Photo Gallery - December 2005
Pictures can be clicked to see a large
version of the image.
Indian
Head Creek, an anchorage just South of the Percy Islands on the mainland.
View
from the anchorage at Island Head Creek. Although its prime crocodile territory,
we couldn't spot a single croc.
Island
Head Creek again. You can see the mud flats which dry out at low tide.
The
entrance to Island Head Creek passes very close to these rocks.
Jonah
in the boson chair about to go up the mast.
Jonah
up the mast in the boson's chair.
The
moon rising over the sea at Fitzroy Reef. About 75 miles North of Bundaberg, we
spent about 5 days anchored at Fitzroy Reef. The boat pictured here is
Elengani.
A
green turtle nesting. One of the highlights of our trip down the coast of
Queensland was our stop at Lady Musgrave island where turtle researchers take
you around the island at night to watch nesting turtles.
Believe
it or not, being this close to the turtle as she lays her eggs does not bother
her in the least. According to our guides the turtles enter a trance-like state
in which they are not even aware of our presence.
Amazingly,
the researched simply slipped his arm into the hole WHILE the turtle was laying
the eggs and pulled out one of the eggs to show us. He says that this does not
damage the egg in any way.
After
laying her eggs, the turtle rests for a while before shoveling sand over the
nest.
Here
we see the turtle covering the nest with sand.
Almost
done covering the nest, the turtle researcher (shown here touching the turtles
head) encourages us to come forward and touch the animal.
Before
she goes back in the water, the researcher tags the turtle on her front left
flipper with a titanium tag with a unique ID number.
In
this photo the whole group of turtle watchers can be seen (about 8 people in
total) watching a Loggerhead turtle as she completes the job of covering her
nest.
Jonah
touches the loggerhead's huge head. The turtle is named for its large head which
is as big as a log.
A
close up of the loggerhead and Jonah touching her.
The
sun setting behind Lady Musgrave Island.
The
morning we left Musgrave, a long band of light clouds can be seen just in front
of the rising sun.
The
first in a series of photos of the Great Sandy Strait, a series of shallow
waterways between Frasier Island and the mainland just South of Bundaberg.
The
first day was very calm with no wind at all and as hot as hell. We spent about
four days in the strait altogether and anchored at 3 different locations.
On
the third day we moved South from the mouth of the Susan River to a place called
Garry's Anchorage. The wind was blowing 20-25k from the North (we were going
South) so we made great time with only our genoa out. Here we see another
sailboat on the same route just before we overtook her.
Jonah
looking cool in his shades.
Making
great time in the strait, the boat we just passed is visible at the left of the
photo.
At
the entrance to a side channel we saw several simple cabins which we took to be
vacation camps. You can see how windy it is by the chop.
Another
cabin on the channel entrance to Garry's Anchorage. It was the most shallow we
have ever anchored with the sounder showing only 8ft at low tide.
The
ever-lovely smiling Katie as we entered Garry's Anchorage.
Our
next anchorage was right at the Southern entrance to the Great Sandy Strait
called the Wide Bay Bar. From here we could see massive billows of smoke from
cane field fires. At night we could see the fires glowing brightly as the cane
farmers burned the stubble of their fields to prepare for the next planting.
Pelican
Bay, just inside the Southern entrance to Wide Bay, ferries constantly move back
and forth to Fraser Island taking four wheel drive trucks loaded with campers on
holliday.
Kate
again looking fabulous!
On
our way South to Moreton Bay (just outside Brisbane) we passed (or were passed
by) this massive ship of Japanese registry.
We
passed within about 200ft of this monster. We were going about 6.5k South and
she about 15k North in the narrow channel just off the town of Collangotta.
A
prominent feature of he coast between Mooloolaba and Moreton bay are the Glass
House Mountains seen here (best in the larger version - just click!).
The
town of Coolangotta just North of Brisbane.
On
our approach to Brisbane we passed this massive ship leaving the river as we
entered.
The
container terminal at Fisherman's Island just at the mouth of the Brisbane
River. This is where the Super Servant 4 will load her cargo of sailboats and
superyachts before heading East for Mexico.
Just
inside the river mouth you can see stacks from various factories including
one burning off excess natural gas.
The
customs motor vessel "Storm Bay". Regular viewers of this web site may
find this boat familiar looking - we first saw her at Norship Marine in Cairns
(see photo gallery for October/November of 2005) where she was undergoing a
major refit.
The
Gateway Bridge over the Brisbane River.
Another
shot of the Gateway Bridge.
Approaching
the center of the City of Brisbane the buildings start to become more
residential then the industrial lower river.
There
are some lovely riverfront homes just East of the city. Several which are quite
impressive.
The
white one on this hill surrounded by palm trees is especially nice.
The
skyline of downtown Brisbane as seen from the river as we approach the city
center.
As
in many American cities, condos in converted industrial buildings like these are
very popular.
A
typical repair job on the Queen Jane requires the skipper to be part
contortionist and part mechanic. Here Jordan is trying to get at a fresh water
inlet behind the cupboard, but first he has to adjust the hand pump so it
doesn't jab him in the ribs.
In
the process of repairing the water inlet Jordan discovers several wires that are
partly chafed through. Boats are so much fun!