Meyers Have Landed

We left Wednesday night, raced Thursday to the dateline and ditched it for Friday. An uneventful flight about 80% full. Snagged a couple of extra seats so everyone got a few hours of shut-eye. The kids read when they were sick of playing with the Game Boy and played with the Game Boy when they were sick of reading. About as peaceful as 14 hours in economy class can be.

Just after boarding we realized that we had forgotten to pack the guidebooks. No great loss, they sucked anyway.

Getting through Sydney was nip and tuck. Since I had come through in November, they had replaced hand searching with X-Ray machines. Much quicker. Alas we were able to stand in the large line waiting to transfer to the domestic terminal that much sooner. Everything was fine until I actually checked the ticket and realized that departure was at 8:40, not 8:50 as I had been wishfully thinking.

We bolted out of the shuttle and charged up to the indicated gate which was empty except for a couple of attendants. "Can we still go to Brisbane?" I asked. "Sure, we've been waiting for you!" was the response. We were literally the last people on the plane and they pushed back as soon as our seatbelts clicked. The captain even apologized to everyone for the 2 minute delay. A little embarrasing.

When we deplaned in Brisbane, we were met at the gate by the rental car guy who brought us to the car, or rather it to us. Got five of six pieces of baggage in a couple of minutes, but one red duffel failed to make an appearance. After waiting for a few more minutes I checked with the baggage handlers who said that everything had already come off the flight. It was only the snorkling stuff. No worries. I went over to the service window and filled out a missing bag report. Report filled out, I checked the belt one more time only to find the red duffel slouching delinquintly on the band. Grabbed it and trotted back to the service counter: "Gosh, you guys work fast!"

Loaded the last bag into the car, a nondescript with Ford station wagon, and eased gingerly out into traffic. Everything is reflected except the gas and brake. Aside from needing to be really careful at uncontrolled intersections, and the odd bit of roundabout-panic it went pretty easily.

Rain showers off and on for most of the day, but, like Hawaii it was warm enough not to bother. Frolicked in the Hotel swimming pool.

Oh yes, the boat. Well we did get to see her.

As always it is difficult to get everyone to behave. Nicoline had already come close to falling down one of the hatches.

Looking along the bow. Everything in place. Just the damn paint needing to be stripped. The misformulated primer makes the paint gooey and difficult to remove. "Like getting chewing gum out of a carpet" says Steve.

The view from the cockpit. All the external hardware (windows, wheels, etc.) has been removed for the repaint.

Inside the main cabin. The floor is rosewood with birch.

The completed transom.