Tuesday, September 30 - Fitzroy Island
With the uncertainty of our accommodation still looming on the
horizon like a storm cloud, we decided to make Tuesday a full day of
activity. Breakfast at the restaurant
was $17.50 for the continental variety and $25.00 for the cooked version. The accommodation is pricey enough, a cooked
breakfast for two every day would really blow the budget. And proper coffee is an extra $4.
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| Tge view from bed |
Continental breakfast and coffee it was on day one, and no more
coffee until we are back in Cairns.
Bitter and over brewed.
Experiment failed. We decided we
would eat enough to carry us through to dinner.
This is particularly important because a lot of activities commence in
the lunch period.
At 10 am we were booked into the glass bottom boat and snorkelling
experience. The talk was delivered with
the usual sing-song memorised style (she was American), but if you asked an
unscripted question you received a genuinely thoughtful answer. On board we had people from Casula and
Wollongong, half an hour from home in different directions. Small world, although we have yet to see
anyone we know.
So we puttered up to one end of the island and learnt about the
different corals and then to the other end of the island near to Nudey Beach
where we snorkelled. On the day it was
the more protected area. Just after we
hit the water the sun came out.
Magic! The coral was able to
display its true colours and so were the myriad of fish – although Nemo was
missing. My experimental attempts with
my gopro underwater were OK. It will
benefit from a proper dive when you are close to the action the whole time.
Back to the cabin to find it is still ours. That’s good news. At least, we assume it’s still ours since no
notice of eviction was posted on the door in our absence; in fact, no
communication at all about the double booking mix-up. We sat around and soaked
up the view which, amusingly, included a Japanese couple who geared up to go snorkelling in waist deep
water by wearing the usual snorkel and fins along with full wet suits, life
jackets and floatation noodles. They
were lucky to be able to get their faces wet….
We laughed and read a little until it was time to head to the dive shop
for our practice scuba dive in the pool.
How adventurous are we?
There were a couple of 10 year-old boys going though the same
process. They were naturals, no
pressure. After signing the safety
waiver that wouldn’t stand up in court, we ventured out to get kitted up. No wetsuits required because it is basically
an in and out practice session in the safety of the pool. The scuba vests are surprisingly heavy and
awkward to get around in; your centre of gravity is severely compromised and
everyone is unsteady on their feet. Ok
Jayne and I are unsteady, the 10 year-olds look no different.
Our instructor is Japanese, (we have discovered only one Australian
working here so far), his name is pronounced Houso. Rather unfortunate in this country. He helps Jayne manouevre onto the steps of
the pool, she is as elegant and graceful as you would expect. The sound effects make the picture even more
amusing. Into the pool, clear the
goggles, clear the regulator, under the water for a lap. I followed shortly after, all good. We were both surprised at how comfortable we
felt under the water breathing through a regulator.
Out of the pool, unencumbered by tanks, we try to book a dive for
tomorrow. It’ll be fine, says the Irish
lad behind the counter, just come down a little early. See you at 12:45. So we head back to the cabin, re-apply
sunscreen, yuk, and go snorkelling off the beach opposite the turtle rescue
place. The sun is still out and the
coral is beautiful; it matches anything we’ve seen on the outer reef. The bonus of the day – we found a turtle to
swim with. They are so graceful.
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| Anyone remember My Way to God Book1? |
The current tends to get a little colder in the afternoon so we
didn’t stay in the water for more than an hour.
Back home for showers and resting before happy hour and dinner at
Foxy’s. Disappointingly we discover that
the menu doesn’t change from day to day, this requires strategic discussion
around when we will eat and what we will eat so that we are not eating the same
thing everyday teenager-style. So, the
burger or the fish or the antipasto plate?
First world problems? Absolutely,
but we are helping the Australian economy.
Speaking of first world problems, have I mentioned the wine
list? Yes, yes, I know I’m a wine
snob. It is remarkably small and
uninspiring and despite the drinks list, like the menus, being laminated, it
can and did vary without notice.
Apparently it depends on what they bring back after shopping in Cairns,
as explained by the English barkeep. In
an attempt to avoid the sem sav blanc we’d been drinking I thought we might try
a red. “I’m sorry sir, we’re out of
that. I’ll just check with resort”. No
don’t worry I’ll have that one, no, didn’t have that either. The manager calls over that they have a
Squealing Pig Pinot Noir that isn’t on the list. That’ll do I say. Out comes the bottle, chilled. I’m sorry, you don’t serve red wine
cold. Many more apologies then and later
in the night, apparently one of the underlings had mistaken it for white and
put it in the fridge. I don’t recall with
what white wine we ended up, I just know it wasn’t on the wine list.
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| Sunset from Foxy's Bar |
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