Dunk Island in the Rain 21st - 24th May




Happy Birthday Audrie

 

Here we are back at Dunk Island sheltering in Brammo Bay for several days until the weather improves. We just managed to finish our celebratory lunch at the kiosk for Audries birthday, when the heavens opened, and for the next day and a half we could barely see the mainland or Mt Kootaloo for the cloud and rain. During the night of the 21st the sky emptied 133mm of rain on us and at one stage we wondered if we were above the ocean or under it. That amount of rain eventually found some little crevices and bolt holes in Rene's hull to work its way in and cause some discomfort, especially to Auds, who vacated a wet bunk during the night. We found her in the main cabin in the morning  surrounded by wet sheets and looking a tad dejected. We are still trying to dry out the mattress. Readers will be pleased to know that she has clean sheets, but has now formally taken up residence in the main cabin.

Our trusty little grey dinghy 'Lily' had an adventurous night as well. In the morning Peter found her dangling forlornly off the stern, three quarters full of water. She was so full of water that our thongs and sunscreen (yes I did say sunscreen - we can only live in hope!!) were threatening to float away on the morning tide. He bailed her out and by then we thought the weather was improving so we motored over to Purdaboi Island (a very small island just north of the anchorage) for a look around. Bad decision! While we were exploring the clouds built up over Dunk and soon it was raining again. We decided to wait a while and venture back to Rene when the worst was over. (Bad decision number two!!) Things did not improve so we arrived back soaked through with more clothes to dry.

Things are looking up - Sunshine at last

Today the worst is over. Probably the only thing that could be said of this weather is that it has not been very windy. We noticed a strange phenomenon today. As we sat out eating lunch we could see brown water beginning to creep across the bay from the south. There must be a river down there somewhere discharging flood water into Rockingham Bay and it is making its way north. Slowly the brown tide overtook Rene and the other boats anchored in the bay. Along the front of the change in current the water rippled and lapped and foamed making quite a gurgling rushing sound. Most interesting to watch. We watched a kayaker paddle across from the mainland and he appeared to be having some difficulty rowing against the current. As he paddled past us he commented on how difficult it had been to negotiate particularly the area where the two currents collided. Now the sun is out and Dunk looks beautiful, sleeping in the sunshine.




The collision of the currents at Brammo Bay
(and dredging the berths at Abbot Point is going to ....?????)

This morning whilst walking along the southern beach of Dunk we found a sea snake washed up on the high tide mark. A bit of poking with a stick revealed that he was definitely not dead, although a little slow. Peter found a couple of lengthy sticks and he gradually lifted and flicked it towards the water. Once in the water it was easy to see it was a sea snake with it's fin like body shape. It had diamond shaped patterns across the back and it did not waste any time swimming away. Later we walked the beach and did not see it again so it must have survived.


North East Bay Great Palm Island

Liz and Audrie

Our first night of this trip was spent in North East Bay on the eastern side of Great Palm Island with two other boats. This bay was particularly beautiful and we had a lovely swim off the shore. In the northern end of the beach was a freshwater stream bubbling over the lichen covered rocks - so pretty. The enormous paperbark trees shaded this stream and we scrambled over the rocks to look further inland. The weather forecast next morning had us deciding to make the break for Dunk Island and wait there until the wet weather passed. It was a good decision as at least there are opportunities for onshore exploration and cold showers in the National Park amenities (Did we really need that!!!)

Freshwater creek North East Bay

Peter explores North East Bay Great Palm Island