Day 19: Down-Time at the Engella Chalet

Sunday, April 13, 2003

I woke up at 3 AM with a killer ear ache. Jason was nice enough to tell me funny stories to help distract me until I went back to sleep. In the morning Jason and I drove to Mackay (70 km away) to get antibiotics while Angie read and Pat went for a hike. My ear still hurt when I returned, so we decided to have a totally low-key day. We played some afternoon poker and went for a walk to see a huge strangler fig that you could walk through, kind of like the big trees in California. Jason and Pat discovered the existence of the Adams Family pinball, which is perhaps the best pinball game ever, both fun to play and watch. None of us are very good, however. We had a nice dinner at their restaurant as the sun set, and we ended up playing even more poker, this time with a variety of new games, including seven card stud and low ball. I again won big, meaning even more chocolate-yum (I'm gloating, aren't I?). We finally said good night and turned in at 10:30-later than usual.

An industrious caterpiller.

An industrious caterpiller.

A Golden Orb spider - an intimidating four inches long.

A Golden Orb spider - an intimidating four inches long.

View of the Chalet from the hang-glider ramp.

View of the Chalet from the hang-glider ramp.

Beautiful Morning Glories grew everywhere at the Chalet.

Beautiful Morning Glories grew everywhere at the Chalet.

A wild Poinsetta flowering next to the Chalet parking lot.

A wild Poinsetta flowering next to the Chalet parking lot.