Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Lady Musgrave Island

We're hanging out at Lady Musgrave Island until our trip at the beginning of February. We've been here 2 weeks so far. When the conditions are favorable, we've been diving inside and outside the reef - 6 dives so far. At this time of year, the diving is pretty good here; clearer and warmer than later in the year.
But also we've had many days of strong winds and bouncy conditions inside the atoll; at high tide large ocean swells can come right over the reef. We expect to leave here at the end of this week; we have a marina space booked at Hervey Bay.

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Happy New Year

Season’s Greetings to All.

We spent Christmas and New Year offshore anchored near Fraser Island and in the Great Sandy Strait. It was good that we did because Bundaberg, where we would otherwise hang out - and where we have spent a Christmas or two - was badly affected by the recent floods.

Having heard nothing from Midtown Marina - where we planned to leave the boat for a few weeks traveling - we set off up the river to check it out. The river trip was tricky because all of the fixed navigation aids were damaged, and all the floating ones were missing! We saw several boats up on the bank of the river.

But that didn’t prepare us for the sight when we reached the town. Midtown Marina has been virtually washed away. All marina docks, their fuel dock and two of their buildings were gone. A boat is high and dry in their yard area. No moorings are visible in the river.

Bundaberg Slipways across the river - where we’d been hauled out - fared no better. Reportedly 11 boats up on the hard washed away down the river!

In the absence of the marina, we have postponed our trip a month and are looking for alternative accommodation.

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