Monday, April 19, 2010

Sailing West Australia

Sailing ..Last Sail WA 024

West Australia has some wonderful seas.
This was a sail from Hillarys to Fremantle



Sailing...Topcat from Hillarys to Fremantle

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Marina Burnett Heads Queensland


Marina Burnett Heads, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.
Burnett Heads is a thriving small community along the Coral Coast of Queensland, Australia, with temperate climate and year-long safe swimming at local sandy beaches

http://www.burnettheads.asn.au/

I had booked in at the Caravan Park here on recommendation from another traveler. I will never pre-book ever again. I usually select where I stay by seeing it and selecting my spot to camp.
After going to Bargara, where I should have stayed right on the ocean beachfront, I drove back to Burnett Heads and finally found the entrance to the Caravan park, where I parked right on the edge with a tinge of shade.... The owner assured me the sun was moving, and I would soon be in total shade.
Wrong!!!! the sun moved to set in the West and I spent a miserable afternoon in blistering heat, in front of my small portable fan wishing I had gone back to the sea. Had it set in the East, I would have got the promised shade.
The worst part was yet to come. Huge man-eating mosquitoes floated around adding to my discomfort.
I read a book with a can of fly spray in one hand, batting off indolent mossies looking for new blood and sweating profusely to attract them to the fact that though I appeared dead I was actually alive.


In the morning I was awake at 5.30 and decided to go explore before the heat got me. I forgot about the wildlife, and got bitten by midges, as well as mosquitoes, who were now humming melodies past my ears, as they came seeking an early breakfast of me.
Behind the van is an area of grasses, and the river was mud with absolutely no scenery. I came here for the lighthouse, and it is sweet. It is located right next to the Caravan Park which takes its picturesque name from the Lighthouse.

I did get one sunrise photo, but the price was too high. I went back, had a shower, and departed to see the Marina. That was beautiful. I wondered if the Free Camping was at the Port where it was now closed. That would have been the place to stay as this area is very interesting.

There were some fishermen there preparing for the day, and the carpark was full.I drove around the car park and as the road to the Port was closed, I went off to find Bundaberg Port, and found the Bulk Sugar Handling Port instead. That was very interesting.

The lighthouse was constructed of timber in 1873.
It was a manned by a keeper from then till 1932 when it was converted to acetylene gas operation.
The lighthouse was been replaced by a modern structure in 1971 and has since been re-located one kilometre from its original site to the park in the main street of Burnett Heads where it has been restored.
The concrete base and steps can be still found at its original location next to the new tower.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Sunrise 6 April Burrum Heads Queensland

This morning's Sunrise 6Th April 2010

Paradise Dam


Paradise Dam, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

Located between Gin Gin and Childers

Mount Walsh National Park


Mount Walsh, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

Mt Walsh is 20 kms out of Biggendon.

Frilled Neck Lizard


Frilled Neck Lizard, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

Frilled neck Lizard at Mt Walsh

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Sunrise Sunrise 2nd April

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Got caught by the fast incoming Tide at Burrum Heads

The Sunset started at 5.30am when the sky tinged pink, then red.
It was 5.45am when it reached its peak, and by 6am, the colors were still there but not as deep.


I watched the sunrise, making a video of the tide as it started to change and come in.
The lowest tide was .86 at 4.48 at Burrum Heads, so the change of tides would have been happening when I noticed the water start to flow in faster, and when I made that first video.

Seeing that the tide was low, and that half the bay was now open and sand, I walked on to the first Marker, took photos of the boat fishing, and walked on as far as the second marker. Then I turned back.



I was almost back at the first marker, when I realized behind me was all water. The tide had come in rather quickly, as I know it does, and I was now on a small sandbank at the first marker surrounded by water. I started to walk straight down in the direction of the shore. It was quite scary, as I was more concerned with getting my camera wet than anything else, so I walked as fast as I could, now above the knee in water over rocks, watching toadfish scattering off as I came their way.

To my relief I reached the sands. I did stop a couple of times to look back and take photos of this adventure.



I joined the Morning Club on their bench by the pier, and was told that there is a channel there next to the first marker, and I had actually chosen the best route back to land. Had I walked nearer the second marker, I would have got much wetter.

Scary...the fishermen have told me many times when I was fishing with them at this point, to always make sure I know when the tides are so I won't get caught. It was not an issue before, as I watched the fishermen and when they left, I did too, but at 6.30am, I was the only one on the sands, except for the couple of fishing boats in the Fishing Competition, and being saved by them would have meant I would have had to sit on their boat all day.

I have now experienced how fast the tide does come in...5.45 am to 6.30am means the Sand bank goes from Sand to a River.


It was the best Sunrise I have seen for a long time. What a treat, and today is Good Friday

Morning Club meets everyday

By the first pier a group of local residents meet every morning to watch the Fishing boats and the sea and share a friendly chat.
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Sunrise 2 April 2010








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