FINALLY GETTING SOMEWHERE

It was a nice relaxing change after crossing horrible Wide Bay Bar to have a couple of days in lake like conditions at the back of Fraser Island as we meandered our way, 40 sea miles through the very sandy, Sandy Straits. 8pm saw me into bed (world record) and I was served breakfast still in bed at 9am. 

Got out into open waters very quickly with the help of the outgoing tide and 25knts from behind and decided not to go into Hervey Bay but keep going 46 miles to Bundaberg. We eventually followed the flashing Christmas tree like lead lights into the Burnett River at Bundaberg and anchored with a couple of other yachts just inside the river mouth.  

Good quiet night and straight off again next morning for a good day of sailing with half the spinnaker getting a bit of a run and early afternoon we slowly made our way into 1770. It was very low tide, which let us see where NOT to go and we anchored in about a metre of water, keeping in mind that the high tide would give us another 4m of water. Pretty little spot  with plenty of campers and families fishing and playing on the waterfront. Wonder what Captain Cook thought when he popped in for a bit of a sticky-beak in 1770.


The tides in Qld are something to behold. We almost learnt about them the hard way back in 1994 on our first trip. We had anchored at Cape Townsend in 9m of water and woke up in the morning almost high and dry. Had another good quiet night at 1770 and we were getting the sails up at 6.30am for our run up past Pancake Creek and onto Gladstone. It was f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g and we were in scarves, beanies and gloves till nearly 11am. Lunchtime saw us dodging about 8 big freighters lining up in the shipping lane so we got around them and  headed into Gladstone Marina with an already booked berth waiting for us.  


Great marina, first stop the Laundromat, then a 15 minute hot shower instead of a 2min one on the boat. Funny thing happened in the shower.  I had quite an attack of sea sickness and noticed I was swaying from side to side and I hadn't even had a drink. Got over 
that and we got a bit spruced up and went for quite a long walk to the Yacht Club for dinner. Will have another day and night here.

 

Friday will see us making our way up The Narrows and the Cattle Crossing which is on the inside of Curtis Island.  Then it's non stop to Gt Keppel Island to await Trudy and Johns arrival at Yeppoon. We will have a night at Keppel Bay Marina and get them 
all on board and head back out to the island.  Beyond excited to see them all again.