Its been great having Jonathan with us for this 2 week spell. The weather has been good and there has been plenty of incident! Nick is unfortunately studying hard and unable to come at present.
At Fitzroy Island we met Dave and Erica who like everybody we seem to meet are on there way to Darwin for the Indonesian rally. Yes a little envious. They appeared again at Low Isles today, and a few beers were consumned on their somewhat larger yacht SV Seacomber. Dave full of experience and knowledge and Erica a music and film library to envy. So a trade of prawns was made.
So while we wait for the prawns to cook, we watch our companions the sharks, remoras, and bait fishes.
Tomorrow up early again, as the channel into port douglas is only 1.5m c datum. so with early high tide we should be there by 9am. Then it is off to explore PD, a place where we used to have a holiday appartment and so are pretty familiar with. Maybe we will try the kite surfer again?
Roger
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Of Sharks and Blue People..
Hi all,
Celebrity blogger for the last two weeks here while I've been visiting the parentals aboard the good ship Dreamweaver. It all started last Saturday with my arrival into Townsville (a much nicer town than I remembered from times past). We've since travelled through Orpheous Island, Hinchenbrook Island, Dunk Island, Fitzroy Island and now the Low Islets off Port Douglas. A tour of tropical Queenslands island paradises, some with tariffs ashore for up to 800 dollars a night, some in recievership and some infested with sharks/mosquito's/crocadiles, really in North Queensland take your pick!
Throughout the trip I've enjoyed what I am assured is the prime bedroom at the stern of the boat, apparently even better than the 'stateroom' at the bow. And while I've been attempting to fish we've lost a small child sized lure off the back of the boat (i'm sure it was a crocadile/shark/hybrid of the two).
But anyway two highlights...
Number one: Yesterday as we attempted to moor to a National Parks Mooring at Upolu Cay mum lost the buisness end of our one and only boathook (having said that does anyone carry two?). As it drifted away in the strong tidal run off and wind from the reef dad exclaimed dive and in and mum exclaimed the opposite...
I dove in, but not before devesting of all essential clothes. Grabbed the remnant of the boat hook and waited to be picked up. It's good to know that despite being their son mum and dad decided that I wasn't worth the Dan Bouy, Life Ring or Throwing Rope. I warrented a sheet (that sank) being thrown off the back.
It all ended well.
Number two: after snorkelling around Low Islet's fringing reef this morning (Turtles' and Bat Fish) and following amazing at people wearing all in one bright blue stinger suits (think Cathy Freeman's 2000 Olympic Suit plus blue gloves and life jackets) courtesy of Quicksilver we were on a friends boat next to ours having a drink. At this stage we were made aware of the large (approx. 2m) Grey Reef Sharks (Sharks not A SHARK) circling the boat...
I decided to dive in and swim to our boat, no dare, no exchange of money... Just a story to tell when I get home. I think it was the fastest 50m freestyle I've swam in a while. Probably not too bright a moment that one..
So now I sit back and wait for the prawns, we bought direct from the Prawn Trawler anchored in our bay, to defrost. Tommorow we arrive in Port Douglas and Thursday I head out Scuba Diving on the outer reef. Rest assured that there will be adventures yet to come before I leave to head back to work and the cold on Sunday.
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Magical Magnetic Island
After leaving Cape Gloucester we had a short 2 night stay in Bowen. Its recent claim to fame being the filming of the 'epic' Australia. Also for its flying boat base in the war, and the historical murals regularly displayed on the side of buildings in town. A pleasing change to graffiti. The harbour is a little shallow and the marina section also shallow is awaiting development. So with little wind we elected to anchor outside the harbour, safe says Alan Lucas in calm or northerlies. Fortunately we had left the tender inflated on the deck leaving Montes.
With increasing blue skies and heat we left to pass the 3 capes on the way to Magnetic Island. Glorious weather – its been that way for the past week so I won't annoy you by repeating it! Managed to get the right wind and angle to put up the asymmetrical spinnaker, and did we go. Yes I did get excited! We tucked behind Cape Upstart the next night in Shark Bay. Has anyone counted the number of shark bays in Australia? Yes I did have a short swim. Next morning off to Cape Bowling Green, a never ending cape, more like a sand spit. Despite the failing afternoon wind the iron spinnaker prevailed and we pressed on to Cape Cleveland which is just before Townsville.
Our son Jonathan was not due to arrive until Monday so we crossed the bay to the north side of Magnetic Island and Horseshoe bay. Sheltered from the SE wind we have spent a very pleasant 4 days. Glorious weather – whoops – I have just read about the cold snap down south! Explored the Island a bit, today the east end on foot. Lovely beaches. Our botanist, come the next David Attenborough continues to try and educate me about the flora and fauna. Today included the rock wallaby, kaola, and of course the Kookaburras. The latter perched in the tree outside the takeaway off course! Regular excitement with the sound of the deep intake of breath as the turtles pay us a visit. The island appears very dry, they describe us being in the dry tropics, but it still gets twice the rainfall of Melbourne.
We continue to add to the Sunset collection, including a sci fi view of burning fires on the horizon at sunset [see picasa].
Better go for a swim, its too b.. hot!
Roger
Friday, 5 June 2009
Wandering through the Whitsunday Islands
It seems a while since we posted a blog time passes and these days we are at times left wondering which day of the week it actually is. It has seemed that one beautiful Whitsunday Island is replaced with another and life has taken on a much slower pace. We are presently moored in an absolutely idyllic location at Cape Gloucester having passed through the Gloucester Passage yesterday afternoon. The sea is flat and calm (always important!) and a clear turquoise over sand.The sun has returned and we are enjoying some fantastic days doing very little sailing and relaxing in such a gorgeous location. The winds have varied greatly during our travels in the Whitsundays at times over 25 knots, being driven by the south east trades but now they are very light and balmy down to 5 to 10 knots for the next few days. On with the engine again if we need to get anywhere!
A few days ago whilst exploring the beach at Jonah Bay we discovered 5 cans of VB! Someone was either too drunk or overloaded that each 10 minutes he dropped another can. I have tested one so far and all seems well!
We regularly see turtles and some pretty huge fish off the back of the boat thankfully no sharks yet as Roger has his daily plunge from the stern! I haven't had the heart to try and catch any yet. Call me sentimental but if they have grown so well how can I be the one to catch them.They all look so beautiful! Sorry Joel!
It seems that we are always taking many sunset and sunrise photographs, each one always appears more impressive than the last. It's become a bit of a rictual to sit and watch the sun dip below the horizon, glass of wine in hand at the end of another beautiful day. We then see the first stars rise. Presently we nearly have a full moon which washes out the intensity and brilliance of the night sky although it does send its own glow over the water.
We have both said how very privileged we are to have the opportunity to do this and how we wish others could do the same. Work, families and the normality of life makes it so easy to get caught up with the mundane, we forget the things that are important. It makes you realize what a beautiful place the World is and how we all take it so much for granted. May be we all need some time out to touch the World more gently and appreciate what we have.
David and Tina came to visit and we managed to see many of the more visited Whitsunday locations. It was lovely having time with them and Roger appreciated them sharing his 50th birthday. We left them at Hamilton Island where they caught a flight back to Melbourne. We then sailed to South Molle and spent a couple of daysrelaxing and walking up the islands, hills gaining some fantastic views of the Whitsundays. From here we returned to the bustle of Airlee Beach where we have had some sail repairs completed and restocked the food and supplies after our guests! We now have 10 days before Jonathan arrives for a 2 week holiday,this will require a major re provisioning in Townsville!!
Well were off to Bowen for a day and then we head north in preparation for our pick up location for Jonathan. We'll be saying farewell to the Whitsundays for a while but hopefully not for long.
Anne
A few days ago whilst exploring the beach at Jonah Bay we discovered 5 cans of VB! Someone was either too drunk or overloaded that each 10 minutes he dropped another can. I have tested one so far and all seems well!
We regularly see turtles and some pretty huge fish off the back of the boat thankfully no sharks yet as Roger has his daily plunge from the stern! I haven't had the heart to try and catch any yet. Call me sentimental but if they have grown so well how can I be the one to catch them.They all look so beautiful! Sorry Joel!
It seems that we are always taking many sunset and sunrise photographs, each one always appears more impressive than the last. It's become a bit of a rictual to sit and watch the sun dip below the horizon, glass of wine in hand at the end of another beautiful day. We then see the first stars rise. Presently we nearly have a full moon which washes out the intensity and brilliance of the night sky although it does send its own glow over the water.
We have both said how very privileged we are to have the opportunity to do this and how we wish others could do the same. Work, families and the normality of life makes it so easy to get caught up with the mundane, we forget the things that are important. It makes you realize what a beautiful place the World is and how we all take it so much for granted. May be we all need some time out to touch the World more gently and appreciate what we have.
David and Tina came to visit and we managed to see many of the more visited Whitsunday locations. It was lovely having time with them and Roger appreciated them sharing his 50th birthday. We left them at Hamilton Island where they caught a flight back to Melbourne. We then sailed to South Molle and spent a couple of daysrelaxing and walking up the islands, hills gaining some fantastic views of the Whitsundays. From here we returned to the bustle of Airlee Beach where we have had some sail repairs completed and restocked the food and supplies after our guests! We now have 10 days before Jonathan arrives for a 2 week holiday,this will require a major re provisioning in Townsville!!
Well were off to Bowen for a day and then we head north in preparation for our pick up location for Jonathan. We'll be saying farewell to the Whitsundays for a while but hopefully not for long.
Anne
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