Well, after a great trip home for Monica's 40th Birthday, everyone really enjoyed themselves, and danced all night, (see photos on my family website www.malyfamily.com)....

We departed Sydney with our friends, Gary and Liz, anticipating a wonderful week in the Whitsundays.

Well.... in summary.

Coldest day at Hamilton Island for more than 30 years!

More rain has fallen in the last few weeks than the total average for June, July, August and September!!

The fish has all gone north, it's too bloody cold down here!!!

We arrived at the Airport, and it was raining... the Cabbie told us that it rained so hard that morning that he had thought that the plane would not land!

So we arrived at Abel Point Marina, Airlie Beach, and it was wet. We then went off to shop.... four trolleys full!!!!

We stayed that night at the marina and then headed off to Stonehaven (Whitsunday Island). We trolled the whole way, with four lines.... Nothing!! It's too cold!

We spent the night at Stonehaven, on a swing mooring... I little uncomfortable as you get the swell from the south rounding the point...

Next morning we went off to Hook Island (Again, trolling...) We stopped at a few fishing spots and only caught a few small reef fish... and a couple of bream (two we kept). It rained most of the time.

We picked up a swing mooring at Butterlfy Bay... A very nice location... will need to go back there when the really bright thing in the sky re-appears...

We did not go snorkeling as the visibilty was low (clound cover and run off from the islands)
Stayed overnight at Butterfly Bay... Great spot!

Even thought it was raining, Liz and Gary have been enjoying themselves... more sun would have made it even better....

We departed Butterfly Bay, again trolly, and rounded the north tip of Hook Island.... trying to find some fish... We headed to a fishing spot on the northern tip of Withsunday Island... We did catch a few small fish, but nothing large enough to keep!! It was a very nice place... but no fish...

We then decided to head to Hamilton Island a day earlier, as we were getting a little tied of the rain... so we spent a night at Hamo...

Liz and Gary explored the Island the next day....

I repaired the hotwater system on the boat... The night we returned to Hamo, the shore power kept tripping... Finally diagnosed the problem (with the help of Angus from Salthouse) that it was the hotwater system. Disconneted this and the shore power stopped tripping.

I then needed to empty the hotwater tank, disconnect all the pipes, and remove the tank to get access to the heating element. Luckily, I had a spare heating element... Pulled the old on out, replaced it with the new one... and the struggle to put the whole thing back in.... eventually succeeded. Hot water is back online!

Have been playing lots of card games, Pictionary, watche the footy, watched a few movies....

This morning (Saturday) it's not actually raining at the moment... Still cloudy and cold... but no rain at the moment.....

Will update again tomorrow....

Check out the photo section

thanks... Frank out