One of my favourite adventures with DD was cruising the Kimberley between COVID-19 lockdowns, aboard a yacht called the Reef Prince.
Most cruise companies had parked their vessels during the pandemic, so we virtually had the rivers and sea to ourselves. And it was magical.
It was our first expedition cruise and we shared the experience with around 28 other lucky passengers, including a couple called Barry and Rhonda.
I’ve stayed in touch with Rhonda via Facebook and we finally caught up in person last weekend at the Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre in Marrickville.
There were big hugs and joyful smiles all round as we reunited after our five-year separation. Then we enjoyed a succulent Chinese meal, including prawn toast, Mongolian lamb and other nom-nom dishes beneath the venue’s signature Lucky Prawn.
A few bevvies in the Pool Room followed – I love the nostalgia buzz the brewery gives, especially since I’m a major Bob fangirl.
DD and I shared so many amazing moments with Barry and Rhonda in the Kimberley – climbing waterfalls to swim in the waterholes at the top, fishing, witnessing the wonder of Montegomery Reef at dawn.
That’s Barry and Rhonda on the left when our guides nudged the boat’s tender under King George Falls to douse us with the cascading water.
We also loved the lazy hours we spent sitting on the front deck of the Reef Prince together, watching the incredible landscapes slip by.
Damn that was a good trip and wow I looked so young and thin! I would go back to the Kimberley in a heartbeat for another visit, it’s one of my favourite parts of the world. But it’s not cheap, so I might need to invest in some lottery tickets and keep my fingers tightly crossed.
Most of our catch-up with Barry and Rhonda was spent reminiscing about the fun we had aboard the Reef Prince, wondering what happened to the boat’s high-energy First Mate Fritz (pictured main doing bunny ears behind DD’s catch of the day) and discussing the various cruises and holidays we’ve enjoyed since then.
They’re even better travelled than us, with destinations including Norway, Finland, Antarctica and Africa ticked off their bucket list in recent years.
We’re all keen to visit Cenderwasih Bay in West Papua, so there may be another cruise together in our future!
Song of the day: Mary Hopkin “Those were the days”
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