Mackay Australia
Jackamy
Paul & Derry Harper
Wed 18 Aug 2010 01:41
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21:06.705S
149:13.626E
Wednesday 18 th August
Tuesday morning Tony from the Blue Water
Rally was on the pontoon bright and early followed by customs, immigration and
quarantine at 9.30 am. The quarantine official had a good look around the boat
looking in all the food cupboards, not that there is much left. We found out
that the mahi mahi we caught and let go a few days ago would have been allowed
after all. It took about an hour to clear us in, we can now officially go
ashore, oops do they know about last night's pontoon party.
Mackay is the sugar capital of Australia and
boasts one of the world's largest sugar-loading terminals. It is also in the
middle of the Bowen Basin coal deposits, and the largest coal export terminal in
the world is found at Hay point, 30 miles south. When we came in last night we
counted 72 ship's at anchor waiting to be loaded with coal.
On Wednesday we headed into town and spent
most of the day in the travel agents. Anita from the flight centre has put
together a great itinerary for us; we are off to New Zealand and fly to
Christchurch via Brisbane tomorrow morning.
Later that evening there was a welcome
party hosted by Mackay marina, a Barbie, well we are in oz after all .
It was great catching up with everyone, although not all the boats are
here; some have gone directly to Cairns and a few are still making there way
here.
We had to say goodbye to Michael and
Ger on Simanderal who leave the rally here, it's really hard saying all these
goodbyes; we wish you safe sailing.
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