Sunday 3rd March 2019 - another lazy day!

Well, perhaps not quite so lazy! We did manage to get out for a brief walk before breakfast to look at 4 mile beach which is just in front of the hotel. With only a small area that can be swum in, netted off because of the stingers, and only to be used when the lifeguard is there, and the warnings about crocodiles, it doesn’t make it very appealing. And yet there is this long sweep of sandy beach stretching, yes for 4 miles. The tide was in so there was little sand to walk on which curtailed the walk a bit.

On Sundays in Port Douglas there is a big market mainly for crafts so that was where we headed. There was so much there! Lots of jewellery and clothes, pottery, wooden items, smellies and potions, art work of various kinds. It would have been easy to spend a lot of money, but my purse stayed closed! There were a few buskers including a man playing a didgeridoo.

The market was at the far end of the town so we explored a little more in this area, right near the marina. There was a small bay, sandy beach again, but the croc warning sign too, so we were a little careful.

We did stand and watch the waves, and the impact that a small clump of mangroves had in calming the sea down. Big waves behind and a calm sea in front. Another example of how nature is clever!

It was really hot and steamy today, not that it’s been much cooler any other day, so we wandered back to the hotel, picking up some bits for lunch on our way. It’s been really nice being able to have simple lunches when we have stayed local. I had really wanted to buy some avocados at one of the fruit and veg stalls. There were about 10 in a bag for around £2.00! Bargain! But we can’t manage all of those, sadly! There were some interesting fruit too, but I have no idea what they were!

We made use of the pool at the hotel today, but even with sun screen after 10 or 15 minutes you needed to get in the shade, so it was short lived, but pleasant to cool down a bit. Then siesta time for Geoff!! I just sat and read! It was then time to start thinking about moving on tomorrow and packing. Each time we pack up it feels like there is more in the suitcase! I really haven’t bought that much!! Late afternoon we had heavy rain again, but it cleared out by the time we needed to go out for dinner, although we did take a brolly as we wanted to get to a restaurant at the far end of the town and when it rains here it pours!

So our little holiday within a holiday is over. Geoff and I haven’t had any disagreements or struggled because there hasn’t been a plan for the day, we have coped with a slower pace, and we have managed to sit for, what is for us, significant periods of time! We will however be happy to get back to doing things again, even though tomorrow that includes a 4 hour flight to Melbourne! I’m reading Bill Bryson’s book Down Under which is proving a fun read, particularly as whilst we have been here I have been reading his account of this area with a few good croc stories! I might get it finished tomorrow!