EC-Rider Travels

Today has been a bit of a challenge and almost the second hiccup of my trip so far. A cyclone is brewing off the Queensland coast and they suddenly had to evacuate the students, we met coming over, from the neighbouring One Tree Island. This delayed our ferry back to Gladstone resulting in us missing our flight to Brisbane. Qantas were amazing (you do not often hear that!) and without any fuss found us seats on another plane leaving later this evening. Completely fine for me but not so good for Amanda who was trying to get back in Sydney.

Before all this however, I did an early, ‘just one more last’ swim, to the wreck. It was pretty choppy, but I thought ok and found a buddy to accompany me. It really was quite rough and the visibility was not great and once we got there, my ‘buddy’ thought we should head back. The current was very much against us on the return and it was quite hard work, I looked round to see my buddy (a substantial American) with his mask off, looking as though he was struggling. There really was quite a lot of him and I wasn’t sure my Chilton Foliat school Life Saving qualifications were going to be up to it. Luckily he pulled himself together and we both made it back. I saw some lovely fish on the way and was rewarded with a particularly sweet turtle who swam with me for part of the journey. Just as we were getting out there were a group of eagle-rays dancing around and flapping their wings. Amazing to see.

The weather took a nasty turn for the worse, so having had to check out of our rooms by 10am, we spent the rest of the morning in the bar – which was closed! We were then called to board the boat, which finally left about an hour later than scheduled …. with no apology. (Grr!). The forthcoming cyclone was having a little rehearsal and it was a very bumpy crossing back to Gladstone with some poor people being very unwell. Suitcases took forever to come off the boat, meanwhile, I persuaded some poor unsuspecting lady to let us share her taxi to the airport. Despite best efforts by the taxi-driver, we arrived ten minutes before our plane was due to leave and they could not let us on the flight (double Grrr!).

A couple of hours later, we had a jolly flight to Brisbane on Qantas with only about ten others and very cheery hostesses who not only offered us ‘complementary water’, but complementary wine – (looking at Amanda and me, suggesting a ‘tall one’!), anti-pasta, sweet treats (called Manna from Heaven!) and a yummy chocolate. Suitcases came off quickly and we were in the centre of Brisbane half an hour later. Now in the rather groovy Brisbane Indigo hotel, sharing my bed with Amanda….