Trip To Shoal Bay

3 days shy of 2 months and I finally got off West Thurlow Island for a couple hours. Kevin, Jim, and I went after work to a pig roast at Shoal Bay. I can't even explain to you how excited we were to have a change of scenery. There were quite a few locals, as well as tourists and it was all very exciting. We went after work and had to be back by dark (no headlights on the boat) so we were there less than 2 hours, but we felt very refreshed after escaping for even that short amount of time. And I didn't panic or anything on the boat, not even when we got there and it was so packed we had to raft onto 3 other boats and crawl over them to get to the dock, and not even when we caught another bigger boats' wake and were jerked around a bit. It was a great night.

I know it's been a while....

The internet connection here has been spotty, and the weather has been beautiful, so I have been neglecting this site, and internet things in general. Which isn't good, since the internet is my only means of rapid communication with the outside world. Of course there is always letter writing, but the mail plane comes 2 days a week, and that isn't often. But life has been moving on here. We are finally busy, which is great, because that means more people and more things to do. Holly-Anne came and visited last weekend, which was great not only because it was good to see her, but because it was a break for all of us who live here in the monotany. Not that it is bad here, it's just that everyday is the same. So, I have some pictures to post, but not today, because it is sunny and I don't want to be sitting in front of the computer anymore. Letters are always welcome.

The Big Cedar

this is an 800 year old cedar. i wish you could get a better sense of how big it is. it has about an 8 meter diameter. it is about a 25 minute hike from where the resort is. it is amazing to go up and see it. it's a big attraction here.

The Trail To The Point

This is a little trail to a lookout point. It only takes about 15 minutes to walk. I sometimes run the way there; I started laughing today at the thought that maybe it looks like i'm running away from something. But it is a beautiful trail, with a beautiful lookout at the end of it. My favourite part is the bench.

The Flowers By My Stairs

My Birthday

My birthday was on June 23. I tried not to let people here know, because it seems odd to me to get people who met you 2 weeks before to celebrate your birthday with you. But they found out. I got a package from my mom and I think that prompted the boss, on a hunch, to check my payroll info, and, sure enough, it was my birthday. It was nice though. They bought me dinner at the restaurant (Seafood medley-YUM), the bosses gave me a bottle of wine, the staff all signed a card, and Sheene (who is not in the group picture because she was taking it) made me a birthday cake. It was very nice.

So, this picture of the group is the staff, so far. 3 more come July 4. There is me (store), empty chair (Sheene - waitress in the restaurant), Edgar (founder of Blind Channel Resort and greeter at the restaurant), Phil (boss man), Derryk (kitchen assistant), Kevin (the dock boy), Jen (boss lady and resident baker), and Ildiko (chef). The 3 that are coming are going to be another server for the restaurant, a dishwasher, and another dock boy. The dishwasher will help me in the store too.

The Store

The view from the front door of my store (taken today, about 15 minutes ago)


The front of the store. As you can see, we have a post office.


The outside of the unique and kind of cool bottle wall. On the interior shots (below) you can see the bottoms of the bottles.




These last 2 are interior shots of the store, where i spend 6 hours everyday until September. Everyday.