I have just realized that it is almost two months since I wrote the last blog which blows my mind. Even Craig wasn’t aware of how fast the time has gone as I overheard him talking to a guest saying we have been working here 2 months. He couldn’t believe it when I told him we are heading into our 4th month of living and working here at the lodge (5 months since I started working here).
We knew when we came to Townsville that we were coming into the rainy season and we actually got lucky for the first few months as it was bone dry and gloriously hot. Then about a month ago it started raining and it really hasn’t stopped. There will be the odd lovely day but the majority of the time is wet (still lovely and warm though).
Queensland just recently had some flooding which saw some guests having to spend extra days with us as Townsville was cut off on the main roads heading in and out. We were worried for a bit that the flooding around the lodge was going to be at the level that it was going to affect the ground floor apartments however we were very lucky on that score and the rain stopped before that happened.
During one of the major storms (which lasted a week) our lovely boat dragged twice. After one particularly stormy night Craig headed out to REAO to check on her only to find that sometime during the night she had (along with a couple of other boats) pulled anchor and dragged herself semi ending up on the rocks. Luckily she hadn’t been there to long and he was able to get her off the rocks, reset her and drop anchor again. That episode left a few scars on her side but nothing serious. Then a couple of days later early morning we got a call from the Water Police asking whether we had repositioned her as she was on the other side of the channel. Nope we hadn’t and Craig had to head out to bring her back into the duck pond and drop even more chain out. After that episode one of us walks down to the strand every few hours to eyeball that she is still in the same place and every couple of days Craig physically dinghys out just to make sure everything is A-OK.
I have to be honest and say that up until earlier this week I had been carrying around the mindset that our adventuring lifestyle is on hold while we work here in Townsville and it wont restart until we set sail and leave, that was until I suddenly had an epiphany that this is all part and parcel of our new adventurous life. Yes it is correct we are not on the water sailing and exploring however the life of a hotel manager is definitely an adventure all on its own.
Since I had that change in thought pattern I have stopped wishing for the day we get to leave and have started to really enjoy the time here. We still work anywhere from 15-20 days then get 2-4 days break which is when we get to relax on the boat and continue making repairs, upgrades etc to REAO.
We have a pretty great routine going at the lodge where we will work non stop from 8am to midday (depending on how many rooms there are to clear). I then service the rest of the rooms and then potter around the property for the remainder of the day plus checking in and chatting with guests.
Unofficial lodge guest
Another non paying guest
Trying to hide in the garden
Ah the guests, they are wonderful things. I continue to be absolutely fascinated by how different people can be from each other.
My favorite are those who are just plain happy and don’t need anything at all. These people normally leave the rooms in pristine condition.
There are those that turn up and it doesn’t matter what it is you do for them they are determined to find fault with things, they tend to leave their rooms untidy, messy and sometimes just plain dirty (which is always fun to clean).
There are quiet ones who don’t want to be disturbed and apart from the initial contact of them checking in you never see them again.
The social ones who love nothing more than a good chat which I am more than happy to do so unless it is in the morning when I have a lot of work on.
The loud ones who for some reason love to sit outside so everyone can hear them talk, this is especially fun to hear at 1am in the morning (true story). And yes I have had to go out and ask on a couple of occasions for people to keep their voices down (okay I didn’t do it I asked Craig to do it).
The ones with kids, dogs, cats, grandparents, grand kids in tow.
The ones who think nothing of taking things from the room such as toilet paper, all the condiments, teaspoons, etc. Though thankfully we have had nothing bigger than a towel taken………………yet.
We also get to meet people from all over the world which is very cool especially when we hear about their own personal adventure stories.
So I am happy to report that this is still our adventurous life, it just happens to be (for now) based on land.