Report Number 12

Trip Report #12

Tweed Heads - 75 minute from Sydney by air!!!!! - Took us 5 weeks! Onward and upward! QUEENSLAND - but more of that later, its just that we saw it as we came into Tweed Heads which made us realise that we were a long way from home (unless we fly) Weather is noticeably warmer but still a cool breeze which is great when we get hot from walking. Talking of which, we set out to walk to nearby shopping centre by following a tourist map. Map was seriously misleading and two roads which were shown starting from the edge of the river and leading directly to the shopping area actually didn't exist! However, intrepid travellers that we are we took bearings and set out through the virgin grass on the golf course.Found that it was surrounded on all other sides by 2 metre fence topped with barbed wire. Asked various golfers for directions but found that they had no more idea than we did. Eventually reached the shopping centre where we had coffee. Also talked to a travel agent because Karen had heard that her mother was again very unwell and so wanted to fly back to see her. Back to Jess having walked for about 2 hours where we goofed off until State of Origin at night (wish we hadn't!).

Thursday dawned sunny with light breeze and Karen left for Coolangatta to fly back to her mum until Saturday. I went on sight-seeing/fact-finding trip in the dinghy and found a much more convenient shopping centre with wonderful dinghy parking at a jetty about the same distance from the shops as a car park.

Friday started well enough - got my chores done but then started to do some maintence but nothing I tried worked and after about 2 hours I had achieved absoloutely nothing (all right, smarties! Enough of that "So what's new?").Water getting low in Jess (drinking, not salt!), so I set out to locate fuel and water points. Found that they are pretty scarce in the Tweed area, but did find one which looked easily accessible in Jess. On the way back, I went a bit close to some shallow oyster covered rocks and managed to break the shear pin (propellor stops working) and cut a hole in the dinghy. Things then started to go bad and after a series of frustrations everything was fixed and working again, but once again, I hadn't achieved much (Oh! Maybe you smarties were right after all!).

Saturday again fine and sunny - I decide to be Mr. Perfect and take all the dirties to the laundromat. Went to wonderful jetty - it was 20 metres from the water! Dragged the dinghy close enough to tie it up, and set off knowing that the tide would come in while I was at the laundromat. WRONG! Tide was in fact going out when I arrived, so I sat for two hours watching the tide come in before I could get near the dingy. (Smarties - you were definitely right!!) Tangled with a large bunch of speed boats all coming in to the little cove I had moored in as they were involved in some sort of a club event. Survived that, but on the way home I broke the makeshift shear pin I had used yesterday and had to row a long way back where I again fixed the shear pin and set off to pick Karen up as it was now 4.30! Well. at least I got the washing done!

Karen reported that her mother was not in a good way at all, but did seem to be a bit better than when she arrived there. Dementia is a terrible disease, especially for the carers. Karen feels she may need to visit every 3 or 4 weeks from now on.

Sunday we leapt out of bed early to use the high tide to take Jess for a big drink and to have a good look at the river in and around Tweed Heads. It is a very pretty sight, and is used a lot more than the Clarence. When we are anchored a continuous stream of boats of all shapes and sizes go past. Checked weather forecast at night and decided to go to Southport tomorrow. Karen does most of the planning, based on Alan's book and her other reading of tourist and marine information. I just work out times and she then decides which is the best move.

Monday engine start at 0638 and off across the bar and on our way. Problem today is that it is only a very short trip, and having got the tide right to leave Tweed, it was going to be totally wrong to arrive at the Gold Coast entrance. We drove very slowly staying in close to all the well known beaches between Coolangatta and Surfers Paradise. Had a great trip, but swell started to come in a bit high so we decided not to go past the entrance and up the coast a bit which we had thought of doing because we aren't going this way when we next move on - we are going up an inland passage to Moreton Bay. So we took the risk (after talking to the Volunteer Marine Rescue people) and came into Southport. WELL!! Talk about traffic! At the end of the entrance channel there is a "T" intersection and there were boats flying along creating huge wakes, a big old slow boat and several guys on jet skis searching for the highest wake waves. Now we are used to having huge areas of water for ourselves and this was a bit of a rude awakening! Of course, we handled the whole situation beautifully and proceded to our target anchorage spot in an area just behind SeaWorld Nara Resort. We relaxed for a while, and then went ashore to enquire about public transport for tomorrow. Stopped in at the resort and got our info from the concierge then decided to sit in a lovely bar area and have a quiet drink. It was certainly quiet, and why wouldn't it be? A bottle of Heineken cost $7.70 (about what I usually pay for a six-pack!! Well, nearly, but you get the idea! Rang grandaughter Ashlee in NZ for her birthday, then watched a video. Gee, its a rough life!

And it started getting even rougher on Tuesday when we caught a bus to the Southport CBD where we shopped a bit (boat bits - shear pins!! and other stuff which we had to order for Thursday delivery) and also DVDs including "Blazing Saddles", and a pair of wood mounted 240 volt lights to replace the two bare bulbs we have been using for a couple of months. Watched "Blazing Saddles" because there is no TV reception where we are anchored.

Wednesday morning bright and sunny, so off to do the tourist thing and visit SeaWorld. Gave the rides a miss but saw the dolphins (extraordinary) and sharks, water skiers, seals, 3D movie, aquarium, etc. Staggered back to Jess very tired. Planning to shop and do a few jobs tomorrow and leave for Moreton Bay on Friday.

Thursday got some jobs done but not enough to let us leave on Friday. While Karen was at Broadbeach buying some beaut new gear (thanks,Debbie, for the recommendation) and I was working on some jobs, a large trimaran dragging it's anchor drifted past. I rang VMR but they didn't do anything before the owners returned and got on board just when it was about to hit the boat behind it. Too much excitement! I then went to pick up the boat bits and when I got back we went to buy petrol for the generator, which we did but also saw a DeFever (one of our favourite brands of boat) for sale, so detoured and had a good look at both a 39 and 50 foot. Very nice, but not a lot more living area than the old Jess - just a teeny bit more classy!!

Friday, didn't leave, it rained on and off all day so caught up on maintenance and improvements (got rid of exposed bare light bulbs!). Will look at weather tonight on the internet and decide what to do then. Meanwhile, to all the club members, have a great dinner tonight - we will be thinking of you, however I'm looking forward to Karen's roast veal dinner which right now is smelling fantastic! She has been doing all the cooking, and seems to be really enjoying it.

Love

Karen and Warwick