Condesa has departed Hamilton Island!
This time she headed left, as oppose to 'the playground' that is the glorious Whitsundays, when you turn right.
So what happens when we spend more than a day at an island resort is that I find it hard to leave. It's unexplainable but I am not the only one. I have read posts of others who suffer anything from sadness to anxiety when they have to leave port (some have a valid reasons of course). I am not as extreme as that, just at odds, a strange phenomenon for me.
I remind myself of the magnificence of Condesa at sea and the blissfully quiet overnight voyages I love spent under a starlit canopy, equaling if not surpassing island days. But the melancholy feelings are real and it would be easier if I knew where it comes from.
Team Condesa have more relevance at sea than tied to the dock, for sure.
So we are underway and Condesa proves her worth getting straight back into the rhythm, the sails too are happy stealing the wind, the dolphins rush to escort us out of the pass. He Who Hums is back on alert and I capture it all watching the Whitsunday islands fade into a picture postcard backdrop of blues and grey from the front of the boat.
The bow is cutting a perfect reflection through the silky smooth water, like some kind or metaphor. The top half on a mission, the mirror image being taken with, both equally crystal clear.
With the course set for another journey of the heart, my time is free to reflect on the happy go lucky island lifestyle we had shared.
The staff were so hospitable. Each and every one of them doing what they do best, be it buggy rentals, or lifesaver at Catseye beach or waitering in the restaurants and cafes, or getting RSI in the ice-cream shop at the shuttle bus stop or mixing cocktails at the pool bar. It was always service with a smile and genuine friendly conversations had.
I witnessed some of the daily turnover of tourists who arrived in their numbers from the minute I opened my eyes every morning. Yet each received the royal treatment like they were the only ones ever to visit Hamilton island. Whatever the formulae is, the island has got it right!
You don't even realise they are running the infrastructure for a small city until you sail past the water plant, fuel storage, cargo stations and the numerous staff quarters nestled amongst the palm trees at the back of the island.
Each night we enjoyed sundowners on top deck and by 9.30pm we heard the laughter and festivities of the off-duty staff, enjoying karaoke as they all belted out the words for every crowd-pleaser song that drifted across the marina. Except for the night our family surpassed their efforts after a few drinks, bringing out the Cher and Tom Jones fans.🤪 You have got to love that!
I said to He Who Hums, if ever I was to run away from home, you may or may not find me working on Hammo. It is all too good to be true on reflection.
Should Condesa keep up this harmonic pace, the three of us will be back home with our family and friends in a few weeks. With that said, I feel a pinch of something to shift my mood. As the song says, only love can hurt like that.
Must be time to leave the bowsprit and join He who Hums for morning tea at the helm to discuss our next anchorage.

Sending Love
He Who Hums, Condesa and me.
Stay happy!