The Nicolls of Lindeman Island

The kids doing the "invisible
park bench" skit

We've had a week or so of strange and crazy weather here, bringing our dream run of perfect weather to an end, I think. We had three or four days of fog (in tropical Queensland!?!?) followed by three days of strong, 25-30 knot, winds. We've been making full use of some cruising books we have on board to find comfortable anchorages. Thomas Island, while very beautiful, lulled us into thinking it would be good in strong winds however two saddles in the island seemed to channel the wind straight at us. Overnight, when we weren't being hammered by wind, we were being rocked by swell swinging around the end of the island. We experimented along the edge of the bay we were in but couldn't find a sheltered spot so we decided to try Kennedy Sound in between Shaw and Lindeman Islands, a few miles north of Thomas. I can report that it is very comfortable in 25+ knot winds, with good holding - some kind of grey clay comes up on the anchor; messy, but it holds us well - no swell, and the batfish are really friendly here, there is a whale swimming past us as I type and a rainbow behind me.

Happy hour at Goldsmith Island
(with Haydee pulling insane faces)

Shane and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary last week and worked out that we would have been honeymooning on Lindeman Island this time 14 years ago, probably to the day. I recall a round of golf that was very scenic but went on forever (like all golf) and Shane recalls (temporarily) losing his wedding ring. We're going to visit the resort - dinner could be on the cards but, at the very least, we hope we can pick up some bread and milk.

I think the boat is starting to take offence at all the work we're making her do. Our wheel lock (to stop the rudder turning the wheel when you're anchored or faffing around with a fishing rod) has jammed, and we've had problems charging her batteries this week - we initially thought it was a result of the fog but Shane discovered our (shiny new!) solar regulator, installed under Cameron's bed, had burnt out. (Cam can be a bit too much like a nine-year-old boy sometimes, but I'm attached to him and would like to keep him for a bit longer!) The installer (back in Brisbane) has been good and we should get a new regulator soon. Perhaps most disturbingly of all, however, is that Haydee has taken up pole dancing on the compression post (under the mast in the saloon). I'm so proud!