We’re back on the move after ten days at Port Bundaberg, heading north to the Whitsunday Islands by day sails, and now back nearly into real time in the Blog. Pancake Creek is delightful, in the Eurimbula National Park so almost completely undeveloped. It lies under the northern side of Bustard Head, upon which there is a lighthouse – quite an important lighthouse. It was the first in Queensland, commissioned on 26 June 1868 and still working. It was prefabricated in Bridgwater England by Hennet & Spink (the first Hennet did much engineering work for Brunel on his broad gauge; the Bridgwater Ironworks were primarily a railway works). A similar but less grand lighthouse by the same company is still operational at Watchet in Somerset. The light was originally oil, then kerosene in 1917 and electric from 1935. Here it is:

 

 

 

Just past the lighthouse in a view south across Bustard Bay (named by Cook after his bird) and the Eurimbula to 1770 in the distance. Note the sky; it’s been like this almost since we arrived and hence hot in the daytime but really cold at night:

 

 

I was trying to photograph a bird but it didn’t come out well so readers are spared that one at least. But there’ll be others!

The ship continues up north in easy hops with a following wind (it’s going to be hard work slogging back south against it in a month or two). We’re aiming for Airlie in a week or so.