Day 9 – and a leaky boat!

The paddle from Inskip to Frazer island was a two kilometre bucking bronco ride – heaps of fun in 25knots of south easterly  wind with metre plus waves to surf across. Standing on Frazer felt like we had started a new and more complex part of our journey north. The island has the most beautiful vegetation with palm groves and rainforest trees reaching the beach. The bird life is diverse and beautiful. Two Eastern Robins sat watching me unpack my kayak completely unphased by me being there. A Dugong popped up for a moment just ten metres off the front of our kayaks, we saw very light grey Dolphins – different to those down south, we suspect they must be a different species. On our way into the camp ground this evening we passed at least a dozen large turtles munching away in the shallows, some of them were huge. My favourite of the day were the three Beach Stone Curlews who flew in formation, screeching as they passed no more than two metres over our heads, just before we set off this morning.

So far on this trip I have broken a paddle coming through the surf at Caloundra; drowned what was supposed to be a waterproof speaker (it couldn’t swim) so we have no more music at night; and today cracked the day hatch bulkhead which allowed water to fill my cockpit so this evening I have been drying out Black Magic so she could be repaired with fibreglass. I now smell like methelated spirits and resin.

I figure that is three breakages done and dusted so from now all equipment will remain intact for the rest of the trip! We are well equipped with spares and repair equipment which is just as well. 

We have very poor coverage on the island at this evening so cannot upload any photos of the day, will do so when the coverage improves. Riley, Jake – thanks for my porridge wishes, they are awesome. DT