Ellis Beach Revisited

On Monday Conor’s Ranger was picked up to be taken to Cairns. After we’d stopped one diesel leak it highlighted another smaller one, and as these things only ever get worse it’s gone to have the injectors replaced. That leaves us with Kerry’s car and 2 bikes, so although any camping is off the table for the moment, we’ll manage day to day.

After breakfast and a bit of housekeeping – ironing, tidying up my beard – I first checked they were in, and then went round to Andrew and Robyn’s for a brew. A run up to Julatten for a beer was suggested so hopefully will be arranged for later in the week.

Tuesday morning, however, wasn’t ideal for a ride as it was raining. Not heavily, not cold and not forecast to last beyond lunchtime, but nevertheless wet and a good chance to get up to date with things indoors.

As it was the rain stopped before 11 and by the time I went out the roads were largely dry. The forecast was good for Wednesday, so Andrew and I arranged to meet at the Shell garage for a run out and a beer.

Before that though, on Tuesday afternoon, I took the bar end weights off the Honda as they were scratched and scuffed, rubbed them down and spray-painted them black. A quick and easy job but once refitted it really lifted the look of the bike.

On Wednesday afternoon Andrew and I had a run up the hill to Julatten for a couple of beers, after which Conor, Kerry and I met Michelle and Richard and walked down to the Tav for burger night.

In between all this I’d been running around locally on the bike, and scouting around for possible presents to take back.

On Thursday Conor got a call to say the Ranger was ready so after work he got a lift to Cairns to pick it up, rushing because he was working at Salsa in the evening. While he was doing that Kerry and I took Murphy for a walk, after which it was my turn to cook tea so I did chicken and chorizo paella, which turned out ok.

Friday morning started a bit cloudy but soon  cleared. I accidentally locked myself out of my bedroom, but fortunately Conor told me where the key was to get back in again. He did stress that I take care of it as there’s only one, so I went into town and got another couple cut.

As it was still early, I decided to have a run down to Ellis Beach about 40km (25 Miles) away, where I enjoyed a bacon and egg roll and a dirty chai while sat outside overlooking the Coral Sea and watching the world go by. This was the first place we stopped when I came to Australia last time,  and the food’s still as good 2 years later.

In the afternoon I got in to the spirit of home by getting soaking wet, although in my case it was by jumping into the pool. Murphy loved being splashed, or chasing her rugby ball as I threw it from one side to the other, but even though she kept dipping a paw in the water she was too nervous to actually take the plunge.

Later on we had a couple of drinks at the Tav, then walked along to the Beach Shack for pizza. It wasn’t a late night as we planned to set off on the bikes around 8.30 on Saturday morning to start what promises to be quite a full weekend.

More to follow, and in the meantime just a few pictures from Ellis Beach.