The Pilot's party and Palm Cove with an unexpected L.A. excursion - item 533

[Flyfrequently]

Pleased with ourselves, packed HLO (and of course a guitar) had a smooth 90 minute trip to Tulla and checked in to Novotel Melbourne Airport before our flight to Cairns in the morning.
After my niece gathered the family for her 50th earlier this year, the tone has been set for the "0" birthdays. The pilot turns 30, we will stay in Palm Cove and pick up our grandson flying from Melbourne on Friday - a lazy few days before the fam get together on the weekend - what could possibly muck that up?

Happy with our Novotel digs and had a delicious dinner in Boccata, until a dental disaster struck
Text message to my longtime eastern suburbs dentist still had her in her rooms @ 7pm and she replied, come straight away.
The LA in this TR is not for Los Angeles but local anaesthetic, paid my item 533 and all set now for our holiday

So to all the dentists out there, especially mine - thank you!

 

[Flyfrequently]

Tuesday - and off we go!
Booked the complimentary shuttle from Novotel over to T1. Reception advised booking for the morning as the 7.20 am was already full. We took the 7.40 am and as it turned out, we were the only pax.
Would recommend staying Novotel/Ibis if you have an early flight and, if like us, are some distance from Tulla.
Booked Accor + RHR rate.

Unusually for me, I was HLO but of course, one of us had to head over to oversize baggage .
Quickly through security and up to the J Lounge.
Apart from spotting Daryl Braithwaite, nothing else to report.
Our bird with the Mendoowoorrji livery.


Departed on time, a bit bumpy on ascent so service didn't commence until 40 minutes in.
I quite enjoyed the beef ragu pasta, though a bit weird for me as a mid - morning "meal", guess it is hard to work out what to serve at 10 am!




Arrived on time to be surprised at the gate by the party Pilot who had "flown" in 30 minutes earlier from BNE.
Off downstairs, as Mr Flyfrequently paced at the baggage carousel waiting, waiting, waiting..... the Pilot tapped him on the shoulder and pointed to the "oversized baggage " sign
Collected our T-Roc and on our way up the Captain Cook Hwy to Palm Cove just a tad later than anticipated.

Part of the Mackay contingent arrived the previous day and were to stop in for a quick "hi" but being mid afternoon and humid with their gorgeous but scrappy twins on board, we only managed a wave from our balcony.

Very pleased with Mantra and room upgrade as we wait for teen grandson to arrive Friday.


Opted for an early night, some takeaway and ready to gear up for the busy few days to come - this trip is all about family - again .

 

[Flyfrequently]

Wednesday : a day to ourselves
Woke early to rain, thunder and lightning.
With our Mantra More Escapes breakfast vouchers in hand, we walked along Williams Esplanade and the beach to La Mesa for breakfast, hardly a soul about.

Taking our time late morning, headed to Trinity Beach, Kewarra, Clifton Beach then a quick stop to buy the Pilot's birthday card at the shopping plaza - the heavens opened up.

Nice to have a lazy day before the family descend (or should that be descent over the next few days)
Dinner was at La Mesa in Peppers, very pleasant.
Still adjusting to the one hour time difference - another early night.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Thursday: A busy day for Cairns airport.
GC niece and brood were on the 8am flight and straight to Kuranda skyrail.
The Pilot did a CNS-MEL-CNS run, his Mum a midday arrival, Party Aunty with one of her daughters landed shortly after.
And I take my hat off to my brother for driving the 9 hours from Mackay with the birthday boy's dog on board - after all what is a party without your best friend!

By now our numbers are up to 17 and of course Party Aunty suggests a quick dinner.
Settled on Moku at Novotel Cairns and it was a terrific but tiring evening....

 

[Flyfrequently]

Forgot an important landing that morning - our DSC.

So I didn't have to host this year's Christmas lunch (again) I booked a J day trip over to ADL with Y back to MEL for 25th December during the DSC promo in February.

Qantas subsequently cancelled our flight over, impacting our MCT.
Sat on our options for a day or two ( ie fly Jet* home later that day... ) or wondering whether we would stretch our time in Adelaide to a few days or just cancel outright.

By this time, the Pilot had planned his December party.

Safe in the knowledge I gained from AFF, I cancelled our flights, put them into credit retaining the PNR, paid the $ difference, and changed the destination to Cairns.
Thanks AFF!

 

[Pushka]

Forgot an important landing that morning - our DSC.

So I didn't have to host this year's Christmas lunch (again) I booked a J day trip over to ADL with Y back to MEL for 25th December during the DSC promo in February.

Qantas subsequently cancelled our flight over, impacting our MCT.
Sat on our options for a day or two ( ie fly Jet* home later that day... ) or wondering whether we would stretch our time in Adelaide to a few days or just cancel outright.

By this time, the Pilot had planned his December party.

Safe in the knowledge I gained from AFF, I cancelled our flights, put them into credit retaining the PNR, paid the $ difference, and changed the destination to Cairns.
Thanks AFF!

Yes. Our cancelled trip to Cloncurry last DSC and converted to nice trips to Bali a couple of weeks ago yielded a nice and expected DSC. Who knew!

 

[Flyfrequently]

Friday: More family on the way - all Jetstar pax today. My Hawaii/GC based (older) sister and (even older) husband were early arrivals and needed a nap....

We took advantage of the sun in Palm Cove and time to ourselves to enjoy a bit of lounging

prior to our airport pick up of Teen grandson - under strict instructions to be waiting at the gate!

Numbers are now at 20 with the stragglers due on 6 am Saturday flights.

Another delicious dinner at La Mesa - Pork Belly

Beef Brisket Tacos

The teen wasn't that peckish after a stop at Macca's so just a kid's serve of chicken and salad

We finished off with the Chocolate Chilli mousse

With a very impressed but tired teenager - early night #3
It's that Eastern Seaboard time difference again!

 

[Flyfrequently]

Saturday :
The day has finally arrived and the final four family landed and all headed straight to Party Central at High Noon.
Hats off to the Pilot for his excellent cooking skills on his smoker.

We won't mention no gas for the BBQ snags.
My brother (the Patriarch) and Teen grandson to the rescue in the kitchen

All I can say, "What goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas" as Party Auntie lived up to her reputation and as we left heard "shots anyone "......

A wonderful afternoon, terrific to catch up with family as always.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Sunday: the morning after.
It was actually a fairly sedate affair compared to the Gold Coast 50th in March.
Quite a few were heading back down south on early flights and one family on a long road trip back to Mackay.

We spent the afternoon in Palm Cove with the Patriarch (brother) and his wife, a very pleasant conversation rehashing the night before.

It was nice and peaceful just being able to relax and swim until I get the teary phone call from Party Auntie's 20 year old daughter.
After time on the beach, she was dropped off at CNS airport. But no-one had checked the departure time, gate closed and no more flights to Melbourne till the morning (travel mistake 101)

Got hold of the Pilot, he checked the next day's loads, found a suitable flight and gave her the spiel to help sway the agent into rebooking her.
It was a CR on JQ, think SHE was very lucky to only get away with paying $90 change fee - she being my sister the Party Auntie



It is going to take something just as dumb to get her out of the naughty corner!

 

[Flyfrequently]

and I'm sure someone will!

 

[Flyfrequently]

Monday:
We (and Party Auntie) are the only ones now left today. The Patriarch +1 driving back to Mackay before heading to their real home on the Sunny Coast. And of course the 20 year old niece on early JQ flight after yesterday's travel mistake.

Teen grandson took himself off on his morning walk down the jetty with Double Island looking spectacular.



On the Teen's wish-list was to visit Rex Lookout, so we played tourist and went north up Captain Cook Hwy.

A cracker of a day to do it, blue skies, 30° and minimal humidity with a light breeze.

Back to Palm Cove and the pleasure of the Pilot and his best friend came for the afternoon.

Teen grandson wants to be a Pilot so they spent quite some time chatting all things Aviation.
Feel like we could easily do another few days.....

 

[Flyfrequently]

Tuesday: Time to go home - all good things must come to an end.

6 am photo courtesy of Teen grandson

Woke to a beautiful morning and Teen grandson wanted to do as much as possible before our checkout at 11am.
We did early breakfast without him - spotted a photo shoot or influencer

while he went on his morning walk to his favourite spot

Palm Tree Tunnel at Allamanda Cove by Lancemore
He then had a last swim in the pool before breakfast (no photo)

We were QF 703 departing 90 minutes before him and knowing he was on the same JQ flight home as Party Auntie, we got to the airport with plenty of time - so did she.

Had to laugh, after her "Time Sensitive issue " on Sunday, she got lumbered with her daughter's luggage, then found she couldn't check her bag until 12.30 pm

Teen grandson enjoyed his time in the QP and watched us depart until she joined him



He said the best part of this trip was our outing to Rex Lookout - oh, and spending time with us!

 

[markis10]

Nice trip report, and good to see a photo of the Shorts Belfast on your planes nose as it took off, she is a one of a kind now and said to be returning to the skies soon.