Frasier Island Redux

To do:

Six weeks of isolation - check

Haul Kalliope & paint the bottom - check

Test all systems -  check

Cast off the lines - check

Cross the Mooloola River Bar - check

Sail to Double Island Point - check
Anchor for the night - check

Greet the songbirds in the morning

Hitch a ride ashore with friends Greg and Lisa

We cross the Wide Bay Bar in perfect conditions so no drama and no photo. 

Now we are in Great Sandy Straight National Park where we find our way 

through braided channels among sand bars.

Enjoying another sunrise that couldn't be beat.

Spill out of The Straight into Hervey Bay.  We could not get a good picture of the spill.

Debbie shopping for sea shells by the sea shore.

 Anchor near the Kingfisher resort and

hike the trail to the site of the former Secret

WWII Frasier Island Commando School.

Get stuck driving the commando's not so secret surplus equipment.

Walk back 'cause the tractor is stuck.

Have such a good time we forget all about Mooloolaba sunsets.

Noosa River Bar

After three months of anti-social distancing we venture

out to the beach, still keeping our distance.

Subtropical Queensland

Well anyway, we rent a camper van and head south from Brisbane in March 2017.  Still in Queensland, we stop at Springbrook Falls N.P. for a walk on a well established trail.

After half an hour or so, Deb begs me not to take her picture because she is feeling the heat.

The main attraction of this park is a waterfall where a small stream tumbles

off a plateau falling a long way down before continuing the journey.

Along our walk to the bottom of the falls a harmless green tree

snake entertains us.  This one is for Henry.

Along the way we get occasional glimpses of the falls

When I was sixteen the thought of climbing down in the cool morning and up that long trail in the hot afternoon wouldn't daunt but . . . .  at least a unique feature awaits us at the bottom where the creek takes another tumble and passes briefly through a natural arch or tunnel if you prefer.

The cool mist at the bottom offers some relief.

Eventually we climb back out and take one last look at that long drop from the top.

All in all it is an experience uplifting for both body and soul.

Frasier Island

Parts of Queensland are in the third year of drought.

Bush fires are common and radio news announcers

routinely describe threatened regions while advising

residents to "Shelter in Place, Watch and Act or

Prepare to Leave."  Frasier Island has no residents

and no such warning but here is smoke from a fire

 that burns for days or weeks at the south end.

Straddie

Views like this attract visitors who take a ferry from Brisbane.
We were here before and came more for dive opportunities
than the view.

Kookaburras land on the spreaders to sing a song of welcome
but it sounds more like they are laughing at us.  We hosted many
birds aboard but never Kookaburras.

The beach stone curlew patrols the cafés and growls at the
diners until someone throws him a chip

The sulphur crested cockatoo sounds a loud obnoxious squawk
when it flies.  We see them everywhere in Queensland.

The rainbow parakeet gathers in large noisy flocks in the
trees near sunset.

The beach stone curlew patrols the cafés and growls at the
diners until someone throws him a chip.