Saturday, June 02, 2007
Gold Coast to Brisbane QLD
2 June 2007
Brisbane to Hamilton Reach
Waited for outgoing tide motoring down river and anchored near Kantala. We dingied over to see Mutineer but they were not there so called in for a cuppa with Kantala where we met John from True Love. Marites came up and picked up a mooring near us. We are leaving at 5am tomorrow morning to take advantage of the outgoing tide and the SE winds as it will change to a NE later in the day.
30 May
Reprovisioning
Did food shopping-you should have seen us, two trolleys and a service customer officer escorting us through the main street of Brisbane down to the jetty to unload into the dingy and the again into the boat. Getting boat ready for open water-putting gear away, securing items, etc.
29 May
Took the opportunity to check out the markets at Southbanks and then caught the ferry and went down to Bretts Wharf and up as far as Queensland University, returned late night.
28 May
Sam departs
Got up at 6am, and walked into town with Sam's suitcase where we had breakfast and dropped her off at the Naval Centre. We returned at 10am for her recruitment ceremony where she was sworn in. We had lunch with her before she caught the bus to the airport on her way to Melbourne. Another farewell to Samantha but it is good to see her happy in her decision.
19 May to 27 May
Brisbane
Got to spend a lot of time with Samantha before she heads off to Melbourne. We explored the city, shopping, going to the theatre to see Shakespeare (really impressed Paul !), walking along South Bank, looking at the art gallery, etc and spending more time with Sam. We met the Bortons the gorgeous family who took care of Sam when she first came to Brisbane and they came over for a Breakfast on the yacht.
We also went to the Sanctury Cove Boat Show where we spent most of the day, the train trip was interesting from Brisbane to Helensvale and then a bus trip to the Boat Show. We walked all day and were totally exhausted by the end of the day.
Marites arrived and we spend time with Ben, Marites and Quinn, meeting Bens other two children. Quinn turned three on the 26 May. We have had dinner aboard and had a movie evening as well. They are heading off up the coast and hopefully we will be meeting them along the way.
We have the generator repaired, an external oil filter put in the generator works a real treat now.
The weather has gotten colder and we have had rain for a few days (good for the water restrictions/drought).
Anchoring in the Brisbane River is interesting as again it is wind agains tide. The anchor has held well althought the GPS anchor alarm goes off in the middle of the night often (false alarms).
Looks like we head off at the end of the week, have to catch up with a few people and the our destination is Moreton Island.
18 May
Botanical Gardens Brisbane CBD
Pulled anchor early morning as meeting Sam, she passed her fitness tet for the Navy. Good on her. The trip up the river was great, with lots of ferries, high rises, even passed a floating dock especially for pedestrians passing under the Story Bridge, anchoring near the Botanical Gardens right next to the CBD.
17 May
Deception Bay to Brisbane River
As the generator will not be ready for a few days we motored with the genoa up to the main channel passing large container ships coming and going out of the port. We have to stay within the channel as it is very shallow just outside the channel. We arrived at dark and decided to anchor in soft mud (took tow goes for the anchor to set) at Hamilton Reach overnight. Mutineer is anchored nearby.
16 May
We will sit here and wait for a call to inform us when we collect the generator. Lazy day today will take the time to catchup on the blog, download photos and tidy up a bit.
15 May
Waited all day for a call from the technician. We worked on cleaning the bilge, cleaning the motor and making up a heat shield for the generator to protect it from the heat of the exhaust pipe
No phone call re generator yet-and so not wanting to pay for another night we left and anchored in Deception Bay just off the marina.
14 May
Jacobs Well to Deception Bay 42.5nm 7.30 hours
The Broadwater is similar to the intercoastal of USA and it brought back lots of memories.
Passes North and South Stradbroke Island-as Alan Lucas states, they are large vegetated sandpiles. White sand and lots of mangroves.
It is a hot day, we left early to take advantage of tides and as there was no wind we motored.
We anchored just of Scarborough north of Brisbane as we had to meet the technician to fix out generator under waranty. It is shallow here at low tide. Waited for high tide and took the boat in through the channel to the Scarborough Marina-$48 per night so we had power and a hot shower. Went for a walk to the Moreton Bay Boat Club for a drink and then went out for fish and chips.
We will sit here and wait for a call to inform us when we collect the generator. Lazy day today will take the time to catchup on the blog, download photos and tidy up a bit.
15 May
Waited all day for a call from the technician. We worked on cleaning the bilge, cleaning the motor and making up a heat shield for the generator to protect it from the heat of the exhaust pipe
No phone call re generator yet-and so not wanting to pay for another night we left and anchored in Deception Bay just off the marina.
14 May
Jacobs Well to Deception Bay 42.5nm 7.30 hours
The Broadwater is similar to the intercoastal of USA and it brought back lots of memories.
Passes North and South Stradbroke Island-as Alan Lucas states, they are large vegetated sandpiles. White sand and lots of mangroves.
It is a hot day, we left early to take advantage of tides and as there was no wind we motored.
We anchored just of Scarborough north of Brisbane as we had to meet the technician to fix out generator under waranty. It is shallow here at low tide. Waited for high tide and took the boat in through the channel to the Scarborough Marina-$48 per night so we had power and a hot shower. Went for a walk to the Moreton Bay Boat Club for a drink and then went out for fish and chips.
Guess what- Cockatoo I and Ayung are here int the marina.
13 May
Southport to Woolagoompah Island/ Jacobs Well 11.7nm 3 hours
We left to go to Brisbane through the internal Broadwater Channel throough to Moreton Bay rather than go via the coast. Anchored just off Broadwater channel, it is very very (bottom scrappingly and lean over shallow). We have hit bottom and leaned over so many times that we have decided to wait for high tide (duhh!!) I went soun ding in the dingy and thought I had found a deep channel but missed a 1.1 metre shoal-woops!! Paul not impressed. Definitely no antifoul on our keep anymore.
High tide at 7pm and passed through anchoring at Jacobs well overnight.
12 May
Mothers Day
Woke up late to a beautiful warm day, had a cuppa abourd Elengeni with Dave and Paul and Sam took me out for a mother's day luncheon. Two bottles of wine, a call from Danielle and Tamara set the day well. We had a look at the fancy Versace hotel and put Sam on the bus back to work. A final drink with Dave and back to the boat for an early night. Hoping to head off tomorrow up the broadwater to Brisbane.
11 May
Rainy and overcast we took the dingy over the Australia Fair a large shopping centre and wandered around. Sam and I bought underwear, and then bought food. We were eligiable for a free gift-hand cream and face cream. Then returned to the dingy and watched DVD's.
10 May
Dropped Paul off at the bus stop and he purchase bolts and socket set so he could finish off the alternator mount. Sam arrived at 3.45pm so took the dingy and picked her up from the bus stop outside Seaworld. She is spending the weekend with us.
9 May
Day on the boat as maintenance to do. Paul removed the large alternator and bracket. We cleaned the motor and area and Paul welded the bracket and made up another bracket to make the belts fit better. Later that evening Dave came over for a cuppa and Paul did some work on his laptop.
8 May
Took the dingy back to Surfer's Paradise and caught the bus to Coolangatta and checked out the beach there. I had a twinge in my back and it brought back memories of where I was prior to leaving Perth. Not nice. A lovely day though. Returning Paul did some work on the generator and fixed a loose wire.
Later that evening Dave came over for a drink and chat.
Learnt that Ian had gone to hospital as he had fallen over and shattered his knee cap.
7 May
Took the dingy up the river to Surfers Paradise and explored the city. It was a holiday and it was quiet and lots of the shops were shut. The beach is lovely but the city is very artificial and there are lots of shops no real greenery or ambience.
13 May
Southport to Woolagoompah Island/ Jacobs Well 11.7nm 3 hours
We left to go to Brisbane through the internal Broadwater Channel throough to Moreton Bay rather than go via the coast. Anchored just off Broadwater channel, it is very very (bottom scrappingly and lean over shallow). We have hit bottom and leaned over so many times that we have decided to wait for high tide (duhh!!) I went soun ding in the dingy and thought I had found a deep channel but missed a 1.1 metre shoal-woops!! Paul not impressed. Definitely no antifoul on our keep anymore.
High tide at 7pm and passed through anchoring at Jacobs well overnight.
12 May
Mothers Day
Woke up late to a beautiful warm day, had a cuppa abourd Elengeni with Dave and Paul and Sam took me out for a mother's day luncheon. Two bottles of wine, a call from Danielle and Tamara set the day well. We had a look at the fancy Versace hotel and put Sam on the bus back to work. A final drink with Dave and back to the boat for an early night. Hoping to head off tomorrow up the broadwater to Brisbane.
11 May
Rainy and overcast we took the dingy over the Australia Fair a large shopping centre and wandered around. Sam and I bought underwear, and then bought food. We were eligiable for a free gift-hand cream and face cream. Then returned to the dingy and watched DVD's.
10 May
Dropped Paul off at the bus stop and he purchase bolts and socket set so he could finish off the alternator mount. Sam arrived at 3.45pm so took the dingy and picked her up from the bus stop outside Seaworld. She is spending the weekend with us.
9 May
Day on the boat as maintenance to do. Paul removed the large alternator and bracket. We cleaned the motor and area and Paul welded the bracket and made up another bracket to make the belts fit better. Later that evening Dave came over for a cuppa and Paul did some work on his laptop.
8 May
Took the dingy back to Surfer's Paradise and caught the bus to Coolangatta and checked out the beach there. I had a twinge in my back and it brought back memories of where I was prior to leaving Perth. Not nice. A lovely day though. Returning Paul did some work on the generator and fixed a loose wire.
Later that evening Dave came over for a drink and chat.
Learnt that Ian had gone to hospital as he had fallen over and shattered his knee cap.
7 May
Took the dingy up the river to Surfers Paradise and explored the city. It was a holiday and it was quiet and lots of the shops were shut. The beach is lovely but the city is very artificial and there are lots of shops no real greenery or ambience.
