Sailing the Whitsundays and scoffing cream - 3rd August 2012

Having done our research and squeezing every discount we can we finally settled on a full day two island cruise. For $123 each we get a day of cruising, light breakfast, two morning teas, lunch and pick up and return to our caravan park. Good value! One small draw back for a couple of retired seniors who don't have to work to a time schedule, the morning pick up was at 6:20am. This meant that if Trish was to get all her girlie stuff done we needed to be up at 5:30am to be ready in time. Don't they realize it is still dark and cold at that time of morning? Good thing was, as we were standing by the side of the road opposite the caravan park, waiting for our pick up, we got to see the sun rise on what was going to be a beautiful day.

Once on board the catamaran we were given a light breakfast of ham and cheese croissants, yoghurt with coffee. Soon we were underway out of the marina and out into the Whitsunday Islands. With all the overlapping islands with their many bays I have no idea how Captain Cook and other early explorers had any idea what was mainland and what was islands. You can't pick the passages between the islands from the bays. I have to admire the early navigators and explorers. With good radar, GPS and modern maps we were soon at Daydream Island. This was a quick stop over to let passengers off and pick up others. Then it was on to Hamilton Island and a similar drop off and pick up. Hamilton Island is a playground for the filthy rich with many multi-million dollar motor yachts at the moorings. Morning tea was served with scones, jam and cream. One thing I have learnt since meeting Trish is her love of cream. I must admit that lately she has been strong willed and had greatly reduced the intake of the cholesterol laden substance. In moderation never hurts! Do you detect a bit of bitterness creeping in here? Read on!

The ocean was calm and we were hoping for whale sightings but it was not to be sadly. We cruised past many a beautiful bay and small island as we rounded Whitsunday Island and headed for Whitehaven Beach. They boast of it being rated as one of the best beaches in the world. The trouble is around here not many people swim because of the danger from a variety of deadly stingers. Signs warn of the dangers and all beaches have large bottles of vinegar on hand ready for first aid. Reading signs that warn of loss of breathing and pulse don't inspire a huge desire to swim at "one of the world best beaches". Whitehaven Beach is reputed to be 98% pure silica, very fine particles that squeak when you walk, not get hot underfoot and be very white. If you rub your jewellery with it, it will shine, if you rub your body with it, you will shine. There were lots of women rubbing their jewellery and bodies but not any men? ? ?

We anchored off shore and were transported in on a small punt. Yes the sand was white and fine and yes it did squeak underfoot while not being hot at all. How could I come to the Whitsundays and not swim, to hell with those stingers I'm going in. Fearing death from the stingers I soon found out that the freezing cold water nearly killed me instead. No self-respecting stinger would be caught dead in water that cold. One of the best beaches in the world indeed, perhaps they have never been to WA beaches. After a couple of hours wandering the beach, marvelling at the sand, surviving death with the stingers and cold water we finally clambered aboard the punt and back to the boat.

You can never get enough of the scenery of these islands so we braved the blustery cool upper deck as we continued around the island and back to Hamilton Island. Once back at Hamilton we had a transfer to another boat for the journey back to Daydream Island. Doesn't that sound so idyllic? Conjures up all sort of wonderful images. There we were to have lunch as part of our fare. Up to now we had been kept well informed about what was happening on the cruise. Once we were off loaded at Daydream we discovered it was everyone for themselves and no further instructions or help was supplied. Finally we worked out where to go for lunch, while a lot of the passengers headed off in the wrong direction. At the café we found out that we could spend up to $20 each as part of our ticket price. Nice chicken Caesar salad, a pizza thing to share and I will have a coffee and cake special. A strudel would be great, Trish though that would be a good idea. This is where I found out that, after 7 years of knowing each other and almost 4 years of marriage, Trish does not know the difference between a strudel and an apple turnover. Well she was blinded by her love of cream! Strudels don't have cream and apple turnovers do! Bitterness creeping in here. Anyway two large cholesterol filled creamy laden apple turnovers arrived at the table and before I could arrange an exchange Trish saw the waitress off with a "that is what we ordered". Sigh ! Disaster ! Impending Doom ! My attempts to eat the heart attack filled cake were not to be, but by this time, scoff, scoff Trish had finished hers. Without a blink of an eye and with a "I thought it was strange that you wanted one" she scoffed most of mine. There it is said, and now I can put all the disappointment of not getting that wonderful strudel behind me. NOT Likely, I will work this one for a few more weeks of the trip.

Moving on, we both agree on one thing, we are not resort people. We found Daydream Island anything but a dream. We found it artificial and contrived along with the terrible piped music that was playing everywhere. It is hard to take a pee with the sounds of Bing Crosby on his death bed. Anyway and not being judgemental we decided to hop the first boat that we could back to the mainland. Despite Nightmare Island we had a wonderful day that was well worth doing.

Dave - No cream on my face!