Braving the Australian Waters - Welcome Bay, Fitzroy Island, Queensland, Australia
Harmonie
Don and Anne Myers
Mon 7 Jun 2010 23:48
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16:55.643S 145:59.294E
On June 3rd we motorsailed 42 miles under an
uncertain sky for seven hours to what turned out to be very lovely
Fitzroy Island. Yet another national park island with one small
resort perched on the beach, Fitzroy is only 15 miles from the city of Cairns,
and is the first place we've anchored where the water is partially clear.
Aha! Our swimming criteria was finally met. It was over 85 degrees,
the water was at least partially clear and warm enough, and
there were some coral and fish to be seen off a nearby
beach. Don stayed behind to work on the boat (I can't even remember what
the issue was this time), while Sue, Annette, Tony and I ventured onto
land.
Picture 1 - Semi-clear water! Clear
enough that we could see layer upon layer of tiny fish below the
surface. You may think those squiggles and dots are sea grass, but look
again - it's piles of fish.
Picture 2 - Close up of a fish pile.
We've never seen so many fish critters crammed into shallow water near a
dock before.
Picture 3 - Preparing for a snorkel off Nudey
Beach. Nope, we didn't snorkel nude. Although the resort
dudes did tell us the 'stinger' (poisonous jellyfish) season was over,
we opted to wear full 'stinger suits' anyway. We decided dying from a
jellyfish sting would really ruin our day.
Picture 4 - Proof that Annette, Sue and myself
braved the potentially cruel Australian water for our first swim of the
season. There wasn't much to see in the still semi-murky water, but at
least we can say we've done it.
The next day we motored to Cairns and the Marlin
Marina, which is where we are now (6/8/2010). Our next north-bound goal is
Thursday Island, which lies just west of Cape York (the northeastern
tip of Australia) in the Torres Strait (the narrow body of water separating
Australia from Papua-New Guinea). We estimate it will take us two weeks to
get there assuming we day-sail the whole way. This stretch of our trip
will take us along the coast of Far North Queensland (FNQ) where there
are very few towns and very little civilization in general. It's the
coastal version of the outback. If the blog is not updated over the next
two weeks, it's only because there is no internet coverage in this area.
There are at least ten boats in the marina planning to follow the same basic
track north, so we certainly won't be alone.
More on our stay in Cairns and our trek north when
the internet makes an appearance. In the meantime, we'll be checking email
every day using our handy-dandy satellite phone, so don't forget about
us.
Anne
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