Day 200: Mackay, Australia – 25/07/10

Mike and I decide to take the Mackay Explorer bus around town – he hasn’t been out of the marina yet and it’s about time he saw something else.

The bus goes out around the various sights but we don’t fancy the botanic gardens or the lagoon, so we get off in town and walk the short distance to the mall.  We walk around hoping that the sight of different kinds of shops will jog our memories – there are a couple of things we need but can’t remember what they are.  Walking around doesn’t help though.  Let’s hope they aren’t important.

We walk back to where we got off the bus as there is one every hour back to the marina, but after waiting for nearly 45 minutes, the bus hasn’t arrived.  When one comes in the opposite direction, I run across the road and flag it down.  What a lovely driver.  He is just finishing – his bus is now out of service – but he offers to turn round and take us back because he can’t leave us stranded – and he returns ten minutes later and does just that.  What a gentleman!

Although it’s very windy, it’s still warm enough to go for a walk along the beach, so after dumping our stuff and having a quick drink, we set off.  It’s a beautiful stretch of wide open beach and once we get past the gaggle of kite surfers and boarders, we have it to ourselves.

Photos:  Beach at Mackay

We walk for ages along the beach then head back to the yacht club where a talk is being given on sailing around the Whitsundays.  I stay for a while then leave as Mike is taking notes anyway.  As there’s no hot water I use the shore facilities – it’s wonderful to be able to stand under a hot shower for ages.  None of this turning the water on, then off in sudden, short bursts.  Luxury!

Before we go out I give both Mike and JB a quick haircut.  JB is off to meet Carole tomorrow and I need to spruce him up for her!

Tonight is the prize giving for the leg to Australia.  As it’s the half way point (psychologically rather than in time or miles), the WCC staff decide that every boat should win a prize, so there are some strange ones awarded just to make sure that this happens.  The hotel put on a really good buffet, although there’s not quite enough tables to go around and we end up sitting on sofas leaning over the coffee table.  Jutta just sits on the floor eating off a stool.  It’s the first time I have been able to talk to Miew Ling, Stephen’s wife, as she is only here for a week.

After the prize giving, people slowly start to drift off.  Mike goes back to the boat but I stay on later for a few drinks with JB and ‘the kids’.  As the evening wears on, things get more and more silly.

Photos:  Whatever it was, it was hilarious at the time!

Already somewhat the worse for wear, we make (for me anyway) the bad decision of going over to Chessie to join Jutta and Jochem for a drink.  The photos continue to be taken but to be honest, I am far too vain to reveal exactly how drunk I look – so they will not appear here.  Suddenly I realise that I have had one too many glasses of wine and shooting off to the loo, that last one gently makes its reappearance and I realise I need to go home.  Matt helps me to get off the boat and onto Jeannius.  Oh dear.  Bad girl.  I’ll pay for this tomorrow!