Blog 29. Magnetic Island. June 16. 19.06.55S 146.51.41E

Alcedo
David Batten
Sun 16 Jun 2019 08:45
Today is “Gran’s” 90th Birthday. “Gran” has gone from “Mopsie” to “The Admiral” to “The Mother-in-Law” to “Gran” in the family, but is better known to the non family world as Sue Batten. She has been across the Atlantic in two very different boats, Dyarchy and Swaraj and is well known in RCC circles, both in her own right and as wife of the late Scrap Batten, Commodore from 1985 to 1990. There will have been a great family celebration in honour of the occasion and we are sad to be missing it. Having said that, we are now in Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island and have enjoyed the most delightful day of walking, bird watching and exploring the World War II fort that protected Townsville from Japanese forces, built following the bombing of Pearl Harbour.

The previous 2 days have been spent doing 2 x 70nm motor sails, often with just the mainsail up to get sufficient progress as we do not have a coloured sail to help us in light airs. With two 06.00am starts and stopping for the night in Upstart Bay, there is little to report except that now we have left the Whitsunday Islands, the wind has dropped, the sun has come out and it would be good weather for snorkelling (in wet suits). We rounded the Point to enter Horseshoe Bay in good time for tea, to join the most crowded anchorage we have been in since Russell in New Zealand.

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Approaching Horseshoe Bay from The Point, clearly a very popular place.

One of the main reasons for coming to Magnetic Island, which is very touristy but also very beautiful, is the Koalas and Ship’s Boy wanting a picture of one to send to the eldest grandchild. Luckily for us, some helpful tourists pointed them out, so we did see 2 and a baby Koala, otherwise they are probably as difficult as the birds to see!

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Koala and....

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......Baby Koala

Ship’s Boy very happy

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Photograph of Ship’s Boy taking photos. Spot the Koala.

The walk up to the fort was quite challenging, but we were rewarded with wonderful views and some lovely birds.

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And some Wallabies

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So we will raise a toast to “Gran” this evening and sleep well after walking 12.7km, 18,700 steps and 91 floors as recorded on the iPhone!

Alcedo
Sent from my iPad