Hydeaway Bay

As we had decided on a rest day, I decided to try and get my hair done, if not coloured then at least cut. I honestly can't remember the last time my hair was this long, almost all the colour had grown out and it was getting difficult to handle. I found a delightful young Irish girl who could not only fit  me in but could do it straight away. $45 for a shampoo and cut, an extra $20 to blow dry ($1=50p. Approx)  It was so hot and humid I decided against the blow dry as I knew it wouldn't be long before my hairline would be damp with perspiration anyway. So she washed my hair, sat me in the chair and made the first cut - too short but once she'd started she had to finish by which time I knew all about her travels with her boyfriend, their future plans, that they probably wouldn't get  married yet but they  didn't wañt to wait too long before the babies came along and wait for it she couldn't master Irish dancing when she was at school. I'm not sure where that statement fits in with the master plan,  perhaps she saw it as a genetic defect she was going to pass on to her children or she just didn't want me to talk about River dance, who knows but she obviously felt the need to confess.

I've written previously about secluded coves on the beach but we found the best place ever that afternoon. We followed yet another 'scenic tourist route' but this one wasn't signposted.  I'd found it in one of the guide books and as it was supposed to only be a 35minute drive from Airlie Beach we decided to go and have a look at Hydeaway Bay

We missed the first turning and had to backtrack but after that by taking a couple of turns by chance as the signposts were practically non existent we came to Hydeaway Bay. Neither of us were particularly impressed,  if you must camp the site that was advertised looked ok, there were some nice houses but where was the sea? It was buried amongst the housing estate and not visible from the road. Steve in his usual way carried on driving through the village and we came to an unmade track.

Now he says that he is going to call me Tess from now on as I'm always in expectation of something but I don't know what. I won't shame him by telling you why Tess but if he mentions it you have my permission to give him a slap! Anyway,  I think he is also in expectation of something but his eternal optimism makes him expect something better and in this case he got it right. We followed the track and ended up at a holiday resort right on the edge of the beach. We were greeted by a very friendly chappie who insisted we throw his stick into the sea for him to fetch and he even gave it back to us to throw again. The main office building which was also the bar and restaurant had a large terrace which led onto the perfect sandy beach which was so perfect we just had to stop and have a drink. Never has a mojito tasted as good. We read the menu which made our mouths water but unfortunately it wasn't the right time for us to eat, Steve bless him, offered to take me back the following day for lunch but as we were due to leave it didn't fit in with our travel plans, I will just have to remember that mojito and dream about the beach,

The only downside the 35min drive the book said it would take was way out, it took us longer than that