Early Beach

Tuesday 8th December – Airlie beach...

This should really be called Early beach - what chance of any sleep – none. The van is too hot for sleep, even with the windows open, then just as the temperature starts to drop the bats return home from their fruit foraging and squabble in the trees until each has found it own place, and then just as you start to nod off the dawn chorus sets off – screeching parakeets, hissing curlews and lord knows what else. Still its a beautiful day, set to be 30 degrees so an early start is agreeable.
Today we needed a bank to cash some travellers cheques and on the advice of the camp receptionist (that’s a person who works on reception at the camp – not a gay receptionist) we park the van at the end of Airlie beach and take the boardwalk into town. Nearly an hour and a half later we were still walking and no sign of any bank; a local assured us that we were nearly there. Thankfully the bank had air con. First stop with our money was to purchase a long cold drink and then bus tickets back to the van – we couldn’t face a return walk.
The afternoon was spent lazing in the shade of the palm trees on the beach. Janet’s newly purchased hat blew into the sea and was rescued by a very nice young man ....
We had hoped to fit in a two day trip out to the Whitsunday islands with an overnight stay onboard; unfortunately all the trips within our timescale were fully booked so we settled for a day trip to visit three of the islands the next day. There are so many options to choose from but booking ahead is necessary for specific requirements.

Love & hugs
Janet and Jeff