Getting out and about
You'll be pleased to know that I feel as though I'm getting the hang of being on holiday now and am going with the flow a lot more. I've also remembered - yes, I can be a bit of a thicky at times - that it's my holiday and I can do what I want and not what people think I should do. Which is why there has been a small change in my planned activities. But more on that later.
It's been a couple of days since my last entry and I've been gently easing into the holiday spirit. It's a work in progress and my biggest regret is that I'll be thoroughly immersed in the idea by Sunday - just in time to fly home!!
Yesterday (Tuesday if you're counting) was fairly gentle and really was centred around lunch. Readers of my previous travel journals will know that the ritual of a good lunch has long been a priority in my travel adventures - and, by the way, has been one of the reasons that I haven't always seen as many sites as I'd like to because we've spent a couple of hours imbibing. Lunch yesterday was extra special because it saw me catch up with an old and dear friend - Julie - who I met nearly 8 years ago on my first day at Medicare. Julie and I clicked right away because we were both super unsure of ourselves, were of a similar vintage and seemed to see things the same way. I'm pleased to say that, despite the fact that we haven't worked together since 2019, don't see each other very often as she moved to Trinity Beach during the pandemic and are working in very different areas, we're still great friends and it was fantastic to get a couple of hours to chat and laugh over some gorgeous food and a couple of very nice wines.
Before lunch, I had gone for a walk up the main street in search of a) breakfast and b) a little retail therapy. I'm not entirely sure why I needed therapy but it always makes me feel better so it clearly worked. I found breakfast at a lovely little spot called the Little Red Kitchen which is in one of the side streets. They delivered a very very nice banana bread and a super iced latte.
The specific reason for the retail therapy was because the lovely, summary 'straw' (it's probably synthetic but it looked like straw) handbag, that I'd bought especially for the trip, decided to fall apart after one little outing. The handbag detached itself from the bag and I can't be fagged sewing it back together. I have another handbag with me but it's very wintry and I wanted something with more of a summer vibe. I didn't think it would be that hard to find something suitable but it did end up being a bit of a marathon until I found a lovely- proper - straw shoulder bag that feels firm but beachy at the same time. In another shop that was packed with lovely things, I spotted a gorgeous coral Italian linen shift. It was a one size fits all which historically has seen me run as fast as I can. On this occasion, however, I had faith and tried it on and it looks fabulous. I thought there was 25% off everything in the shop and was congratulating myself on the bargain until I realised that, of course, I'd picked the two items (oh yes, I bought a batwing linen top as well) that weren't included. Never mind, they are lovely and were an instant pick up. Plus the shift was perfect today which was very very humid.
Today was supposed to be a tour down to Kuranda and a trip on the Skyway, a mosey around the Kuranda markets and then a return trip on the heritage railway. However, I received a text late yesterday afternoon from the tour company which informed me that the other 6 people on the planned tour - all one family - had cancelled, so the tour couldn't go ahead. I was terribly impressed by the company who presented me with three options. I could reschedule the tour to later in the week, I could change to a food tasting tour that was going through the Atherton Tablelands today or I could get a full refund. I decided to go with options 1 and 2. I did the tasting tour today and will do the Kuranda trip on Friday. I had initially planned to go out to the Reef (Great Barrier) on Friday on another tour but I've been a little nervy about it. I've never been snorkelling, I haven't been swimming since we were in Bali 15 years ago and it's also that long since I was seen in public in my bathers. This is something that I'd probably - nay, definitely - have done if I'd been with someone that I knew but it's been causing me a bit of performance anxiety. I feel as though I'm bottling it but it is my holiday and my friends say that I'm to be kind to myself so I essentially subbed in the food tour and out the reef cruise. I feel a bit silly because I bought new bathers for the trip but my plan is to wear at least one set tomorrow and have a wander on the beach. I might even have a paddle once I get to the stinger protected area. Actually, to be equally honest, the weather hasn't been quite as warm as you'd think. Today it was around 24 degrees maximum in the hinterland and there is rain forecast over the next few days so being on the reef might not be so smart. I'll just have to get Keri or Debbie to come up here with me and do the reef trip next time.
So how was the tour? It was really interesting in the main. Obviously, because we were up in the mountains, some of the roads were windy and bumpy and there were some longish trips, but there were a lot of stops and I don't think anyone on board will be going back to their accommodation hungry. The trip included breakfast - lovely platters of sandwiches and muffins at Ellis Beach, ice-cream sampling, a huge lunch, a cheese and chocolate tasting and then a visit (and more tasting) at a distillery and a fruit winery. I managed to show restraint at each place starting from breakfast. There were three sandwiches each for breakfast - not huge but all of them were loaded with protein including a delicious egg and bacon roll, and open sandwiches featuring smoked brisket and chicken - as well as house made banana bread, some tropical fruit and huge coffees. I stuck to just the egg and bacon, a small piece of banana bread and a little fruit. Some of my fellow travellers had one of each and by the time we got to lunch they were looking incredibly bloated.
I did buy some things along the way both for myself - naturally - and some gifts. Everything I bought was locally grown or made which is super exciting and included things like black garlic, some Middle Eastern spices, tea and chocolates. Oh yes, and a bottle of single malt whisky that has won awards around the world.
We had a couple of non-food stops and the most amazing was to an ancient fig tree known as The Curtain Fig. Apparently it inspired the world of Avatar - don't ask me because I haven't seen the film - but to be honest, it made me think of Middle Earth. It is the most extraordinary tree and feels incredibly spiritual. You just feel that it's seen so much and is still standing proudly giving life to other organisms throughout the rain forest.
There were 7 of us on the minibus. A retired couple from Werribee, two young German women who are on a 3 month holiday around Australia and a mother and daughter from Geelong. The mum's name was Dawn and we thought it was amazing that there were two of us on one trip as we rarely run into people with the same name. They were all lovely in the main although the sole gentleman - from Werribee - was a bit of a know all and liked to dominate the conversation. I didn't love our guide either and found that a little of him goes a long way. He whinged interminably about the roadworks along the Cook Highway and there were a lot of digs about government spending in general. In addition, he talked a lot about himself rather than about where we were and there was a bit of one-upmanship. I think his heart is in the right place and I decided to just go with the flow and switch off whenever I could. Unfortunately, I believe that he'll be our guide on Friday as well so at least I know what to expect.
He does have a little 'assistant' called Bosun who is a Jack Russell terrier. I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about having a dog on board as they're not my favourite things, but he was very well behaved and didn't go for any barking or jumping so I was pretty happy about it.
It's been a long day as we were picked up at 8 o'clock and got back to the hotel about 5.30. I'm a little tired and relaxed so I'm going to have a quiet one I think.
Tomorrow is 'home' based. Hopefully the weather will be good and I'll get a walk on the beach. There are a couple of bookshops that I'd like to check out and I'm thinking that I may be mailing some stuff home so I don't have a nightmare when I'm packing. I might take myself out for lunch somewhere - given that it goes dark at 6pm and I'm at the quiet end of the street, I'd just as soon not be out at night too late. I still have three full days up here as well as Sunday which is travelling time. Hugh and I always said that the holiday starts when you leave the front door and finishes when you get back so I aim to enjoy each and every minute. I know that this is doing me good and my mind is decompressing. I've finished one book - Thursday Murder Club - and am making good headway through the Marian Keyes book. Time to think about a drink - juice or sparkling water - and something to snack on.
This featured blog entry was written by yarnqueen from the blog Yarn Queen's Rambles.
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