| Over the Top |
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| After a night anchored near the exit to the hole by a beautiful white sandy beach, we set off for an anchorage on the SW corner of Elcho Island, opposite an aboriginal community. Jude's got it sussed there's always good TV and radio reception near settlements! After some glorious trade wind sailing and indifferent landscape we caught TWO enormous mackerel simultaneously going over a shoal near the anchorage. The one Duck's embracing was too big for us, so we hailed a tinny. The occupants eyes lit up when they saw our offering and promptly hooned off to celebrate the easiest nights fishing they'd ever had! Jude watched The Bill. Next day and night saw us making good time current assisted much of the way from Elcho past the Crocodile Islands, on our way to N.Goulburn where we'd intended to anchor, but got there too soon in the dark, and pressed on to Malay Bay around Cape Cockburn. We must say we're not surprised so few explorers weren't keep to claim the N. Coast, it's a pretty rugged and uninviting place! The passage through the shallow tidal rip of Bowen strait was a piece of cake, even ferdie had a swim [can you spot him below] while Jude caught up on her journal. By mid-afternoon we were anchored amongst the oyster leases in Raffles Bay. |
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| Hadn't rained since Cairns, so when a big black cloud appeared, Jude got her gear off and did the famous "It's my life" rain dance which produced a 10 minute downpour! Shampooed and sudsed up we whooped around to the strains of Bon Jovi and Dire Straits blasting through the speakers! Who says the best things in life aren't free? Trust us, the shower was teriffic. Having seen no other boats for days, we were surprised to find Fontana and Summer Breeze, a Herreshoff 40 anchored off the ranger station in Port Essington! |
| Fontana promptly left, we have an uncanny knack of emptying anchorages, but we'd soon introduced ourselves to Pauline, Gary and Charlie, the fish-killer, from Summer Breeze, and demolished a few coldies and a "Chateau collapsible". Decided not to visit the ruins of the old Victoria settlement a days motor down the inlet, and pushed on to Alcaro Bay. Pretty spot. Tried to walk to the lighthouse at Cape Don along a dirt track, but were sent back to the boat by an officious [white] NP ranger when we said we didn't have a permit to be ashore. Apparently this is not an exception as they're running a lucrative eco-tourism operation on the side and think we spoil the scenery! Pity, nice place, teeming with fish. |
| Took this photo of Charlie and Pauline for Gus and Jake |