Brisbane & Beyond

Welcome back Boatbloggers®,

Finally the cyclone season is over and it’s time to raise a glass as we are back on the good ship Domini and sailing up the Queensland coast.

It was Ju’s birthday, so Lyn treated him to a special day out on Fraser Island with the 4X4 Explorer Bus.

We’re not going to tell you how old Ju is, but we will give you a clue. 

So young looking and handsome

For his years on this earth,

But he’s just one year younger 

Than the year of his birth.

See if you can figure that one out. And if you can – keep it to yourself.

We went all over the island – including the fabulous seaside lake.

Believe it or not, it’s a freshwater lake in the middle of the island. And it’s the first water we’ve seen since we’ve been here that is guaranteed shark- and crocodile-free. So we went for our first Down Under swim.

We saw the big satinay trees. 

The old wreck.

(We set ‘em up for you, we really do)

And we went up the creek. No paddle, but with coffee.

The highlight of the day has to be the ride in the little plane. It actually took off and landed on the beach.

It was a real adrenaline buzz.

We think we might have found another hobby that we can’t afford.

But unfortunately, having just got back on the water, our Australian visas needed to be recharged. Australia is now like Europe (Grrrr!) and you have to leave the country after 90 days – even if it’s only for a few hours.

So we had to go to Bali for a week.

Which is not so terrible.

We took a Balinese cookery course,

…and learned how to make the famous Indonesian delicacy Bebek Goreng – or as we say in English, herby duck.

You bash up a load of fresh herbs and spices and rub it into the skin,

…and then finish it off using Ju’s favourite cooking technique.

Delicious.

We even had the good fortune to meet Raymond, who happens to live in Bali and is the organiser of our next rally – Sail 2 Indonesia.

Thanks to you and your wife for a fabulous lunch Raymond.

It’s a beautiful country and we’re looking forward to getting back here later in the year. 

But next time on a boat!

For now, it was back to the bright lights of Brisbane,

…and then Bundaberg on the Tilt Train (so called because it…er…tilts). 

We’re back on Domini now and heading up the Queensland coast. We have just arrived at Great Keppel Island which is a little bit of paradise.

If it makes you feel any better, we’ve been stuck here for a few days waiting for decent weather. It’s actually raining!

It doesn’t look too bad in the photo – but it is pouring down.

So that’s all for now Boatblog® fans. Just time for the Arty Farty Competition, and we have two entries. The first from Lyn called Rust.

And Ju’s entry called Reach For The Sky.

And the winner is….

Rust!

Good on yer mate.

See you soon.

Ju & Lyn

We regret that due to an editorial oversight this edition does not contain the usual gratuitous sunset. But we can do a rainbow.