Getting from A to B
We had at first thought to drive to Brisbane to fly to Athens but eventually decided a flight from Gladstone would be easier. Well one would think so. But not so. Baggage allowance from Brisbane to Athens = 30kgs. Baggage allowance on domestic flight from Gladstone to Brisbane = 23kgs. This created a huge problem as we don’t carry in our luggage personal items like most travelers, we have to fit in items like a mast bracket for a radar which isn’t light as well as an inline water filter ( decided on at the last minute) which is quite large. Then we have an external GPS and all its attachments. Add to that a 3000000 candle power spot light and you will start to see our predicament. And so the list goes on depending very much on the extra 14kgs…..Easy ! just pay for an extra bag from Gladstone to Brisbane. $35 thank you, so with no other option we started filling a 3rd bag knowing at Brisbane we would have to divide it between the other 2 bags.
So Sunday arrived, all set to go and the house ready for the sitters. Our good friends Cathy and Iain ( crew on our last trip) drove from Gladstone to pick us up. Locked up, loaded their car and off we went. Nothing is simple with the Whitmores. Double checking things as we left town I couldn’t find my wallet. Stop on the side of the road, quick realisation the wallet must be back home. U turn and back we went. As we turned into our drive Cathy decided that this was meant to be an omen so to speak, and we would catch some robbers in the act of doing our place over. No robbers but a very welcome wallet sitting on the bench. A last look for 19mths and back on the road we went. From home to Gladstone is approximately 70 klms so Iain was relieved the wallet incident happened early into the trip.
Early start the next day leaving Gladstone at 7:50 arriving in Brisbane after 9:00. Now we thought we have to divide the 3rd bag and add to the other 2. Not looking forward to the display of the strange contents of our bags, I decided to ask if it was really necessary to empty the bag. Great news……we can have 3 bags, so head off to check in for the flight to Athens via Abu Dhabi.
Lady at the check in: “ where are your return tickets?”
Us: “ We don’t have any”
Checkin Lady: “ You will have to convince us you have sufficient funds not to be a liability to Greece and then prove you really are buying a yacht in Greece and give us an itinerary for the trip back to Australia”.
I was prepared for something like this so I was carrying a ring binder with every piece of paper connected to the purchase of the yacht even if they were important or not. “What would you like to see first?” I asked. Eventually 20minutes later we were given the okay to leave on one way tickets. Didn’t leave any time for a coffee before we had to board. An hour in Singapore and the a stop in Abu Dhabi for about 8 hours. Can we suggest some things you can do while you wait? How about 6 holes of golf? We had arrived at midnight so not quite sure about the golf they play there.
A very long night before flying to Athens, arriving to a warm 27 degrees. Had to walk a long way with our heavy bags to the hire car office. Load everything and find the airconditioning does not work. Not so happy chappies in the office finally give us another car so it is unload and reload then off we go, remembering we are now driving on the other side of the road. Finding our accommodation is another story.