FRIDAY 24 JULY     WEIPA

We did some shopping in the morning. I picked up the three lots of photos from the films I’d put in yesterday for processing. John browsed the hardware store, and spent $42 replenishing his fishing gear.

We walked a little in the afternoon – around the campground and environs. I also read the paper and finished a letter, and walked to post it.

We drove over to the town wharf and watched a tanker unloading fuel, for a while. All the fishing boats have to go anchor out in the channel whilst it is in, in case of accident.

Early tea was bought chips and a packet of frozen fish that I cooked.

We then went to social bowls. This was extremely casual. Most people played in bare feet and there was much drinking. I think the drinking was far more important to most there, than the bowls was. There were aboriginal kids running everywhere and much noise from a band that was playing. I felt very insulted because I was totally ignored by the five guys I’d played with, in the drinks round after the game, even though it had been my bowls that won my side a round of drinks. I have not before been in a club with such rude people. On the strength of that, told John I wasn’t going to play in their crummy old Calcutta game on Sunday!

We got home about 9.30pm and played a few rounds of cards before bed.