JANUARY 7 , 2006

Archive Journals Tropical New Year

December 13 - January 7, 2006

Happy New Year to everyone!

We had a wonderful Christmas, although Christmas in a tropical climate is definitely different when you have grown up in Canada. The temperature was very hot and humid and everyone was commenting on how hot it was.

We were picked up by Mary's cousin on Christmas Eve morning and we went out to his home in Graceville (a suburb of Brisbane) for three nights. Paul started out every morning with a swim in the pool. It was definitely too hot and sunny to go swimming during the rest of the day.

We weren't the only guests in the house - a nephew of one of Bill's best friends is touring Australia and New Zealand with his girlfriend and they were staying with Bill and Brenda for a week. Desmond is from Ireland and Jen is from Scotland and both are recent graduates from the University of Edinborough. It was a delight to spend a few days with them and we enjoyed their accents. As they wanted to see our boat, they came back with us to the marina for one night aboard before they continued their travels down the eastern coast of Australia.

Christmas morning in Graceville. Sitting, left to right - Jen from Scotland, Mary, Brenda, and her mother Lucille. Standing from left to right - Desmond from Ireland, Bill, Sean (Bill and Brenda's son), and Paul.

            
         Click on Pics to enlarge

We have become quite friendly with one of the Australian dragon boat breast cancer survivors, Sonia, and her husband Trevor. We went for a day sail on their trimaran in Deception Bay on December 29th and then had dinner at their house with some of their neighbours. On December 31st, we went on a road trip with Trevor and Sonia to the Glasshouse Mountains (named by Captain Cook because they reminded him of the English greenhouses) and Montville, a pleasant community, which reminded Mary of Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario. We had them aboard Bella Via for dinner on December 6. Unfortunately, our remaining time with them is short as we don't anticipate being back in this area once we leave in February - we will have to continue our friendship by email. Maybe they will come and visit one day!

Another example of how well we have been treated by the Australians who we have met as we travel the east coast.

 

Right after the New Year was rung in, we were fortunate to re-connect with our friends Bob and Julia from Kinta. Kinta is now berthed at Tin Can Bay and Bob and Julia are at their home in Wynnum They have accepted an offer on their house and will be moving aboard Kinta to be full-time liveaboards like us. We had a very enjoyable two-night stay at their beautiful home.

January 7, 2006

We are back on board the boat at Newport Waterways Marina in Scarborough and are frantically getting ready to fly home for a three-week visit with family and friends. It's quite complicated to leave our new home for that length of time. Here is our "to do" list that must be completed in the next few days:

· Gather documentation and complete Australian tourist visa applications so that   we can mail them as soon as we land in Canada
· Check Customs papers and find out if anything else needs to be done to leave   Bella Via in Australia while we go home
· Give each other haircuts
· Pack clothes, etc.
· Clean shower sump
· Arrange to leave contact numbers with the marina office
· Ask Trevor to check on the boat every few days - give him a key
· Clean the empty fridge and freezer
· Just as we leave the boat:
          o close all sea cocks
          o Turn all power items off
          o Check that a freshwater pump is on
          o Put out roach traps (haven't seen any in the boat but they are all over              Queensland)
          o Move the boat forward on the dock

So it will be a hectic few days, but well worth it as we are quite excited to be going home for a visit. To those of you in Windsor - hope to see you there!