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.