The bay was smothered by a cloud so thick, that the distant islands were tucked away out of sight. We had 4 days at Airlie Beach and had decided on Sunday to explore Whitehaven Beach, unbeknownst to us, it would be the only overcast day that week.
Andrew and I holidayed here 15years ago, when the town was much smaller, quieter and I dare say, more affordable. The beautiful islands, white soft sands and amazing snorkeling had made quite an impression on us and we were excited to share it with the kids.
Our boat picked up speed as we left the marina and shortly after, rain fell. I slumped in my chair annoyed at the weather gods. I was disappointed that the kids wouldn’t experience the postcard perfect views. But as I looked towards them, I saw something better.
Kaya and Felix were dancing around in oversized raincoats, catching rain on their tongues and singing their hearts out to the 70s classics that were pouring out of the boats speakers. Bonnie was snuggling into Andrew, enjoying a warm and dry spot for cuddles, as she tucked into a packet of biscuits that her distracted siblings knew nothing about.
At the beach, the rain stopped and we explored, tried stand up paddle boarding, spotted sting rays and went snorkeling. The kids had an absolute blast. It made me realise that we all have different expectations, whether its of ourselves, other people, experiences or the weather. It pays to shake up those values every once in a while, take on a fresh perspective and sometimes, you just have to play in the rain.
