We are making mostly day-hops up the coast of Australia,
with a couple of over-nighters thrown in for fun. I haven’t been sick once! It must be because I poured my soul out to you, dear readers, which took all the angst away. We have been pulling in to the anchorages and marinas between 3 and 5 in the morning. It is very peaceful, dark, and a little spooky at that time of day.
Last night, near the entrance to this marina, there were about 25 large ships lined up across the horizon, right in front of us. They were waiting for clearance, or a pilot boat or something. It was quite an armada that we had to weave through, on a dark moonless night. The last thing you want to see on your watch is a 400-foot ship in your path. 25 of them were almost more than I could bear. I really wanted to wake Jim up, but I prevailed and conquered. Jim had another set of boats to go through when he went on watch after me.
We have discovered that it is impossible to check out of Australia, and then go to the Whitsunday Islands, then the Great Barrier Reef, legally. They want you to check out and get out of town – immediately. We are now in Mackay Harbour, the last stop for a customs check-out. It looks like we will have to go to the Whitsundays, then back to Mackay, then through the GBR, without stopping to dive. Of course, if we have to check something on the bottom of the boat, while we are near the reef, well….
Each country has its own little rules about customs check-in and out. They are all quite different, and sometimes it seems like they make the rules up as they go. You might get a different answer on a Friday than you would on a Monday. This was particularly true in the South Pacific. A bit of cash or some baked goods, or a can of corned beef, would get you what you needed from the customs agent. They are a little more official in New Zealand and Australia; they even have printed matter with the rules on it!
We haven’t met a boat with kids on it since we left New Zealand, and Molly and Jessie are ready to mutiny. All Mom wants to do is school, and all Dad wants to do is work on the boat. Where is the fun? Where are the crocodiles? Where are the koalas? WHERE ARE THE KIDS? Our friends on “Fafner” are in the Red Sea, just leaving Egypt. Our friends on “Azul” are still in New Zealand, and will be in Fiji about 2 weeks after we leave there! The kid boat, “Skedemongske” (not easy for us, either), is not too far away. They are in Brisbane, and heading north up the coast, right behind us. There is something to live for, after all!
Time for school! ~ Jeanna