Reef and rainforrest pictures: 
Jim and his harem. Lives in Utah, you know. :-) 
Wanda wants to make sure she gets into the picture. 
This guy does get around. Mary Ann, are you watching? 
Final choice. And the winner is .... Mary Ann 
Wanda and Mary Ann enjoying the ride. 
Jim and Tom on the forecastle. 
Jax, Jamille and Judy taking it all in. 
Judy had a heck of fun time last night. Wonder what the other guy looks like? 
Marilyn and Chuck are a happy looking couple. 
Chuck working on Wanda's camara -- he got it fixed!! 
Nancy and Marilyn on the beach at Cape Tribulation. 
The Ferntree Lodge in Cape Tribulation. 
Capt. Cook named this Cape Tribulation after his ship went aground on the reef. 
Tom and Nancy in love. 
Oh, those tired feet! When does Vince want us to be ready for the next hike? 
Our nature cruise boat ride up Coopers Creek. 
Nice river --- except for the crocs. 
Unusual; a male and female together on the flat. He is over 800 pounds! 
Great picture of Jamille and Julia. 
Nice smile, Jamille. 
Don't get too close to the bank. 
A real rain forrest, and it rained. 
Yep it did! 
Tom and Nancy took shelter under a ---- what the heck is it? 
Our own spider at the Ferntree Lodge. 4-5 inches across. We named her Charlotte. aka Golden Orb. 
What's left of the hikers from Vince's last OAT group. 
The city --- Sydney! 
Sydney Opera House and Sydney bridge in background. 
Where lifeguarding started -- Bondi Beach. 
Bondi Beach -- we couldn't take pictures of the topless girls. Sob! 
No problem taking this picture on the beach. 
Aborigine instrument on the right is a didgeridoo. 
Yep, the Opera House again. 
Jax and Nancy living the good life. 
It's been a good day. 
Yes it has!! 
Two happy guys -- must have been to a pub along the way. 
Wanda looks ready to get the boat underway. 
Darling Harbour at night. 
From the bridge - Cicular Quay in the foreground and the city behind. 
From the bridge. 
The Sydney bridge at sunset. 
Another boat ride -- the ferry to Manly. 
Good beer here --- and a little naval history, too. Speaking of which, here is one of Tom's favorite Aussie beer songs:
Looks like the General himself. 
We had our last OAT dinner here.Video of interior of Lord Nelson's Pub
Our farewell dinner ending our OAT Australia tour. Great time was had by all. 
Good by Sydney. 
Nancy, Tom and the Koala.
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