October 2007 - Gold Coast to Brisbane

Here we are still alive and kicking.  It's been a while between updates and the crew has been duly berated. We enjoyed our time in the Gold Coast immensely often cruising to South Stradbroke Island for the weekends (to get away from recreational craft up and down the waterways all day) and have discovered some fabulous spots.  We also enjoyed the company of friends from Victoria, who are about to embark on their own "sea change" and who came to stay with us for a taste of 'the good life'.  A good time was had by all during their stay when we decided to cruise to a protected bay and play some beach games - you know, Frisbee, ball etc.  You should have heard the moans and groans coming from the cabin the next morning (NO, not that, I mean painful moans and groans) - what a lot of crocs!  In fact we caused a bit of a stir amongst the youngest generation there when we had a water fight between another cruising craft's dinghy and ours on the way back to the boats.  Later that night while on shore, the parents of the children told us they apparently said "look at those old people, are they drunk?"  Anyway, after everyone left (was it something I said?) and we had the cove to ourselves, the respective skippers thought they might dive over the side and take a look at the bottom of the boats.  Yeah, I know, weird huh? But you need to keep an eye on things underneath from time to time and besides they had to try out the new diving kit didn't they!  The skipper's birthday was also celebrated and while trying to light the candles and sparklers out of sight of the said 'birthday boy' three of us, being very quiet and sneaky - managed to set off the smoke alarm in the cabin!  Huh, that gave it away - you will see from the fire in front of the skipper why this happened.

Fire! Happy Birthday

Finally my temporary work contract came to an end so we thought we would head north again and meandered our way through the broadwater and various islands and into Moreton Bay.  Somebody flicked a switch the day we approached Moreton Bay and as we made for the Brisbane River the 'cold' wind picked up, the rain came in and we had a lumpy, cold and wet cruise into the mouth of the river.  Safely moored in Aquarium Passage we stayed for around 3 weeks.  Aquarium Passage is not the most salubrious address - in fact, so 'un-salubrious' that the skipper would not allow me to go to the laundry unaccompanied! (I told him it would be ok, we would get some ‘stick on’ tattoos and then we would fit right in) and, it is necessary to have a vehicle to get anywhere but with summer closing in and cruisers coming South for the summer (to avoid the cyclones) we thought we did quite well to get a vacant mooring.  Until... a trip up the river to the CBD and a vacant mooring beside the Botanical Gardens tempted us to migrate and tie up there. So here we be.

Brisbane moorings from the Botanic Gardens

Brisbane CBD from our mooring 

You will note that it's a very short walk to the city.  We have made new friends and again renewed friendships made in Sydney.  And guess what? There's more fruit bats here surprise surprise.  They were in Sydney, Gold Coast and the mother load is here in the Botanical Gardens along with lizards around a metre long just sunning themselves and watching the people go by! Help. Brisbane is not as large as we expected which is fine in our opinion - a bit of a rabbit warren to get around as there are lots of 'one way' streets but the folks are friendly enough.  Our first weekend at the new address coincided with Brisbane's "Riverfire" festivities - naturally fireworks, army helicopters and two F1 11's performing a 'dump and burn' low over the river very impressive and LOUD !  Yep, it's no as bad as we initially thought it would be here so this may be our address until early next year and a decision will be made as to the course to take (do we go North, or East into the South Pacific towards New Zealand !??)  Hmmm, decisions decisions.  It has been some time since the sails were hoisted and they will be creased - not acceptable to a sailor.  Anyway Christmas is coming and so are the cyclones so will put off any decisions for a bit.