We are meant to have left the marina Thursday, but life got in the way. We were going to travel North with friends Audra & Steve from Clear Horizons. A medical issue has cropped up so we decided to hold on for a few days.

Move forward to Friday and Kathy's Birthday, after the present opening (A very nice if I say so my self) waterproof handbag made out of a carbon fibre sail cloth. (Present shopping is difficult when you spend most of your time in marine chandlers).

Then Kathy calls me down to spare cabin bathroom which has floor covered in water and running out of bathroom cabinet.



Water is running out under cabinet, strip out the interior and can see water dripping down from the hull/deck joint up behind the cabinet.



So it appears the sealant has failed along a section of the joint and as we are in the first downpour of rain we have been in for quite some time, it is a good job we did not depart. Need to undo the joint and re-seal. Maintenance in exotic places - how good can it get. Straight after the 2 day toilet fix.

So, Steve and Audra offer to take us out for a drive and just get off the boat for a while.

So off we head towards Mount Tambourine up in the hinterland on the first day of the biggest rain event Queensland has seen in years, apparently.



It apparently is very picture-skew had it not been for the fog and pouring rain. We stopped for morning coffee and Pumpkin scones on the way.



We then headed up to the Lookout, well between the fog and the rain we got to see the lookout car park at least.

Then Kathy's eagle eye had spied some shops open a few km's back so off we go to what I am sure is a very busy tourist area on most days of the week.

Note the number of other people out strolling around in the rain as well.



Steve wanted to go into the Cuckoo clock shop, yep there was a Cuckoo or too in there.



Then it was off to lunch, The Ye Olde English Pub should have rung alarm bells or maybe the 3 tourist buses in the car park should have also put us off. No we went in anyway but turned straight around when we realized we where at least 30 years too young and we would have been the only ones inside without the mandatory blue rinse.

So plan B "The Black Angus" at Sanctuary Cove was phoned and we were off down the hill in search of Sun and no rain.

Wrong. It was, if anything, wetter and more foggy at sea level than up in the Mountains.

Lunch at 1/4 to 3 no problem Sir.





The plate of ribs 3/4 of the way through, I manged to finish, just.



A great day was had by all. Thanks Audra & Steve, made Kathy's day very special.

On return to the marina poor old Steve's Umbrella has just about given up the ghost.