Party time - then pack up

Beautiful sunset for our last night in Horseshoe Bay.

It might be a bit hot and stuffy in Breakwater marina's protected waters but it is never dull.
We came across from Maggie late last week and for the next three nights it was party, party, party.

First night kicked off with a surprise visit from David and Vikki who were out walking their dog Echo along the Esplanade, then it was off to the ``Table of Knowledge'', a weekly gathering of marina tenants sharing knowledge (some of it questionable but generally hilarious).
Night two beckoned us to the local Herbert Hotel with Ted and Carolynne to listen to the Hillbilly Goats who really got the crowd rocking with some Old Timey music (aka Oh Brother Where Art Thou) and kept us there till stumps.
And Night three was the marina barber's 50th birthday which included a massive feed of barbecued mackerel fillets and steak with a variety of savouries, salads and sweets to share. As the theme was mismatch, there were some very weird and colourful outfits from this salty crew. I reckon mismatch is a general state of dress out on the water at any time.
It was very quiet around the place on the fourth night after our arrival!
On Tuesday we caught the train up to Cairns to retrieve our recently purchased car that we will drive back to Rochester this year.
The train trip was fantastic - so relaxing, plenty of leg room and with a personal screen for movies, music or whatever. Even the food was OK.
On the way back to Townsville (by car) yesterday we called into to Lucinda and Dungeness to see what tie up and/or land facilities were there. Dungeness was a real surprise with three resorts on the inlet across from the Hinchinbrook Channel. It was very neat and tidy with a number of new looking pylons and walkways with berthing facilities advertised for rent.
It's a very narrow but well marked channel into this inlet but might be worth exploring next year.

Looking towards The Strand from our marina berth in Townsville. It's been typical build-up weather - hot and increasingly humid with the odd storm to douse us and bring the temperature down.