People wonder how Catherine and I have coped with living for months cramped in a boat but when they visit us they realise we are very comfortable here in paradise. That was the case again this week when we enjoyed the company of Kathryn, Lorraine and Peter for a cruise to some of our favourite spots around the Whitsundays.
We happened across two turtles one day and it seemed so extraordinary to us that we were still talking about it days later. Turtles are usually shy and on the rare occasion one pops its head up it would be only a brief sighting before the turtle dives for cover. So we were surprised not only to see a pair of turtles but also that they swam around for 10 minutes unperturbed while we watched them closely from the boat. Truly memorable.
Colourful fish, coral reefs, whales, dolphins, Whitehaven Beach, sunsets, sunrises: all magnificent. After visiting the aboriginal cave, our night at Nara Inlet was capped-off with a pretty show of sparkling bio-luminescence in the inky black water. We packed all this in from Sunday to Wednesday while cruising around the islands. Thursday we spent at Airlie Beach sightseeing, dining, swimming and relaxing. It was terrific taking Kathryn, Lorraine and Peter around the Whitsundays, showing them the sights, enjoying happy hour and spending the evenings chatting and playing card games.
The weather has been getting warmer, reaching high-20s. Also, the winds have now switched to northerlies and often light so at times it has felt quite hot on board: perfect for snorkelling. The nights have been balmy and star-filled. It’s going to be hard leaving this wonderful climate in a week’s time.
Debonnaire 