Hop skip & jump

Dawn as we approach Airlie Beach – we were too large to have any chance of going a alongside, so it was a tender job.

Maureen & I were fortunate in being allocated to the above craft for the trip ashore, rather than a tender boat.

Not that there was anything wrong with the tender boats it was all to do with speed. It was a win / lose situation we arrived at the destination quite quickly, but the faster boat being larger took longer to manoeuvre amongst small private boats to discharge the passengers. The ship’s tender being slower but smaller was able to nip in and out of the other small craft and the passengers from both vessels were disembarked at the same time. QED.

We had visited Airlie Beach before, so knowing of the beauty of the place we were concerned that Cyclone Jasper (13 – 28 December 2023) might have caused a lot of damage.  Fortunately, Airlie Beach had been spared to an extent. I posted a blog about Airlie Beach in November 2022 so will not repeat myself as nothing seemed to have changed since our last visit. The above beach scene is part of the man-made lagoon to protect people from box jellyfish which can kill an adult. The day was hot, and I thought as the hair on my head was getting thinner perhaps I should buy a hat.

The market near the beach, which is open whenever a cruise ship arrives, was the obvious place to buy a hat. I think the last time I wore a hat was during my time at sea in the early 1960’s so this was a big deal.

I bought a hat (which can be washed in a washing machine) and wore it for the rest of our time ashore.

It did protect me from the sun, but it also caused excessive sweating and I think I used the hat more as a fan than a head covering – we live and learn.