15^th August: Coral Bay

We managed to get the vans onto the cars, or rather Glen did with the aid of the bottle jack. Gail and I did not have to sit or stand on the back to drop the back down. Terrible site! But we left early and arrived just after 1.00 am. Well, it was only 150 kms! I had booked us onto a glass bottom boat to view coral at 11.00am.

It was an informative tour. Glen and Gail had seen coral when they snorkled but I hadn't of course. This coral is very different to that on the Great Barrier Reef. It is not as colourful and there are very different forms. The most common in the bay is a cabbage like coral that has largish leaves that curl around like huge roses. But they are dun-coloured. Some

corals are blue and there are the occasional purple but most is fairly drab. Unfortunately we did not see many fish but what we did see were very colourful. Before we left, there were half a dozen largish spangled emperors swimming under the glass. They come to be fed as there is fish feeding some afternoons.

We returned and checked in then as we couldn't when we first arrived. Then this afternoon, we went for a walk back to the bay which is just 100 metres away. It is a most beautiful bay! White sand, torquoise and green water. A stunning place!

 At 3.30,we had fish feeding which is something different! Crowds gathered in knee deep water and the fish arrived early. This time a couple of dozen spangled emperors, 45 – 50 cms long, started swimming between people and their legs. The eco manager gave a little lecture re the fish and feeing them and then handed out the food – pellets of special fish food. Well, the fish were in a frenzy, kids were shrieking and the adults were furiously taking photos. It was all good fun and a rather unexpected, different experience.

There are a lot of people here. I booked last week but still we are without power. Usually , that is not a problem but our fridge is not working on gas and we are relying on electricity. Glen is juggling batteries and solar panels. An added difficulty was that the panels were filthy – dust and then salt dripping from the trees. Yuk! Not efficient!

There are two parks and they are both full! I'm not sure what people do here. This is a beautiful beach but there is no fishing – it is a sanctuary. You can't fish on the reef either.

But there are people living here permanently.

We saw a good sticker on a car today:

DON'T FOLLOW ME: MY SAT NAV HAS ALZIEMERS TOO!