Fai Tira blog Thursday 27th August

 Nara Inlet and Airlie Beach 21:15.57S 148:42.75E

We left Whitehaven beach en route to Nara Inlet.  When we arrived at 16.00 there were lots of other boats already anchored. The inlet itself is very sheltered and had been used as a sanctuary for ships for many years.  The tradition was to write your ship’s name on the surrounding rock, although that has now been discouraged.   We settled down for the night and headed off to an Aboriginal cave where there were authentic paintings to be seen.  Whilst on the beach at the bottom of the footpath we encountered about thirty people coming down.  They were from a tourist boat called Solway Lass.  One of the passengers told me the history of this fabulous brigantine.  If you want to know more about it, Google it on the internet or go to: http://solwaylasswhitsundays.homestead.com/SolwayLassHistory.html

We climbed up a steep but made-up path, passing a number of signs telling us the origins and history of the local Aboriginal tribe.

Local Aboriginal art.

John and Jeremy outside the cave.  It has now been blocked off to preserve the paintings.

You can see the artwork on the right, dating back over thousands of years.

This cave had been occupied for at least  nine thousand years.

Solway Lass with the crew swinging into the water from one of the yardarms.  They were having great fun.

Fai Tira in this beautiful anchorage.

As we left on route for Airlie Beach we overtook this junk-rigged steel boat.  We think it might be a Bruce Roberts design, the same as Fai Tira.

We anchored off the marina at Airlie Beach and strolled into town past the famous lagoon. This was built to avoid tourists from being tempted into the sea during Box Jellyfish season.

Judy and I went swimming in here eight years ago. 

We finally found some Didgeridoos.