Whitsundays

The Whitsundays are considered the most magnificent islands on the Australian coast. Anybody who is anybody comes here to enjoy the Austral Caribbean as they are sometimes called.

Basically a buckshot on the map, the archipelago is comprised of 78 islands. Our mission: go and see them all. Emma Kieran and I just landed last night from Townsville and we are packing for an early departure: destination Proserpine, Whitsundays coast.

The Whitsundays were first sighted by... you've guessed it... Captain Cook on... you've guessed it... Whit Sunday. (Didn't I mention he was running out of inspiration?)

One of the highlights will be Whitehaven Beach, a perfect white beach pure silica with clear waters.

Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island was named after captain Cook sailed passed it and noticed his compass behaved oddly. Having named a thousand inlets, islands, billabongs, bays he was out of inspiration and came up with Magnetic Island. As I told you before, anything with more than three syllables here in Australia gets shortened to a one syllable word plus the 'ie' suffix. So Magnetic Island is called Maggie.

It's a wonderful ride by Cat, the water is downright hot 30C and the breeze feels like a blow-dryer. I love it! We rent a 4x4 and drive to a very secluded beach, take Kieran swimming again and spot the rare Rock Wallabies. If you want to chill and come to a general feeling of total relaxation, then Maggie will get you there in less than one day. I'd rename it to sleepy island.

Townsville

I love Townsville! It's your average tropical town by the sea. Most Australians will frown if you say you're going to Townsville in the summer, but I dig it.

Emma chose to fly us out there. It's Kieran's 10th flight and he is getting used to it. Hurricane Olga is pounding the northern and mid-coast so we watch the news attentively. By the time we get there all is quiet and it's a warm 99% humidity and 30C. We take Kieran Swimming in the 30C (!) sea.

Summer Relaxing

Between getting our stuff ready to go to Townsville (given for to me on Christmas) and the Whitsundays (we will sail our own boat) and settling in our new house, we have found a bit of time to relax.

Kinda busy lately

I can state with a considerable amount of certainty that the human body can sweat from every square centimetre except the nails.

It is absolutely bone crushing hot, and moving houses in this heat makes you lose liters of water. Hell, I was watching television sipping on a cold brewsky and I was still sweating.

Our new home is out in the Burbs. We still have access to a pool and a tennis court. The house is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 3 toilets, with a garage and a small garden.
Kinda cool.

So in the past 2 months, I have flown to Sydney twice, to Melbourne, to Prt Macquarie, we have Cleaned the old home, found a new home and moved. Emma has started working again, we have bought the stuff we needed, planned 2 holidays (going this Friday yeeehaaaa), celebrated Christmas, New Year's eve and have found time to play with our new toy: Kieran.

Now that I am able to find a few minutes per day for myself, I promise to write at least once a day.