Nearly over.

Friday 29^th August 2014.

So, so sad…………. Check out day today. We have to be out of our room by 10 or 10.30 and the ferry doesn’t arrive for us until 4.15pm so we’re homeless for the day! So it’s to the luggage room for the bags and an extra leisurely breakfast for us  and then on to a comfy lounge in the shade with a nice view to pass the time relaxing. There’s a turtle rehabilitation centre on the island and for a small charge, you can do a 45 minute tour and learn about the work of the centre. The charge goes towards feeding the hungry little (big) guys. There are 2 turtles sufficiently recovered from their problems to be released. The centre is just waiting for the water temp to rise a little more and also for trackers to be fitted to the turtles.  

We’re ready for lunch about 2pm, luckily Foxy’s serves lunch till 3pm and we hang out there until the ferry is due. The clouds are gathering and maybe a change is coming. Really, the island is sad that we’re leaving and it’s trying hard not to cry……..

Before we know it, our ferry comes into view and we take our bags down to the dock. Eddie is there to greet us and help with our bags, but Ollie and Tonia are on days off so we don’t get to see them again. We’re back in Cairns by 5.30 and walk back down the waterfront to our hotel for the night. Tomorrow we’re off to the airport early to fly home. 

P.S. The summit climb caught up with us both today – our legs are absolutely killing!!
Apparently we went up the 'best' way. Up the path behind the resort, over the top and back down via the lighthouse path. It was still pretty damned hard. At the start, the steps were formed and "OH&S compliant", but further up they're the bushcraft kind - natural rock, all higgeldy piggeldy, low rise, high rise,  not quite level, and just hard work! Coming down the same kind of steps was no easier either. In hindsight, we were quite mad to attempt it, but once we'd started, there was no going back!

 

Come back in a few days and I might have added some photos.