Still at Dunk Island

After many weeks of wind and rain, the weather has finally come good. We sat out the bad weather here at Dunk Island. We had a few sleepless nights with the waves coming around the point, some of them seemed to be Tsunami waves in the middle of the night. One afternoon Darren just had to get off the boat it was so bumpy. After putting his mobile phone in his pocket, jumping on the kayak and rowing to shore he realised his pocket wasn't water proof and his phone had now stopped working. Salt water and electronics don't seem to mix very well! It'll be Townsville before it can be looked at!

One morning we noticed the fridge had been turned off and a lot of our food had gone bad. It's still a mystery as to which of the 2 people on this boat actually turned it off- mmmmmm.... Anyway, seems it will away's be a mystery. So, since we needed some exercise, we paddled our kayaks across to the Mainland and stocked up on food again. We found a few hours where the wind wasn't too bad and made a dash.

A few days ago we had nearly run out of food again (this time due to us eating rather than someone turning the fridge off), so we took the taxi this time to the mainland and had a look around Mission Beach. We stayed at Mission Beach approx 15 years ago so was interesting to see the place again. It's still the sleepy town it once was, in fact it seems quieter than 15 years ago with a lot of real estate for sale.

Since the weather has really come good, we are going to stay here another few nights before heading for another dash south.

Walk to the top of Dunk Island

Susan with our boat in the background anchored off Dunk

The camera doesn't do it justice!

On our way south

Well, the weather has come good again up here in North QLD. We have started our trip south.

We spent a few weeks in and around Cairns waiting for the wind to calm down and the weather to improve. All the locals were telling us the weather was very out of the ordinary for this time of year. Whilst in Cairns we did a few walks up into the rainforest and went to the Cairns show- Was a good day.

We headed out to Fitzroy Island again, then started our trip south. Our boat loved getting up on the plane at approx 22-24knotts and cruised beautifully skipping over the wind swell and waves. We stopped at High Island for a few days, very beautiful island with not many people around.

We thought we'd visit Innisfail, which is up the Johnston River a bit. The river is quite dirty and very very shallow. We had to motor in and out on the high tide. Anchoring in the river with enough water under us proved a little difficult and a stressful. Needless to say we didn't spend very long in Innisfail, the first high tide the next day and we were out of there.

Next stop on our trip south was Linquist Island and a few islands surrounding. We couldn't really find a good anchor spot out of the wind so continued south to Dunk Island. That is where we are now. Beautiful Island with a nice spot for anchoring. The resort was severely damaged by Cyclone Yazi 18 months ago and is now closed.

The Cairns Show

High Island

Our boat anchored all alone off High Island

On the kayaks again

The Reef sounding High Island

The view whilst trying to have an afternoon siesta

 High Island afternoon sun

Dunk Island

Sunset off the boat at Dunk Island

Fitzroy Island and Cairns

We are back in Cairns now for a few days. The weather/wind is looking very average for the next week or so, so we might stay in at Cairns till the wind drops a bit.

We spent quite a few days out at Fitzroy Island. We anchored near the resort and went ashore a few days for beer and lunch. Very beautiful resort and beach that's not too pretentious. It was quite rocky at night sleeping with the waves and wind curling around the point. But we are getting used to the bumpy nights, so we slept ok. We walked to the top of the mountain one day, great views. Kayaked another few days and did plenty of snorkeling- The reef surrounding Fitzroy Island is amazing!

Since we came back to Cairns we've spent more time cleaning and waxing the parts of the boat that didn't get done last week. She's looking very nice now. 

 Anchored at Fitzroy- Our boat in the background

Climbing to the top of the mountain on Fitzroy Island

Sunset looking west from our boat at Fitzroy Island

 Back in Cairns cleaning

All cleaned/waxed and looking very shiny

 The Pool area on the beach front in Cairns

Cairns - Our Boat Arrives

After a few days in Palm Cove we spent a few nights in Cairns waiting for our boat to arrive. We did a few things:

• The Kuranda train into the hinterland. Very touristy place! We took our walking shoes and walked the 14km through the rainforest back to civilisation to catch the bus back to Cairns. Found an awesome pub somewhere out the back of Cairns for dinner and another few XXXX's before catching the bus back to Cairns
• Our boat arrived a few days ago- She was missing some cleats where the truck driver had pulled down too hard to tie her down and snapped the bolts. The guys from Chaparral (Dani and Scott) and National Marine Services (Troy) are sourcing some new ones- Thanks guys!
• We spent a few days on the Cairns Marina cleaning and waxing our boat and getting organised to head out into The Great Barrier Reef!

Over the past 18 months we have really struggled to come up with a good name for our boat that suits how beautiful she is. When calling for a marina birth in Cairns, they asked us her name, so at present she's known as "The Three Ten'. She's a beautiful Chaparral 310 Cruiser, so that's the best name we can think of at the moment.

After a few days cleaning, we motored out to Fitzroy Island, she ran beautifully after getting her service back in Sydney. This is our second night here. Was a bit rough last night, so hopefully a bit calmer tonight. We kayaked around Fitzroy Island this morning, was very windy and rough around the other side of the island, so rough that we didn't even stop to take any photos, it took all our energy and concentration to keep our kayaks upright!.

Our beautiful boat (Chaparral 310) arrives, ready for the water

Kuranda Scenic Railway to the Rainforest

A XXXX at the end of our 14km walk

Ahhh- The beautiful Fitzroy Island- Can you spot our boat in the background?

Our boat anchored just off Fitzroy Island

Palm Cove

Well we are now in Palm Cove just north of Cairns. We are waiting for our boat to arrive, she is on her way up here on a big truck. The weather has been good up here, better than Sydney that's for sure! A little chilly in the afternoon with the SE winds, but still warm enough for a few swims.

Palm Cove

The XXXX tastes soooo good up here!

Trinity Beach

Ahhhhh- Another day another XXXX

Leaving for Cairns tomorrow

Well, we have finished all the preparation for our trip. We are on the plane tomorrow to Cairns. We are staying a few nights in Palm Cove whilst we wait for our boat. This time tomorrow night we'll be in the Palm Cove Surf Lifesaving Club drinking a XXXX or two, or maybe 3 :-)!!

Over the past few months we've sold or thrown out just about everything. We've sold our house (well a 2 bedroom unit), all our furniture and our car. Our lives now consist of about 15 boxes full of stuff, our boat and all the things on the boat, we are sure we've got too much on board!

We visited our boat yesterday for the last time before we see her in Cairns (She's a Chaparral 310 Cruiser, we bought her approx 18 months ago and have been learning all about boating in that time). She looked beautiful, she's been getting a lot of attention the past week with Engine maintenance, de-fouling, new water pump, macerator charcoal filter (she needed that, wow the smell when flushing the past few weeks is almost unbelievable!), polishing, etc. Thank you to Troy, Glen and the guys at National Marine Services for looking after her!

On the hard stand getting some love and attention!

The First Post

Well, finally found some motivation and time to start our Blog! Yes, this semi-retirement is very time consuming!
We finished work 1 month ago and the time has flown. We are flying to Cairns in a few days, our boat is heading to Cairns on the same day. The boat will take 4 days to get there, hopefully in one piece and with everything still onboard!
Getting out on our boat during the week is fantastic with not too many other people out.

Ok, for a few pics...

Dinner in the City a few days after finishing work- Meat and Wine Co in Darling Harbour- Honestly the BEST steak Darren has ever had. With a nice bottle of Red of course.

On the kayaks in Middle Harbour

See our boat in the background

A week in Shoal Bay

Into Sydney Harbour

Blackwattle Bay - Just near the fish markets

Blackwattle Bay at night

Heaven- Chicken Crimpy's, Cabanossi, French Onion dip and a beer - Doesn't get much better!

Just north of Sydney, past Pittwater and up to Bobbin Head

Amazing Scenery - Waterfalls, etc

Amazing we get this in Sydney

Nice sunset

A bit cold this morning

On the kayaks again

Last time on Sydney Harbour for a while

Bye Sydney!!!