An 08:00am start felt like a huge rest. I think I will miss waking up to this view every morning, especially when the sun is out like it was today.
So to start my last full day on the east coast I went to the Q1 Sky Point for breakfast. Tickets normally retail at $25 visit. Ever one for a deal booked through the hotel so for $29 dollars I could have a full buffet breakfast. No coffee included though, weird. Double portions of hash browns, bacon and scrambled egg, though don't tell Jack that. The views were great over the hinterland, the coast and out to see. Like its Kiwi counterpart Q1 offered the change to climb to the very top. No chance, you must be daft. By going for a midweek breakfast it was very quiet and I was able to wander around easily getting photos. Just as I was leaving about 10:00 the tour groups were arriving. I walked back along the beach, gathered my swimming clobber then headed slightly north of the hotel to sit on the beach till one. Known as Narrowneck, the beach narrows(no s*** Sherlock) so there aren't many buildings nearby. I had the stretch to myself.
Still full and feeling slightly guilty about breakfast. I took an hour out the sun to pay recompense in the gym. I did wipe down my equipment after me since I seemed to have brought the beach with me. Before heading down to the pool I put some washing on. A 40degree mixed wash with pre rinse and anti wrinkle for you washing fans out there. For everyone else you can't unread that now. Why are you reading about my washing!
Down at the pool some adolescents were having a BBQ and some beers. Made my one can of XXXX look silly. In the thankfully freezing pool, I did some stretching exercises. I have most definitely done something to my shoulder as it won't stretch as far as the other arm. After a suntan top up & some water, got to stay hydrated. I went back to the beach in the usual location which was slightly busier. With the annoying sounds of children having fun. Wretched youths.
After a good sun session I met Ami & showed her round the hotel before grabbing a drink with a view. Ami suggested after one drink at sunset in surfers we catch the tram down to Broadbeach and explore the bars down there. Our first stop was Aloha that was a lovely small restaurant. With a Hunters Valley Verdelho accompanying out $1 dumplings and some beef ribs. This was a nice chilled location to catch up, about the goings on at 97 & Social amongst other things.
We then wandered down to a bar where one of Ami's friends worked. The theme being an English Gin bar. The bartender here had finished 2nd in a well known cocktail competition last year. The range of spirits were very impressive. We shared a couple of gins, & a port over a cheeseboard. A navy strength gin followed by Ink Gin that changes colour when tonic is added. Ami took the opportunity to sniff almost all thre drinks as well as some of the foraged herbs used in the drinks.
Our final stop of the night was for a beer close to the tram station. This bar was actually busy to I knew it must be getting late. Sure enough it was after 23:00. One of the latest nights of my trip so far.
Too tired to pack, I did manage to have a glass of wine while talking to Becky on here never ending birthday back in snowy Newcastle.