Waiting...

Yes, the old addage "hurry up and wait" can even be used when cruising!

We arrived at Bundaberg late afternoon and anchored off the Marina in the river. The wind arrived in grand fashion to bless us all with a rolly sleepless (or sleep little) night! Early the next morning we were in the Marina with a host of chores to accomplish in one day! The weather looked good to sail the next day out to Lady Musgrave. Jo and I started laundry together...then she took over and I went to wash my self AND my hair...I almost felt human again! Capt Paul wanted to go shopping again so he and Wayne were planning that when I took off for the bus stop to connect with the dive shop in town. While I was waiting at the bus, a gentleman rolled his window down and asked where I was going...I told him into town...he said he was too and asked if I wanted a ride. I hopped in. Max gave me a grand (brief) tour of the area with all the history that he knew. Sugar Cane agricultural area! Much longer story short, he dropped me off right at the dive shop! I found Julian out back and we chatted about what arrangements could be made for diving at Lady Musgrave while I was out there. The 'Spirit of 1770' arrives every day (wind permitting) but only takes divers on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays.  Knowing that our plans can change quickly (the current plan was to sail out Wednesday), I made my plans for diving on Saturday. Not having taken the bus into town, then it was time to find out how to return back to the Port! With guidance from a clerk where I bought a water...I found the bus stop after a long walk through the very cute little town. I chatted with another gentleman and he took me under his wing to be sure the bus driver knew where I needed to go! With dinner came the discussion of weather and if leaving Wednesday was a good idea (I was so glad that I made diving plans for Saturday). Decision was made to head out in the morning (7:00am ish) to enter the cut into the lagoon as close to low tide as we could as tidal current flow was reported to be intense into and out of the cut with the tides (low tide was 1:30pm....slack until 2:30pm or so...we were hoping to arrive no later than 3:00pm).

It was a motor sail...but we made it "on time" with eventually a non-eventful entry through the red and greens!

Once inside the cut Capt Paul took "point" on the bow as we dodged coral heads to the sandy anchorage. There was only one other large motor yacht, one sailboat and the Lady Musgrave Catamaran Cruise boat at the pontoon area. Once the anchor was down it was time to relax. 

Sunrise inside the lagoon

and the island from our anchor spot.

I watched the dive/cruise catamaran arrive as we readied Leaps with Lizzards for an island walk.

Wayne went walking along the beach for trash pick-up and Jo and I followed the trail through the island where the island birds were nesting.

We passed Wayne around the back end of the island and continued on along the beach back.

On the sandiest end of the island Jo started cutting across a sandy/grassy plateau when a sea bird (in the Northwest we call them Seagulls) scolded us loudly and began to approach us!

I stopped walking and looked around at what we were walking through...it was a turtle nesting area!! It also was a sea bird nesting area! I'm sure they were waiting for the baby turtles to hatch to have their fill! I mentioned it to Jo and we turned around, cautiously walking around the nests and continued to walk along the beach instead! One of the little birds followed behind us making sure we were leaving! 

Along the beach we saw the tracks of three mama turtles that had made their way up to the nesting area!

 We met back up with Wayne near the dingy and headed back to the "mother ship", Dances with Dragons.

These small critters were floating by the boat every low tide.  I finally found out (only by explanation not by the picture) that they are baby Portuguese Man O War Jellyfish.  If anyone reading this can verify from this picture that is correct it would be wonderful! 

This video compiles our first views of Lady Musgrave and our first visit to the beach.

And, this video compiles our second visit to the island, Capt Paul's first walk inside the island.  Both these videos are best viewed with one click... as they have been downsized to be able to post easily!

  

Friday was VERY windy and became an electrical boat chore day for the guys (yes, all day and they got so much accomplished) while Jo read and I worked on pictures and video.

 

Really I was just waiting for Saturday...did anyone catch that? Hurry up and wait.....  

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!