Pearler of a Day

SATURDAY 6 JULY 2019

Cooked breakfast day so bacon and eggs were on the menu.

After a leisurely start we headed off to the north and as we were driving it was decided we would go to Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm. We arrived about half an hour before two tours were scheduled to start so Kate and Jenny did the Pearl Farm tour and Larry headed off for the 2 hour whirlpool boat ride.

Larry had a great time as you sat astride the seat like riding a horse and the powerful boat had 12 people on it and most of the time we were full throttle. The water coming over some of the rocks  was spectacular and so were whirlpools that are created due to the tidal changes. J and K would not have enjoyed this ride, so best they did the pearl tour and a swim in the pool while waiting for Larry to get back.

While Larry was off gallivanting around the ocean, getting sucked into whirlpools and riding some waves, Kate and Jenny had a relaxing time learning about the history of pearl farming at Cygnet Bay. We had a nice small and intimate tour group of 4, plus the tour guide. She took us to the old Cygnet Bay school room (Kate was annoyed by this as she had just escaped a classroom, only to find herself back in another one) where we learnt about the history of pearling. After the fascinating lesson, we were given the opportunity to go outside to where they had tanks of oysters being farmed. Jenny and Kate were allowed to choose an oyster that would be opened, there was one in the tank that was stubborn, (a bit like Jenny) and would be hard to pry open as it was spitting out the peg that was keeping it open. Mum took a liking to this oyster (probably because she could see herself in it) and chose this to be the oyster we opened. However, much to our disappointment, the pearl that emerged from the pearl sac was small and disfigured, with a number of lesions on its surface. The other couple on the tour with us chose an oyster that produced a beautiful big pearl with a stunning iridescent surface. Kate was (and still is) a tad pissed off that mum chose a dud without consulting her first. When it came to grading and valuing our pearls, mine and mums was classified as a “non-gem” meaning it was worth zilch, zero, nothing, and it was to be grinded back down so that the nucleus that triggered the oyster to start forming the pearl, could be reused. The other couples was worth $120 which is still not fabulous, but better than ours... when the tour finished, we were offered pearl meat to try, which is the muscle that forms next to the pearl. The pearl meat tasted like I had just taken a bite out of the ocean, so we rushed back to the car to get our water to wash it down. While waiting for Larry to finish his thrill-seeking boat tour, we decided to have a quick dip in the pool next to the restaurant, which was completely empty. It was peaceful and refreshing until the hoards of children descended upon us, splashing around and enjoying life like children do (how dare they) so we exited the pool and made our way to the restaurant for lunch.

As we had to do a boat to boat transfer Larry accidently left his Jeep cap on the boat so he quickly jumped back on to the boat to retrieve it and as he was doing some self entitled old bloke said it was only a Jeep hat. When Larry got back onto the boat he went up to him and asked him what he said. The bloke said it was only a Jeep hat so Larry told him what a good effort with a look of disgust, what a twat as he was basically having a go at Jeeps.  This is from the type of person that probably drives a Hyundai Getz and has to go on a bus to see things in the bush. Could have said a lot more but as he was part of a tour group it was best not to start something. We get so sick of the self entitled generation that honestly give Jenny and Larry the shits, especially some of the tour groups. Not all people of course but it tends to be this type.

It didn’t really affect Larry and as he had caught up with J and K it was decided to have lunch at the bistro. Very nice chicken burgers and a nasi goreng with a few mango beers were consumed and soon Larry’s good humour was restored.

Off we drove to One Arm Pont community but the place was closed as it was getting past 3 pm. Into the Jeep again and off to Koolajamin and had a quick look around after paying $15 for the privilege. It was bit underwhelming so off again and headed back as it was an hour and 45 mins to get back to the van.

Arrived back and straight into preparing the dough as it was pizzas for dinner.  They were delicious and as we were eating we could get only sporadic updates on the derby score. We were pretty happy to see the final result.

We had a bit of trouble getting to sleep due to a few cackling people around their campfire but in the end we drifted off to sleep.