Departures and maintenance day at Airlie

Thursday 3ist August 2017

Settled into Airlie, today is maintenance day. But first, sadly, Peter and Sharon are leaving us after a great time over the time they have been with us. We have had a great time and really enjoyed their company.

They are booked to go to the airport at 10.15am and I have a diesel mechanic booked to service the engine at 10am. There is enough time to show Peter the South end of the marina, and at the same I can do a jerry can run to the fuel wharf , so we head out, and as we approach the south Marina Complex, it becomes clear a cruise ship is in port. I steer my way past the hoards of passengers coming up the gangway from the fuel wharf, guiding my trolley between them. I filled the tank with the 2 jerry cans and set them aside for another run to get spare fuel.

Before they left Carole was on laundry duty and in the end , did 4 loads of washing.

We said our farewells, and Carole saw them up to the shuttle bus, whilst I waited at the boat for the mechanic, and started filling the water tank.

Once the engine service was complete, I did the final diesel run and Carole finished the laundry.

It was now lunch time, so we bought a couple of pies from the café at the marina.

Next we had to clean the outside of the boat, covered with ash for days at Gloucester and plenty of sand came aboard in the dinghy. We gave the boat a good soapy wash and she is now sparkling again.

We walked into town for dinner at the Whitsunday Sailing Club. Amazingly, the lagoon is now open, and there are kids in swimming even at this hour.  Along the way we met another couple who we have met at RPAYC who own an boat called Barrenjoey Light. They have had a bit of a mishap and look like they will be here for a few days with a shaft drive problem. The boat is coming out of the water tomorrow.

The food at the sailing club was good as always, ,and they had a poker night running which provided a bit of entertainment.

We wandered back to our boat in balmy, but cool conditions and look forward to a good nights sleep after a busy day.