It was a very rolly night as there was a big swell coming through, luckily we are very protected from the wind but it was quite a disturbed sleep as we rolled from side to side. We can see all the white horses starting not that far from here just off the headland. I’m glad we are securely on our mooring ball. Rowan attached a stern line onto a mooring ball behind us to try and lessen the roll. Every evening very cute little terns come and claim their mooring ball, once landed they shriek like crazy whenever another flies by, we think they are saying ‘bugger off I’ve got this ball!’. There must be at least 20 balls and they each have their tern balancing precariously on the slippery round ball. The little chap on our ball behind us is very brave as he is so close to the boat now, I hope we are not going to keep him awake too late. They have a sweet little crest that goes up and gets very ruffled in the wind. I think they are Royal terns.
Our view from the boat
Royal tern on guard
We decided to enjoy a day at Endeavour Bay and do some snorkelling. The cafe was open this time, it was rather nice to use their comfy sun loungers. Plenty of people about and I had great fun people watching. They have banned yachties going to the famous Basil’s Bar which is no problem for us, it is very empty so not much atmosphere and we ate there last time, so we have ticked it off. The snorkelling was great, we saw a huge lobster doing a very bad job of hiding under some Elkhorn coral and some fish I have not seen before, but think I have identified them as a kind of Filefish. It is wonderfully protected waters with some lovely coral. Sadly Rowan forgot the go pro, sorry no pics!
We have such a laugh walking around the island as everyone stares at us, nobody walks around here, you can see them trying to work us out. It doesn’t help that I wear a very un-fetching purple sunhat, which is not stylish at all, but wonderfully, light and cool with a great brim for protection, and a chin strap that when tied tight withstands a howling gale…..I’ve lost all shame! De rigueur here is a panama hat or a seriously floaty straw hat. Having said all that we find the island charming and really like it here.
The plan was to have our friends Gordon and Deena (who we had supper with last time) over for drinks on the boat before going back to theirs for dinner. We gave drinks a skip as the sky was so threatening, the boat was rolling a lot, and they needed an early night as their son is still at Eton (he has to get up very early to start his lessons at 5am) and they are both working on British time. So we just went for dinner. They have moved into Jane Anne Ghardia’s Home (oops Dame now), she was the lady Rowan first employed when he started Virgin Money, she stayed on, floated the company and then sold it for Richard Branson. Rowan knew she had a house out here, so it was interesting to see it. Gordon and Deena had rented out their house for half term ages ago so they needed to move out temporarily. I think their two boys were very disappointed to find Phoebs was no longer with us! Once again it was like being transported back in time, by having such old fashioned waiter service in the home. Their mule (golf buggy) wouldn’t start and we landed up getting a lift from the staff down to the jetty. They are all so polite and cheerful, I think it must be a very good life here for the locals.
Frigate birds soaring in the dramatic skies above the French family’s boat.
I love the cloud shadows over the sea
The setting sun peeking through the clouds
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