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| Ian finds a good anchorage |
We had a great sail that day and some of the night. That was when the wind decided it would strengthen after all. By 4 a.m. we were struggling with winds of over 30kn into the Burnett River leads. We were glad it was too dark to see the height of the waves properly. We watched their huge hunched backs, obliterating the lights of the coastline as Winkali took it all in her stride.
After spending a couple of days anchored near the Bundaberg Port Marina, waiting for the winds to abate, we decided to motor up the river to the township of Bundaberg for a look around.
The Sugar Wharf was the first point of interest on our trip up the river.
The Bundaberg Sugar Company is the largest in Australia and completes all the sugar production phases from growing to refining to packing and distributing.
After that came the Bundaberg Sailing Club. This is a bit of a social centre for water sports. They have sail training, organize regattas and is home to an organization called Sailability which conducts water activities for people with disabilities. It is also the home base for the Bundaberg Dragon Boat Club.
We passed the now defunct Cable Ferry Crossing, which gives fishermen peace of mind that their fishing lines won't get caught in the Ferry cables.
The ferry used to carry the cane trucks across the river although in recent years, only when things got hectic late in the season. Last year's floods put an end to the ferry as it was washed out to sea and not seen since.
I found this clip on YouTube when the ferry was in action. It didn't look too safe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB2je6_leFM
The river is popular fishing spot with both humans and Darters. This Darter on the left is just a young one and is actually waiting for a parent to come along with a catch. Hmm, not that much different from humans are they!
All along the river was evidence of the massive floods they had last year. The Burnett River has flooded twice in the last three years with last year being the highest in history.
Beautiful Melaleucas line the banks of the river, with a hot water cylinder snagged in the branches.
A doonah caught in a Casuarina. I hope the hapless soul that it belonged to, managed to wake up in time before they followed it into the tree.
A lace curtain, dislodged from its window, now flutters in the breeze supported by a eucalypt branch.
I'm sure there were tears about this one. We see a mast standing proudly in a field beyond the river bank. Later, we find out that it belongs to a 45' Catamaran. The owner of it has come to an agreement with the indigenous owners of the land. When the river floods again and the boat floats, he will collect it. They will look after it in the meantime. We wonder how he will get there to collect it when the time comes.
Eventually, Ian found a good anchorage for us.
We are greeted by one of the locals, who view us as a food source. How canny of them.
There is a family of Brahminy Kites residing nearby. One of the parents bring junior his breakfast. He takes off with it before the parent changes their mind.
We wake up around 5 o'clock most mornings. We are astounded to find that there are other people around that choose to get up early.
An evening electrical storm provides us with a light-show. We are not sure whether to enjoy the visuals, or to start panicking, as the Bureau of Meteorology radar shows severe rain and winds approaching.
Lucky, the storm skirted around us and for once, we were glad of its inaccuracy.
We've been to a couple of interesting places here now as the weather has no intention of letting up to give us easy passage to the Fraser coast.
I'll tell you about the Botanical Gardens soon.
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