AIMS

Folks, what an amazing day we've had. The Australian Institute of Marine Science had it's open day today. The Institute is situated about 60 miles from my place, right on Cape Ferguson....the shores of the Barrier Reef. The Institute first opened in 1972, employs roughly 140, half of whom are American marine biologists. After chatting with a few, they told me it's the best place to learn about anything in the ocean....heh, no argument from me!! They also told me that the Institute has a research program with the American Pharmaceutical division, and have come up with some positive developments re cancer and the sea sponge.

The place is absolutely huge, has it's own private beach, research vessels, environmental and engineering plant, jetty etc. In the next few days i plan to post some photos i took. I have just downloaded them, i was hoping a pic i took of a flatback turtle and a school of baby sharks, would have come out but i guess i was just that bit far away from them. Infact it was "A" who spotted the turtle from the jetty...we got around 2 mins of watching it before it dived under the water again. Well, we will sleep well tonight, i tell ya, climbing sand dunes and all that walking wore us out. It was perfect Winter weather, much better than the last time i was there...round 12 years ago, it was freezing. I tell you, standing out on that jetty, reminded us just how lucky we are to live where we do :o) Hope you all had a great weekend!

till next time, Michelle.

Cape Ferguson, a view from the jetty.