Crossing the bar...Video

 

For a written account of our crossing (surfing) the bar into the Great Sandy Straights check out Wayne's blog...

 

http://www.svdanceswithdragons.webs.com/

 

We are currently anchored off of Frasier Island. Hoping for enough wind (and of course from the right direction) tomorrow to have us sailing into Bundaberg early afternoon! 

 

Turn the volume up and enjoy the video!!

 

Walk in the rain....

Being born and raised in Seattle I am used to the rain.  Rain here on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland isn't that much different than Seattle rain!  They are both WET!!!

It has been windy... the kind of wind that keeps you on the boat even up a river!  We did get out to a mall one day... but we left early before the wind began in earnest and the wind assisted the little engine in getting us back to Dances with Dragons (DWD)!  Had a little fun shopping at the mall, but really wanted to go back and walk around the Mooloolaba Esplanade unaccompanied!  Wayne graciously offered... and I accepted for the following morning!  

I took both cameras in the new shoulder dry bag that I had bought at the dive shop (I'm excited to get to Bundaberg as I should have a new dry bag backpack waiting for me...Christmas!).  I did a little shopping straight away... sweet young gal that was honest in her opinions which helped greatly in making a few good decisions!  I asked if she would hold my purchases while I went out and walked a bit!  She said of course as she would be working all day so there wouldn't be a problem!

On to the water front esplanade! 

It is a beautiful walk... joggers, dog walkers, and even bicycles were out enjoying the morning!

Some of the trail was a raised walkway and

some was neatly kept cement walkways!  I met some lovely people as I seemed to resort to walking on the right hand side (as we drive) and here in Australia they walk on the left hand side (as they drive).  Once I stopped when there was a little sprinkle under a covered area and chatted with a couple.  He was originally from Croatia (moved to Australia when he was 18) and she was from Georgia (moved to Australia when she was 5).  I had mentioned that he still had his European type accent...I couldn't identify it well, but knew it was not the typical Australian accent.  That's when they told me where they were from.  Lovely couple... lovely chat!  The trail went all the way out to the Mooloolabah River entrance! 

Along the way there were areas where the fences keeping you on the walkway opened up onto the beach.  Notice that the water is less brown and more blue since the day after Marcia! 

At every one of the walkways to the beach there was also a fresh water shower to shower off the sand!  I was very impressed!  I was almost to the spit when it began to pour!  There was a gal walking her dog that took refuge under one of the last trees before the spit so I asked if I could join her!  "Of course", she said and then we began chatting away too!  She looked up in the tree and found a little family of possums...I was able to get my macro camera out to get a few shots before putting it back away in the dry bag!     

The rain subsided a bit it seemed and we went on our way...I really wanted to get to the point!  I might have left a little prematurely as not more than five minutes later with no trees in sight the skies opened up!  I got drenched as I was not about to go back! 

It let up a little and then while I was videoing... it poured again!  I was drenched again!  Only a little chill...not too much though as the air temperature still had to be high seventies to low eighties!  Notice on the video the brown coming out of the river to the blue of the ocean!  There were a couple of young boys fishing off of the rocky point... they were using herring and shrimp... they hadn't caught anything yet.  I wasn't about to wait around to see what they might catch, wished them luck and headed back!

On the way back I heard some loud chirping, looked up and saw this Rainbow Lorikeet!  I found that birds are just as camera shy as fish... so didn't get a great shot... but it was fun to see such a beautiful brightly colored bird!  
And then the Loo with a View... Just had to include that!  

I did not let being wet deter me from the rest of my outing... more walking and shopping!  I so enjoyed my day off of the boat!  Shopping, my chats with friendly people and my walk in the Australian rain!  Australian rain is very much the same as Seattle rain with one large exception... the rain here is warm!!

Chocolate milk...

I do like chocolate milk.  I remember when my kids were younger buying chocolate milk as a treat for the family! Unfortunately, the best description I have for the river waters right now is that they are darker than chocolate milk!  Of course it doesn't help that there is all sorts of debris floating downstream in it too!  

The day before Marcia started beautifully... and we waited!  Well... Wayne did boat chores!!!

 

Marcia came ashore north of us 150 miles or so as a category 5 on Friday morning! She began by giving us her fringes of rain, rain, and more rain! It took her until Saturday morning to finally bring her winds here as a tropical low!  I read in the local news that there was even a water spout spotted here around Mooloolaba...I'm sure glad we didn't see it! 

So I put this little video together of the two day impact on us... you'll see that these Australians are a hearty bunch... paddling past us right before the winds increased!  You'll also see that the river waters become very fast moving and are filthy with mud and debris.

 These two boats turn out to be derelict boats... of course we didn't know that when we anchored... but a couple of gentlemen came over right before the blow to let us know to keep watch as they were known to break free during storms.

 The bird up in the spreaders is a Sea Eagle according to the couple I spoke with...

 And, here is another hearty gentleman... paddling through the brown river.

 So after two days on the boat... we finally went to town!  I had been hearing the waves at the mouth of the river crashing from up the river and wanted to go see the power of the waves closer up. 

 I was surprised by two things... all of the surfers out enjoying the muddy waters...

 And, while the waves were crashing loudly...I guess I expected them to be larger!

 Capt Paul and Wayne walked ahead back to a bench near the dingy while I chatted with an Australian couple near the Wharf.  They helped me identify some of the birds that I had photographed.

Back to chocolate milk... the boat draws water to cool the engine, generator and flush the toilets from the water that it floats on. So without getting too graphic... the toilet water is... well, let's just say...we all will be so glad when we will be out of this chocolate running river and back into clear water!  

First Cyclone...Marcia

Just looked up "Marcia" on the local weather network... and landfall is now expected Friday morning sometime. So my question is....who has been planning my vacations anyway?

We are still up the river in Mooloolaba.  Wayne and I did take a run into the Wharf area and the dive shop again yesterday as a battery was delivered. 

Saturday's dive has been cancelled.  That leaves the possibility of Sunday or Monday... but they could be cancelled too.    The gentleman at the dive shop said it takes three to four days for vis to improve after an "event". Even if they are not cancelled the vis with the expected rains might make it maybe not worth going (did you catch the might AND maybe?).  Breathing under the water...hmmmmm...if they are going...I just may have to go too!  We will just have to wait and see when Wayne wants to move on to our next destination!  So you might ask...while we wait for the Cyclone to swing by and say hello... what are we doing?  Capt Paul and Wayne are doing little chores but mainly we are relaxing on the boat!  There is a down side to all of this relaxing ... it is what is known as "cabin fever"...it could overcome any one of us at any time!  But knowing these two guys... and knowing me...

The answer would be the same....going back to my initial question...who has been planning my vacations... and who might be the first to succumb to cabin fever... yep... that would be me!!!

I'll leave you with a morning view from the roof... the calm before the storm!

A bit of a side note... we  do have internet on the boat but we buy it by the Gigabyte.  The video's and pictures that I post are downsized  to the extreme so that I don't use up too much!  They are best enjoyed in the smaller version (one click) not full screen as that will distort the image!  Enjoy! 

"Up on the roof"...my version

I've always loved that song "Up on the roof" as sung by James Taylor.  As I was climbing into the cockpit this morning to enjoy the breeze (yes, the wind has arrived again) somehow that song popped into my head. 

We are anchored up the river in Mooloolaba.  Sort of waiting on the weather to decide what it is going to do (there are some low pressures off of Cape York that could turn into cyclones) and sort of waiting on (thank you Capt Wayne) the possibility of diving here.


We left Manly on Sunday with no wind!  As we motored out of the channel the local races were going on. 

 They were moving... albeit VERY slowly!

 Capt Wayne put out all the sail on Dances with Dragons, including the mule!  It had to be a pretty sight as we saw others draw close to take pictures!

 The wind picked up for us and we had a lovely sail with only a couple of tacks right to the gap for motoring into Tangalooma by 4 o'clock pm.  It was a rolly night!  We all were up early and at first light went back out the gap and began sailing! 

It was a slow sail at first being in the lee of Moreton Island, but the wind did pick up and with smooth water we were to 8 knots at times!  Once out of the lee... we got the Pacific swells and to rolling we went again... of course this time while sailing!  The wind had decreased enough that it could not keep the wind in the sails as we rolled.  With a "pop" every now and again on the sails we kept up 4 knots on this heavy olé girl!

I went below to grab my camera to get a picture of the mainland hill formations and low and behold a dolphin came up to say hi! 

Well, didn't surface but did give me a swim by! 

 I waited with my macro lens for the dolphin to return when I saw this snake in the water!  Capt Paul looked it up and we believe it to be a Coral Bay snake.  A water snake that is venomous and extremely dangerous!  Another reason to look up when surfacing from diving so as not to tangle with one of these!  I didn't ask if they go under the water... maybe I don't want to know!!!

 And then came the "mark"... where we roll the sails up and turned into the entry into Mooloolaba.  Capt Wayne rolled up all but a bit of the Jenny... Capt Paul started the engine... and we made the turn.  Then, Capt Wayne noticed no water from the engine exhaust!  "Turn the engine off Paul"!!!!! Capt Wayne went below cleaned the strainer and then tried the engine again.  No water.  Impeller or pump.  While Capt Wayne got tools and looked for a new impeller, Capt Paul navigated DWD back out to deeper waters.  The little bit of Jenny was just enough to keep the boat sailing slowly without the helplessness of being idle in the water and tossing around with the Pacific rolls.  A longer...a bit worrisome story (Capt Wayne was not sure he had a spare pump)... made shorter... impelled replaced... and big spit - little spit!  Whoooohoooo!  Rolled up the rest of the Jenny and made our way back to the entrance to Mooloolaba.  Capt Paul and I heard Capt Wayne continue to rattle around down below as we followed the "path" to the mouth of the river.  When Capt Wayne finished, we had a "crew" meeting... Capt Wayne informed us of the POSITIVE of the impeller having failed when it did!  He had found a pin hole leak in the diesel fuel line. 

 Up this river we motored...

 To an anchorage that reminds me of the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area!  Once the anchor was down, Capt Wayne immediately found an extra piece of fuel line, replaced it and all was once again well with the boat... and us.

So this morning, we are going ashore to check out the dive shop and look around.  We aren't sure how long we will be up this river... but with the winds "blowing snot" on the outside it will for sure be a day or two! 

"Up on the roof it's as peaceful as can be, and there the world don't bother me".... So replace the word "roof" with "cockpit" add one caveat... knowing that the boat is secured with a Rocna anchor... and that's where you'll find me this morning.

Boats...

Sailboats have a lure and lore that brings many a man and woman to boating and to the sea!  My dad and mom loved boating, too... not sailboats... but motor yachts and fishing.  I do believe it was from my dad that I first heard that boats were a huge hole where one pours money! And, yet so many still own and love them!

Capt Wayne discovered an issue with a gear box while we were in the Deanbila anchorage.  While the wind blew and rain fell... Capt Paul and I relaxed in the boat with Capt Wayne working on the issue.  Then came a test drive... around the corner to Horseshoe island for the night. 

In the evenings the birds would all congregate on the boat for their respite too!  The following day we had a wonderful sail back to the Manly Marina.  The intent was to accomplish a few other boat chores not able to be done in the windy conditions.  Capt Paul took advantage of being back in the Marina to provision!  He shopped online at a local chain store and had it delivered to the marina.  We both went up to the local IGA and butcher shop and topped off more supplies!  Capt Paul loves to cook and eat well!  We met up with some friends of Capt Wayne's and had a delightful evening of (true) around the world sailing stories!  We could enjoy their stories for a lot longer... but the evening grew short and they were headed home the next day.  So, the main sail got back up... the dingy got fixed... and the food delivery came.  Then, I went to the butcher shop to pick up the frozen meat, finish up last minute items at the IGA and found BB's!  Now I know I'm spoiling the surprise... but I'm bringing some BB's home to you mom!  And, for my kids!  They are made in Australia and are soooo good!  I even bought a few extra packages for Capt Paul and Capt Wayne for Valentine's Day and they love them too!  But, I digress...So this morning a few last minute items and we are out of the marina and heading out to Tangalooma, Moreton Island for the night and then on to Mooloolaba.

                  

This boating perspective of Australia that we are so very blessed to be a part of right now (thank you again Capt Wayne), is some of the lure.   The friends met along the way contribute the lore.  Yes, a boat may be a hole through which a lot of money gets poured...

but how very blessed are we that there is the sea and that there are boats!

Back underwater with a steep learning curve ahead...lemons and lemonade!

When anchored out with the wind blowing 20, gusts to 25, and the "car" not working (more on that later) a lot gets done on a boat.  Capt Wayne and Capt Paul are getting a handle on the battery situation... and I have been able to work on pictures and video from my two tank dive yesterday!

It was an early morning yesterday as I needed to meet a van driver from the dive shop at the bus stop at 6:20am!  Capt Wayne lowered the dink and carefully helped me get all my gear, which included my new camera gear, into it.  I climbed in and off we went!  No dingy docks here... all shore landings.  The good news is Capt Wayne dropped me off right at the bus stop, even insisting on carrying my heavy gear (getting a bit spoiled here... ha ha ha)! The van driver was also the Divemaster that would be my exclusive leader.  I had arranged this so I wouldn't hold up other divers on my first day with my new camera equipment just in case there were issues.  The boat was a hard bottom dingy type (RIB) probably 25 feet in length.  Six other divers and I all loaded into it while it was on the trailer towed by a tractor... and off to the beach we went! 

The RIB was backed into the surf and we all were dutifully christened with water!  It was a pretty heavy surf!  First dive was Manta Rock!

With my new equipment I did learn ALOT!  Now I know I have a lot MORE to learn also!  The positive was, I was expecting not to be as comfortable with it as I was.  The biggest issue I had was using the 45 degree view finder!  It actually was a huge issue as I had outfitted with the macro lens!

A Spotted Eagle Ray came to visit right off... using the Gopro for some video was fun... but I also have a lot to learn about shooting stills and video at the same time! 

The octopus was a delight!

Was changing colors!  

And then there were two... with a Soap fish seemingly upsetting the octopus.

While I have a lot more coordination I need to do with the video and so much more with the photo's, I thought I'd at least share the beginning... and then hopefully I will improve and can continue sharing!!  

Finding the little critters... like the Nudibranches was especially difficult with the 45 degree view finder!  One heck of a learning curve this will be!

But, fun as I get to practice... practice... practice... translated into dive... dive... dive!!  Near to the end of the dive I saw one Manta... not enough for a photo and when I pointed it out to the Divemaster (my only dive buddy) he decided to chase it!  I got a little extra exercise trying to keep up with a 20 some year old!  I guess it was a big deal as there were others on the boat that had been diving for three days and had not seen a one!

Two people on the boat got seasick as we had our surface interval... one gal felt so bad that the boat went back to the launch site and dropped her off (yes, she had to swim in).  The other guy toughed it out and went on the second dive at Turtle Cave. 

No turtles....

And only limited coral...

Bottom line of course...I was getting to be underwater and I felt comfortable with the camera!  The results can ALWAYS be improved upon!

So while I shared the good news about getting things done earlier in the blog with 20 knot winds and higher gusts, there is the bad news... that the diving would be more difficult with less vis with the high winds!  So I did not arrange any more dives this week. 

I mentioned in the beginning of this blog that the "car" was not working! When I refer to the car...I of course am referring to the dingy (named "leaps with lizards" by the way). 

I was delivered back to the bus stop by the dive shop in the early afternoon... Capt Wayne met me there... we loaded up... he started the engine and off we went back to the boat.  Did I mention that the wind had started up by then and white caps?  Into the wind (really, INTO the wind... you just can't make this stuff up?) we motored... until the little engine stopped.  We were only about a 1/3 of the way back to DWD when Capt Wayne took to the little bitty oars (thank heaven he HAD oars), into the ever increasing wind and waves!  And, what did we do?  Well, for those of y'all that know Capt Wayne... then you know... as he rowed, he started singing!  Any of the songs that I knew the words to like... Jesus Loves Me... I joined in! Apparently we made enough racket that Capt Paul even heard us from a far off!  Lemons and Lemonade!  I do enjoy lemonade!

The beginning....

Hmmm... how soon one forgets (see Capt Paul's blog below)!  I wished (before I left for two dives off Stradbroke Island @ 6:00 am) Capt Paul a Happy Birthday!!  Wayne immediately followed with his well wishes!

On to the GOOD stuff!  First order of business was to provision.  Provisioning for Capt Paul is almost as fun as the sailing sometimes I think!  Wayne and I chased him around a couple of stores with the wine store not to be forgot!  Once complete (took about three hours I think) Capt Wayne and Capt Paul took their full carts down to the marina.  These carts did not include the meat which we were having the butcher shop freeze for us before we picked it up!
After Capt Wayne picked up the meat the following morning, we were out of the Manly Marina and had a wonderful sail up to some friends of his house (Allen and Ronnie). 

We rafted up to their beautiful boat, and chatted about everything (including politics... Australian politics) while we waited for the fuel boat to be ready to get fuel aboard Dances With Dragons (DWD). 

We motored out to a mooring buoy and waited.  The fuel boat (a wonderful steel trawler) rafted up with DWD and we took on quite a bit of fuel!  By that time the wind had shifted and we ended up motoring the rest of the way to Stradbroke Island anchoring for the night  in the Deanbila anchorage on the east side of the island. 

Next morning we "dinked" in to the beach for a walk to the bus stop.  The bus took us to the west side of the island, a great walking pathway called Lookout Point!  Beautiful day , beautiful views, and a wonderful path system.

  

 

 

 

 Capt Wayne and Capt Paul decided to wait for me while I was walking down on the rocks taking pictures.  Found them on this bench since the path was closed for repair.

I wandered along the path a little further for some additional pictures! 

 
We hopped back on the bus with a stop on the way back at the Manta Dive Shop that we had seen/passed on the way to Lookout Point. Wooohoooo!  Got all set up for a two tank dive the next day (Monday).   While we waited for the bus again we walked to the beach access and saw the cutest Koala Bear up in the tree.  He/she was eating the tree (not sure of the type) even though it was not the usual Eucalyptus tree that they eat. Back to bus... dink...DWD and some delicious leftovers!  One last point... and, I know I am speaking for Capt Paul too... how blessed are we to be having these wonderful times with a wonderful friend... translating into memories... thank you Capt Wayne!