Wednesday 1st September 2010
Day 68 - Whale Watching in Paradise.

Each day, Marg's ankle is improving. She can walk but not upto walking around a shopping centre etc, that's why we have the "Black Chariot".

Today, I didn't ride as we were leaving camp at 9am for Seaworld Whale Watching. We arrived at Seaworld about 9:15am, shock,horror, we were about the 3rd couple there, boarding was at 9:45am. We were about the 4th couple aboard the SS Minnow aka SS Seaworld, as we were walking up the gangway, we had our photo taken, I can't post it here as I need to scan it. We left at 10am sharp and we could walk around the boat until we were in the Gold Coast Seaway where it is a maritime law that we must stay seated inside, until we have exited the seaway. The boat is a 80ft long by 30ft wide, 3 level Catamaran built in 2008 at a cost $3.5m, it is spotlessly clean, just a fantastic boat and tour, well worth the $99 for 2.5 hours except we paid $77 using our over 50s Senior card. We found 2 large hump back whales and drifted around them for most of our trip. One of them did a magnificent breach (jumped out of the water) with a monstrous splash, but no one caught it on film. Bugger.
Marg and I loved the tour, at the end of the journey, we were given an appraisal card to complete. I told them that it was brilliant, I did overhear some woman say that there wasn't enough time on the water for the money, when the info says departs 10am arrives back at 12:30pm, that to me is 2.5hrs for $99, I didn't see anyone holding a gun to her head.

On the way back to camp, we called into the Australia Fair Medical Centre and booked an appointment with the Physio for Marg at 3pm later in the day. I drove Marg back to Aus Fair for her Physio and while she was physioed, I went upstairs and had a coffee. Marg was given some exercises to do, to strengthen her ankle.
So today was a great day, I fully recommend the Seaworld Whale Watching tour, it was worth every penny.

The Good Ship Seaworld.

Marg.

Moi.

Leaving the dock.

Gold Coast inlet.

Approaching the Gold Coast seaway.

A common view.

A whale blow.

2 whales.

The Gold Coast.

The televised GPS view. bloody great.

My rounding beacon when I ride.

Thursday 2nd September 2010
Day 69 - Still relaxin' at Broadwater Tourist Park.

Each day, Marg's ankle is improving. She can walk but not upto walking around a shopping centre etc, that's why we have the "Black Chariot".

Today, I rode out to the Gold Coast Seaway, as normal, the weather was warm, windy and beautiful. There is a magnificent yacht moored at Southport YC which I am trying to find out about. The strong NW offshore breeze kept the waves low, also while I was out on the seaway, Port Frederick the barge made its way south towards Burleigh Heads. On the way back to camp, I stopped off at Mariner's Cove and checked out the Paradise Jet Boating, this outfit looks pretty good, I think that Marg, Luke and I will probably go jet boating over the next 3 weekends.

Marg and I drove back to Harbourtown around lunchtime, I pushed Marg around in the "Black Chariot", we had lunch and checked out all the shops, as we weren't after anything in particular, it was rather boring. At 4pm, Marg and I went to the Southport Sharks Club for pokies, beer and dinner, it was quite pleasant.

Upon further investiagtion, I saw the name on the boom and googled it. Alcanara, 96ft fast cruising yacht, launched Dec2008 built by Steve Ward in Perth.

Alcanara 96ft Perth built Fast Cruising sloop.

Port Frederick is back again.

Offshore breeze in Paradise.

Paradise Jet Boat.

Nice outfit.

About to leave.

Friday 3rd September 2010
Day 70 - Nice day for a drive to Mount Tambourine.

Each day, Marg has started doing ankle exercises and it is working. We still use the "Black Chariot" for longer walks.

Today, I rode out to the Gold Coast Seaway, as normal, the weather was warm, windy and overcast. I took more photos of Alcanara from a few different vantage points. Off the seaway was another very large 2 masted yacht, I am trying to find out who it is, from my photos its name looks like PERSTUS or FIRSTUS, but it was too far offshore, hopefully I will see it moored on my riding adventures tomorrow.

Late morning, Marg and I decided to drive out to Mount Tamborine to buy some Fudge and went via the Beaudesert-Nerang Rd. We had lunch at a cafe in North Tambourine and also while there, we went to the NAB. On the way home, we naturally called into Mt Tambourine Fudge in Eagle Heights. We will probably go back to Mount Tamborine again, before we head for home in 22 days.

By the way, the fudge is absolutley yumma.

I caught it in flight. Yippee...

Southport YC - Porsche Panamera $400k.

Another view of Alcanara.

My latest mission - Find this yacht's name.

That bike certainly gets around.

Normal day at the end of the seaway.

View from Mount Tamborine.

View from Mount Tamborine.

View from Mount Tamborine.

Saturday 4th September 2010
Day 71 - Still relaxin' at Broadwater Tourist Park.

Each day, Marg has started doing ankle exercises and it is working. We still use the "Black Chariot" for longer walks.

Today, I rode out to the Gold Coast Seaway, as normal, the weather was warm, windy and overcast and I actually got rained upon for about 20 seconds. I have found the mysterious yacht from yesterday, that was waiting off shore to come in through the seaway, it is moored at an outer berth in Marina Mirage.

It is Perseus, a 163 ft Yacht used for charter and costs a measly US165,000 per week to hire it. At the end of the seaway, the sea was very sloppy with an outgoing tide and the wind conditions.
Late morning, Marg and I drove to Australia Fair to have some lunch and we also visted the Danos shop, we are buying an AB pro exercise thingo. The weather is due to rain and is overcast and windy, we spent most of the afternoon in the van watching Seinfeld.

Perseus.

You can charter this for US$165k per week.

Another view of Perseus.

Nearby Heliport on the jetty.

Some decent slop in the seaway.

Some decent slop in the seaway.

Sunday 5th September 2010
Day 72 - Still relaxin' at Broadwater Tourist Park.

Each day, Marg has started doing ankle exercises and it is working. We still use the "Black Chariot" for longer walks.

Today, I rode out to the Gold Coast Seaway, as normal, the weather was warm, damp and overcast. It stopped raining for the duration of my ride, then it started raining again when I finished, As it is Father's Day, we had invited the boys over to our camp, but as it was wet, we went to their house. A brilliant decision. Marg and the boys bought me a Hema Navigator 5 GPS and it is great. Marg made some sangas and chocolate hedgehog cake, which we took with us. It didn't last long.
The rest of the day was just a restful time back at camp.

A rainy day in Paradise.

A rainy day in Paradise.

A rainy day in Paradise.

Monday 6th September 2010
Day 73 - Still relaxin' at Broadwater Tourist Park.

  • Weather: Woke up to a damp morning after it rained most of the night.
    The overnight minimum was 18.1° at 5am. Today's maximum was 21.8° at 12pm. No rain fell today.
Each day, Marg is doing her ankle exercises and it is working. We still use the "Black Chariot" for longer walks.

Today, I rode out to the Gold Coast Seaway, as normal, the weather was warm, damp and overcast. By mid morning, the sun was back to normal, big, bright, yellow and warm. Marg and I drove over to South Park aka Southport Park for lunch at Michel's, the pies and coffee were great. I updated the van page on our website during the afternoon and watched another 7 Seinfeld episodes.
We booked our tickets for this Friday night at the Outback Spectacular. That should be a good night.

The clouds were clearing in Paradise.

The clouds were clearing in Paradise.

Our Whale watching boat.

Tuesday 7th September 2010
Day 74 - Still relaxin' at Broadwater Tourist Park.

  • Weather: Woke up to a beautiful sunny morning, after a mild night.
    The overnight minimum was 12.9° at 5:30am. Today's maximum was 22.4° at 2pm.
Each day, Marg is doing her ankle exercises and it is working. We still use the "Black Chariot" for longer walks.

Today, I rode out to the Gold Coast Seaway, as normal, the weather was warm, dry and sunny. I did notice that the 96ft yacht Alcanara had moved from within the confines of the Southport YC to the public area over at Marina Mirage to fill their fuel tanks, so I swooped on them and took some photos. While taking photos I spoke to one of the 4 crew, who told me this, that the owners live on board, the yacht leaves on Thursday for Auckland and the owners are currently holidaying overseas and will meet up with the yacht when it gets to Auckland. What a life!!!

I called into the Paradise Jet Boat and booked 3 tickets for this Saturday, Luke is joining us. While riding around Mariner's Cove I saw a 1963 Ford Thunderbird, I think that it is owned by Max Kirwan, Mazda car dealer in Melbourne, it has a Max Kirwan dealer sticker on it and the rego is MK555, it also has a disability sticker on it and Max is quite elderly now, so it could be his. More investigation is required.
Marg's latest photo book was ready at Hardly Normals, so we drove over and picked it up and then called into Michel's at South Park for lunch. I had 2 pies and coffee while Marg had a quinche and coffee. It was yumma, as usual.

Alcanara at Marina Mirage dock.

Alcanara at Marina Mirage dock.

Alcanara at Marina Mirage dock.

1963 Ford Thunderbird at Marina Mirage.

1963 Ford Thunderbird at Marina Mirage.

Another nice day in Paradise.

*2010 - Index page*

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Still Relaxing in Southport.