Ralphy asks for the ball
It became obvious to Carl that he would have to teach Ralphy to swim when he fell in on several occasions and had to be rescued. Carl dutifully took him over to the beach on the other side of The Spit for his first lesson and began by wading out just over Ralphy's depth. The reluctant Ralphy wasn't too sure about this, but began following until the water became too deep. Then he stood up on his back legs. Problem solved! Round one to Ralphy! Carl has eventually taught him how to swim.
Chuckles reluctantly allows me to hold her
The other four legged resident on the pontoon is Chuckles, also known as Cat by Grant, her owner. (Or is it the other way around - Cat owns Grant?) She is a fluffy tabby with four white paws and a white bib. Chuckles can be found relaxing on any of the boats around here depending on which one takes her fancy. Being a cat, she prefers swanning about on the yacht next door to her own. Chuckles finds people useful. After a sojourn ashore she sits staring at the gate and eventually someone will come along and open it for her. She has that wonderful arrogant cat attitude that she can do what she likes around here. However one place is out of bounds. Apparently she has been banned from The Yacht Club. There must be a story there, but I don't know it.Chuckles holds a grudge. A favourite pastime is walking around the gunnels of the dinghy when it's in the water. Grant was watching her one day when another boat went past creating a considerable bow wave. The dinghy bounced and bucked and the unsuspecting Chuckles lost her balance and plummeted into the water at which Grant did the unforgivable and laughed. She wouldn't talk to him for two days. As I'm sitting here writing this she has come on board Rene and thoroughly checked her out. What a sticky beak!
Chuckles checks out Rene
Rick and Val from Arkaydes arrived here yesterday and tied up at the public pontoon for a while. We knew it was them because we spotted Tiger first as Val took him for a run along the shore after their trip up from Moreton Bay. Last time we saw Tiger, Rick had given him a hair cut with the shears. He looked slightly moth eaten. (Sorry Rick. It really was quite a good haircut!) But as Rick said, 'It is only 10 days between a bad and a good haircut.' Tigers coat has regained it's shiny golden lustre and he looks like the mature, handsome man about town that he is. 
Tiger
Rick and Val are now tied up to a friend's jetty in a canal not far from here. It belongs to the friends holiday house and we have been invited for sundowners and a swim in the pool later today. Unfortunately Rick and Val will be here for 10 days or so as they wait for a part for their chart plotter. We are leaving tomorrow at 1am to catch the tide out of here and sail 55nm north to the Wide Bay Bar at the entrance to The Great Sandy Strait. The research has been done and hopefully we have judged it right to make an uneventful crossing at about 1pm tomorrow. Our stay at the Mooloolaba Marina has been very enjoyable. We have been told that in the recent past this marina has not had a good reputation for welcoming visitors. Apparently there have been some staff changes and we have found it to be a friendly and accommodating place to stay and would recommend it to anyone as a place to spend some time before travelling north or south.
Catching up on the balcony with Rick, Val and Tiger
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