It’s always special when family visits. This time it was our two grandchildren, Ava and Olive, along with their parents … of course … crazy to think we could look after a 2 and 5 year old on our own and on a boat!
The biggest stress when guests are arriving? The weather! You find yourself checking the forecast way too often. Windy and Meteye/BOM are our go-to’s. So annoying when they are both different, but even more annoying when they are the same when there’s bad weather ahead. The closer the arrival date, the little the weather changes. So the planning then starts. Where do we go?
How lucky were they! We had endless days of strong wind leading up to their visit and the same following their visit. They snuck in their 5 days right between the two windy weather stretches. We’ve even had rain since they left.
How time flies. It seems like yesterday Ava visited us on The Bossa when she was 2, now it’s Olive (2) and Ava (5).
Steering The Bossa is always popular, especially sitting in the captain’s chair. It’s a serious business too.
The family crew arrived at Hamilton Island and after a visit to the playground by bus (when Olive accompanied the bus driver in the front seat directing him which way to turn) and a calm first night aboard, we motored around to Cid Harbour. It was our first time with the six of us in the dinghy, including the unwelcome life jackets (although Ava was an expert at this having visited The Bossa way back when she was two).
Whitehaven Beach is always on the agenda for any visitor, so after one day at Cid Harbour we tackled the bumpy seas and motored around to Whitehaven Beach where we enjoyed a perfect two days and nights. The girls loved it. They enjoyed the water and the sand, and getting them off the boat where they could run and splash was perfect.
With the weather closing in we decided a night in Gulnare Inlet before they left was the best option. It had been a rough bumpy ride to Whitehaven Beach. The girls were fantastic. They stayed inside, both eventually falling asleep as we rocked and rolled for over two hours, but mum was not so keen. We didn’t want to push our luck with a trip in to 20-25 knots of wind the next morning before the flight. Gulnare Inlet does not have anywhere to get off the boat so … we fished!
And we caught fish.
All squirts and returned to the deep but it was exciting for them to see so many fish caught. We even spotted a dugong in Gulnare Inlet.
Oh … and we were treated to a humpback whale and calf visit just as we were getting ready to enter the Hamilton Island marina. A whale popped up right alongside us, with her calf. She meandered around to the back of The Bossa, flipped her tail and slowly moved on. Wow! A perfect way to finish, although I think the girls enjoyed their ice creams ashore more.
We had a perfect five days. Dinghy rides, swims, sand castles, shell collecting, cooking, games and fishing and all with a smile. The girls were brilliant. So much fun was had by all. It was a big five days and a holiday we hope they will all remember in years to come. Well done to mum and dad too!
Rest time now! 🙂
Thanks Amanda, great read, beautiful week for you all, well done. Great memories. Reminds me of our young grandchildren visiting us over our 23 years of cruising. Whitsundays has so much to offer. Now our grandkids are 20,19,18,17,15 years. Time flies. Happy cruising great to catch you Airlie. Safe travels.
Great to finally catch up! Yes special times with family aboard. Not sure they’ll be back when they are older teenagers tho … we may need wheelchair access on The Bossa then! 🙂
Sounds like it all went super well!
I hope the girls remember some of these times on The Bossa in years to come. Another photo book!
Thanks for being such amazing hosts and giving us all such wonderful memories. Ava is still saying catching the fish was the best part of the holiday. `
I think we ticked all boxes didn’t we. A very unexpected treat catching those fish. I do love my fish earrings too Ava! It was a lovely week & times together we will all treasure.