2010

We are about 12 miles off shore. Tonight is the kind of night we all love (motor boats) clear sky, little wind, stars, moon….no rough seas. The past few days have been horrendous. We will be going into Hervey Bay off Bundaberg by morning. We are a slow go, can only do about 1300rpm before […]

25*22′.650S/153*00′.238E we are making our way through the Sandy Straits between Bundaberg and Mooloolaba, have to go into it on the incoming tide and exit on the out going. One good thing is that we are making good time, easy passage no big waves. Kinda like the intercoastal water way in Fl, except with mountains.

Today- Sunday, finally having a better ride. since Friday morn it has been horrendous. We can only do 1300rpm, or we start to run hot, right now we are doing 4.2kts. Have gotten as low as 2.5. Jim thinks something is wrong with the sensor or thermostat. Could be the keel cooler. Think we will

Slow going at the moment, currant against us only doing 3.2kts UHG! Having a bumpy ride, didn’t expect it. Wind got up to 30kts earlier. I’ve been down for the count but back up again. We may make a stop in the morning, if it’s not better. Will let you know. Martha

7:30pm our time, we are headed out of Mackay Harbor. Had a BBQ with some of the other cruisers and we’re off for Brisbane..Scarborough Marina, will probably be a 3nighter. Will let you hear from us in the am. Will have a bit of phone signal till we get off shore. Martha

6:30am-your time. We have turned back engine running too hot. Not taking any chances. Will be in Mackay Marina till further notice. Martha

8:30am, when Jim replaced the alternator he put the belt back on wrong, so It was slipping at high RPMs. he worked that through in his mind last night ,quick fix this am, so we’re off. Have about 500nms, will haul in Scarborough (21 or 25th) to have bottom cleaned and unload all the stuff

Yesterday we took a taxi into town, about 15 miles ($20.00) one way. Went to the mall had to mail all our paper work to the Sevenstar Transport people, had lunch, and decided we didn’t want to spend another $20.00 for taxi back. Walked to the bus stop but was an-hour and a half til

All is good here, enjoying eating someone else’s cooking and cleaning up. Wind is still up so looks like we will be sittin’ here for many days to come. Working on getting Special Blend ready to load on the ship sometime between the 20-30 of the month. Doing all the paper work and stuff. I

Well my birthday had a rip roaring start. We did an overnight passage from the Whitsunday Islands to Mackay Marina, in Australia. I was on the 4am watch, about 4:30 the engine didn’t sound right. Any change in the engine is cause for alarm, course Jim woke up and ask “what did you do?” “Nothing”