Just saw this on my CNN homepage are all of our Australia posters okay???
I have no idea exactly where anyone is, in relation to where the cyclone hit. I hope that everyone is safe!!
(Hi Anne and Jax).

Ciao, meow
Pokey

The cyclone has hit far north Queensland which is on the eastern side of Australia. Most popular tourist destinations are Cairns, Port Douglas, Innisfail, Mission Beach. Innisfail copped the 'eye' and the most damage.
Fortunately no reports of loss of lives.

These areas are always on 'cyclone alert' during our summer months. They are tropical regions and are best to visit during our winter months, when the weather can still be very hot.

Western Australia has also had a couple of cyclones in the far north this summer, but categories 2 - 3 only. Cyclone 'Harry' which has just hit Queensland was a caterogry 5. Very strong.

You call them hurricanes in USA.

Tourism should not be affected when the 'dry' season starts in May.

Elly

Has Annett checked in? Hope everything get's back to "normal" ASAP.

Ginger

Hi Ginger,
Annet posts from Rocklyn which is in Victoria, a southern state on the east and nowhere near the cyclone area.

Unless she has gone north for a hot holiday, she should be fine.

Elly

Elly,
thank you for replying to my post

I'm glad to know that you are okay as (most likely) are Annet and Jax. ( we met in Florence last Oct. they are such lovely and fun slow travelers)!

ciao, meow,
Pokey

quote:

The cyclone has hit far north Queensland which is on the eastern side of Australia.

I have friends who live in Chermside West, Queensland and I haven't heard from them since the cyclone. If anyone STers are familiar with this area I'd appreciate knowing if it was in the path of the storm. Thanks....

quote:

Chermside West

The only one I know is a suburb of Brisbane so, no worries there. It's about 2000km (1200Miles) South of the Cyclone.
Cheers

Ditto Ember, Chermside is a suburb of Brisbane.

Ooops, sorry cyclone's name was Larry not Harry.

Elly

Thanks for your responses Ember and Elly.

I just received this email from our friends in Australia:
"We were quite safe, as the cyclone was approximately 1000 miles north of us. Very devastating however for the people in parts of North Queensland. Weather forecasters tell us there is another one brewing in the Coral Sea."

It's very touching when people from afar are concerned about our residents, especially given that horrible natural disasters occur all over our planet.

So to all of you, from all of us, a BIG thanks for your thoughts.

Elly

Hi Pokey and suncoast,

We are perfectly safe.

Elly is right we are a long way from the effected area, thanks for the thoughts. Our thoughts are with all those affected as well. Luckly no lives lost, a lot of property damage and most of the banana growers have lost their crops, lots of people will not have jobs.

We luckily don't get cyclones here. Thank goodness.

Thanks Pokey we thourougly enjoyed our encounter too, you equally lovely slow traveler.

Anne