Not a lot going on today..decided to have a very chilled out day seeing as we'll be sailing for the next 3. Airlie is a hopping mad place, it's probably the first real place we've been which has been packed with back packers. Tents, campers and partygoers all over the place. People really use it as a base for Whitsunday Islands. We're no different really!
Was woken up about 4am this morning by eijits coming home singing, then arguing, then singing about the arguing before getting told off by security for singing and arguing. Took a while to get back to sleep but I got there.
Woke about 8.30, sleepy mcsleeperson next to me was still very much in her dreamland so waited for her to wake up before going to toilet. Thats one bad thing about these vans, anyone going to bathroom in middle of night usually means wake up call for the other. Actually, definitely not usually!!
We made our way through Airlie main street to check it out after breakie and we needed to check in and pay balance with our tour office also. Tour departs at 8.30am Friday morning and returns Sunday at 4pm. We are trying to decide what to do with van that day as in, whets to park it up without it getting broken into. There's a few secure parking places around so probably best to throw it in there for a few days.
Airlie has about 5/6 different beaches around it - all excellent for pics or picnics.
After checking in to our tour, we got our beach gear and headed down to Airlie lagoon. An area quite similar to the rockpool in Townsville which was safe to swim in. Also we needed to catch as much bathing time as possible while we were still in the nice weather area!
Carol booked in a leg wax which she got on special offer if it could be done by trainee. Couldn't wait to see cut of her legs when she got back!
Lagoon wasn't too busy where we were but a very nice place with 2 life guards in duty. There were 3 separate areas, kids pool, 1.5 meter area and 2 meter area.
Had some sunbathing before Carol headed off to get de-legged. She came back about 90 mins later..I actually thought they had to brought her to hospital. The trainee was actually a new trainee..poor Carol!
After we went swimming in lagoon and done a bit more bathing, we headed up town and some a little clothes shopping while trying to decide on dinner options tonight!
We decided on a fish restaurant called sidewalk - it was 20% off food before 7pm so we go on just in time! I had beer battered barramundi with chips (delicious), carol had fish platter with prawns, fillet of fish, scallop, fish bites, callamari and chips. All this plus 2 beers for 40$.
Once dinner was down we went to Abel Marina where boat is departing tomorrow to suss out parking.
Came back to van for early night. Have to stop all these early nights! Hard to sit still in van when you hear pumping music from the main street! Were staying in a place called Nomads. Very cool place with pool and volleyball court, but packed! Still worth if though for the experience.
Anyway, have to learn my boat songs for tomorrow. Ship Ahoy!