April 07th, 2025

​Yesterday was mostly a get in and do things we had not done on the island while doing some things we had and enjoyed.

I finally got to go fishing. I was not disappointed. I fished from the shore. To my left were rocks and to my right beach. I let the line drift to the rocks. I caught six fish in all. All Parrot fish. I took photo’s and all went back. Merril came down and got the photo of the final fish.

It was great to get decent bites. None of this knowing a crab or tiny fish were playing with the bait. When these fish struck I knew it. I did lose 2 hooks. But it was all so worth it.

After fishing was swim time. We swam in a different pool than we had. It was connected to the others but less populated. I reckon we will do the same today.

The other thing of note we did was take the walking track down the centre of the Island. It is called the rainforest walk. Neither of us really knew what we were getting ourselves into. It was a lovely walk but steep and treacherous in parts. I found myself holding on to trees or sliding down slopes. I was making sure Merril was ok too. She said it was really her lack of fitness that told on her.

I found it interesting to see the difference for me between now and pre-stroke. Things I once found easy are more challenging these days. Like the tennis the other day. If the ball was hit away from me I had no inclination to run for it. Running tends to be something I do not do much of these days.

We had determined that although we were doing stuff it would be a relaxed day. It really did turn out to be.

We also visited a display of some fish and coral.

I do think they do do well looking after this place. It must cost a fortune to run but the staff are happy and friendly. We got to talking to one guy yesterday who is the security guy. He grew up in Townsville and went to Town High school and knew all about the Foley Shield - formally an iter-city rugby league competition.

He was saying how Islanders from across the Pacific used to row between these Islands and do dances at each in their native costumes. Merril and I saw a show on the Pacific recently where people groups get together at different nations to do the same. A bygone sight that would have been good to see.

Still this place has been good to see. Today is our last full day. Nothing much is planned but a swim will be the go we think.