broadwater-stradbroke, our office,6am leaving Brown's Isl, Manly boat Harbour

Wednesday 8th The broadwater

Wednesday 8th The Broadwater. Browns Bay…….OOOOppss

I decided Nick needed to get more grounded, so nudged the boat into a sandbar very gently with dire results……..I have been stripped of my first officer stripes and am now the cabin boy.!! One has to concentrate very much going through this labyrinth of channels and waterways with some very narrow and shallow passages. Got my own back an hour later when Captain Bligh just bumped the ground in another area……Touche!!!I yelled. Over and out Pam..over to the Captain

On the TV news Brown’s Bay is mentioned as an excellent spot for fishing. We are anchored in Brown’s Bay. I have watched a simple minded kite whistling while he caught a fish in Brown’s Bay. I have also watched my bride use an impressive arsenal of hooks, lines and sinkers to limited effect. It wasn’t entirely without result. The entertainment value alone of watching lines get caught in rigging was possibly worth the dollars spent on gear. I’m thinking a visit to the fish market again. Hope springs eternal.

Looks like cabin fever is setting in.

Pam’s fishing notes: frustrating…there are none..it’s all a mith…I don’t think they like chicken skin and bacon rind ?….Oh well! Rack of lamb for dinner, can’t be bad.

1. Iluka pub. 2. In the key of "c". 3. For the benefit of Ken and E who last came to Surfers Paradise in 1964. It's changed a bit.

Monday 6th August Southport

Spent the last night in the Clarence at Iluka (right hand side going in) and for anyone interested in cruising it has to be one of the top spots to anchor. Only us and one other boat, dinghy ashore to the pub and fish co-op, to buy local prawns ( I know, I know with all the fishing gear we have on board….etc etc) lake-like conditions in 3 metres of water…..does it get any better?
Left just before sunrise and had a blinder of a sail up to Cape Byron where we anchored in the bay. Very pleasant despite the Splendour in the Grass Festival in the middle distance. The kids of today and their loud music! Great anchorage provided the weather is from the south. Slept with the GPS, which provided a bit of excitement for both of us. It’s a subtle device. When the Anchor Drag Alarm goes of it just brings up a window which advises you of the fact. No alarms, loud noises or other disturbances. Very considerate.
Left Byron at sunrise. Good sailing most of the day with the usual whales, dolphins and of course no fish.
Now anchored inside South Stradbroke with a view to pottering up the channels over the next couple of days
Thanks to Amy and Luke for all their hospitality in Yamba

Pam’s Fishing notes: not worth mentioning, just as well we are not living off the sea. Spectacular Whales cavorting right by the boat.

The booze cruise up the Clarence. Blackboard menu included in case Cheffo at Pier One is looking for inspiration

Today’s problem involved the lifting bridge at Harwood on the Pacific Highway, which has a lowered headway of 8.5 metres , our mast height which is about 14.5 metres above the water and the Harwood pub which irritatingly lies upstream of the bridge. Now you can arrange to have the bridge opened which is a lot of work for the contractor and a fair disruption to traffic. Or you can anchor the boat, inflate the dinghy, attach the outboard, crane the whole lot into the water and spend time coaxing the outboard into service. And that’s a whole lot of work for us. Against my better judgment we opted for the latter.
We then anchored in the river for the evening until we heard the strong wind warning and are now tucked up in Iluka Harbour having crept in at dead low tide with the depth alarm demonstrating its ability to do just that. Alarm. Happiness is a soft rock. Also have our first visitor on board for a few days daughter no. 2 Sam.