We left the comfort and calm waters of Tin Can Bay Marina around lunch time today. We were heading towards Inskip point which is directly opposite the most southern tip of Fraser Island. It was a gorgeous day today and all was going well.....for the first five minutes! Then the engine started spluttering and within a minute or two, completely stopped! So there we are, five minutes away from the marina, in the middle of the channel with another catamaran heading towards us! We drop anchor and Jon madly runs down to the engine to try and figure out what is wrong. I, in my infinite wisdom, was thinking to myself that it sounded like it had run out of fuel but I have very little idea about engines so decided not to say anything except to be encouraging and supportive! Something along the lines of - "Is everything ok honey?" (Clearly not as we are in the middle of the channel but the question was asked anyway!) and "Can I do anything to help?" (Again....clearly not as I know nothing about engines but perhaps a cuppa may have been required!) and "Are you sure?" (Because you never know - he may have changed his mind and needed my jug boiling skills after all!) Anyway....as it turned out, the problem was solved with a very big "phew!" from Jon as he started up the engine again and mentioned it was simply a knocked fuel valve after pottering on the engine yesterday! I would like to refer to my earlier infinite wisdom thoughts on sounding like we were out of fuel. Although, technically, we were not out of fuel, there was no fuel to keep the engine running so therefore I believe, technically I solved the problem long before Jon did! I am sticking to that story anyway! 

So once we had got ourselves moving again, I steered us out through the channel towards Inskip Point. It was an absolutely beautiful day for sailing. Not a cloud was to be seen in the sky, the wind was behind us and I thought - hey, I am going to put a fishing line in because I haven't attempted any fishing since we left and I thought what better time than now! So I get the line out, polish the spoon, put my glove on, drop the line out the back of the boat and wait with great anticipation for the fish I am going to catch and have for dinner! As I am watching, I notice hundreds of jellyfish (or sea jellies - whatever makes you happy!) swimming past the boat. I couldn't stop to take a photo for two reasons: 1. It was very sunny and I probably would have only got a reflection and 2. I was waiting for a fish to jump on my lure! But it was pretty cool to see so many swimming by! So after what seemed like eons and diligently singing my come hither fish song (that is the same tune as the old barina ads!) there was not a fish to be seen. Not one on the end of my line, none in the water, none seemed to be jumping onto the lines of the few dinghies we passed! 20 mins I attempted to catch a fish! A whole 20 minutes and not one bite. So I am going back to my original belief that there are absolutely no fish in the ocean and it is all a myth! I can not remember the last time I caught a fish - even back on Groote! I am happy to say, however, that I have not been deterred and that I will another (possibly longer than 20 minutes) attempt tomorrow! Let's hope that maybe one lost and wandering fish likes the look of my lure!

Anyway, all is well here in our home. Burley seems quite settled and is much braver at night. We figure it's probably because everything is darker and it makes it all better! But he ventures out onto the deck during the early evening before realising it is way too cold to be out there and then ventures back inside to curl up at our feet where it's much warmer! 

We are both well and happy. Missing friends and family back in Brisbane but thank goodness for technology!

Anyway...enjoy your hump day tomorrow if you are working and if you are not....well.....even better!

Love

Claris

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Give him a fishing lesson and he'll sit in a boat drinking beer every weekend.   Alex Blackwell