Aussie Landfall and Aussie Cruising Life
Dransfields on the high seas
John and Helen Dransfield
Sat 30 Oct 2010 23:04
After a nice passage from New Caledonia we made landfall at Bundaberg. It
was all pretty straightforward excepting for the need to have a sniffer dog
to check the boat for a termite risk. We decided to debate the point and
managed to argue that it was completely unnecessary given the newness of the
boat.
After enjoying some Aussie creature comforts such as meat pies and
paddlepops he headed out for a lovely week at Lady Musgrave Island, a coral
lagoon about 60nm north east of Bundaberg. We were met there by the
Dransfield clan off Manaroa Bay and delighted in hanging out together and
spotting an abundance of sealife including whales, turtles and sting rays.
We then headed off up the Whitsunday islands for a fantastic week cruising
around all the usual spots such as Whitehaven Beach, Nara Inlet, Butterfly
Bay amongst others. We did some great snorkelling and generally relaxed. In
between all the fun, the schoolwork continues each day despite some
resistance from the troops.
After the Whitsundays we bunnhopped down to Mackay to catch up with our good
friends on Rhiann Marie timely it nicely to sit out some foul weather. We
then nipped down to Bundaberg and had a delightful time on the inside of
Fraser Island through the Wide Bay Bar and onto Mooloolaba to catch up with
our good cruising friends off Grace. It was then on to Brisbane for a full
on Darveniza (my family)/Dransfield (John's family) reunion with many fun
catch ups. Everyone has been keen to see the boat which has been our home
for 1 year.
Following Brisbane we went down the inside of Stradbroke Island to Southport
again seeing some friends and enjoying marina life. We had a great day at
Seaworld treating the kids and then a lovely swim off Southport Beach after
breakfast with Colin Bass and Geraldine.
We are now in Coffs Harbour after an easy overnight passage in light
northerly winds. We will stay a few days seeing our friends on Sunboy and
catching up with old friend Daniel Freuden. We are on track for our Sydney
homecoming arrival next Saturday with a few friends and family planning to
meet us on the dock.
Until then ciao from the Nikas