74.) More water; strange alien vegetation

More time out on Moreton Bay learning the fine art of large boat sailing - in what is really a pretty shallow place.




Despite their partial spinnaker, we overtook them. It was really light winds and we were in "Oceans" - a racing yacht that is pretty amazing to handle, and points closer to the wind that should be allowed!








Nancy scooting about in the dinghy after breakfast. We are practicing with all the toys...









Running downwind (note the level horizon) - Nancy says "just keep it on this course."













The world tilts as we head back upwind.












The sun is falling into the sea, the water takes on a visible chill, merely a few glints to relieve an unfathomable blackness lapping alongside...

That means.....






Yes it is time for Dirk to get on the charts, figure out where the hell we are and how to avoid the Amity Banks, and the wreck of the Platypus, and the rocks of Goat island because WE ARE GETTING DARKED ON! (and no, he is not ALLOWED to use the GPS or chart plotter! No electronics in this exercise!)

And he is supposed to navigate us through the islands, around the shoals, up the channel, back down past the beacon, across the forbiddingly dark bay to the lighthouse guarding frothing rocks and onward through the deep and darkening gloom (OK it's dark already - when do we get to eat?)

One mistake, one error, one flaw in his plans .. and we are stuck on an emerging, sucking, and smelly mudbank until daylight.

Sideways....... Like this

But in the cold, lonely darkness.

Oh my!









Of course he could merely hit a rock!
At which point we would sink.....

Oh...

.....what supernatural creatures inhabit this place? What one-eyed beasts lurk among these rocks? How can we escape their clutches to again sail the wine-dark sea?









But all was good, we made it to our anchorage, actually ate dinner, and had a grand time the next fine day tossing "oscar" overboard so we could practice picking him up, tacking about, rigging, derigging, taking fixes, plotting courses, sailing all points of the wind, and generally learning not to spit into the wind. Nancy is now declared Competent Crew and Dirk achieved his Coastal Skipper designation.

Now we just need to talk some friends into coming to visit to sail up in the Whitsunday Islands!


But back in the city... we are occasionally reminded (when we leave our offices) that we are adrift in a foreign land.

These blokes are up in the center of the northern suburbs - an interesting swampy bit they did not drain for housing. It was raining so we only saw 'roos, these wallabies, the odd swamp 'roo and some ducks.
Sadly, this is where some pathetic youth go target practicing with their slingshots - killing four of these guys - I mean they just stand there and look at you!





Home wildlife - VERY happy in the heated kitty-bed as the inside temp drops to 10 C !!!












Exposed boxworks in the rocks down at Currumbin Alley. The big storms shifted a LOT of sand offshore and there are some great rocks exposed. Until next summer when the sand will all move back inshore.









And I promised alien vegetables. This is a naturally occurring fractal cauliflower. Quite the wild looking stuff. Tastes good too!


Hmmm - Nope
we are definitely NOT in Kansas Toto!