Garry’s Anchorage to Urangun 9th, 10th 11th 12th June 38 nm

I cannot report any crabs as some rotten person molested my crab trap. There must have been crabs as the trap was open and it was lying on its side when I arrived at 7am. It is a long weekend and there are a lot of fishing boats out and about so no doubt the trap was burgled on the high tide at night.

After a very pleasant spell in Garry’s anchorage it was time to move up the Great Sandy Straits and get over the shallow bits where the tide from the south meets tide from the north and the sand sediment in the tide is deposited. We draw 2 meters so we have to have a very good high tide to cross the Sheridan Flats. We raised anchor at 9am and set off to reach the shallows at 10.30am in line with the high tide. To our surprise we were pushing current when the tide was supposed to be with us. My only explanation the tide raises earlier on the north side than the south side. I suspect it is because the northern end of the Great Sandy Straits is very wide and lets a lot of water in earlier than the southern end where it is a very narrow opening. This would restrict the water flow in.

We arrived at McKenzie’s Jetty just south of Kingfisher resort at 12noon just in time for a swim and lunch. After lunch we had a great walk on the beach up to the resort and back.

 An army of soldier crabs at McKenzie's jetty - Fraser Island

Remains of McKenzies Jetty with Billabong and Boomeroo- Fraser Island

Drinks were on Billabong at 5 o’clock and we enjoyed another lovely sunset.

Next day we motored up to the Kingfisher Resort jetty and had a great walk up to the lookout. This was followed by a swim in the resort pool and a spa and lunch and a few beers at the sand bar.

 Billabong off Kingfisher Resort - Fraser Island

We were anchored near Bogart and we invited Rob and Ian along with Steve and Maureen off Boomaroo for drinks and dinner.  The dinner was a pre cooked meal that Tamara prepared before going to Russia. - A lovely lamb stew for all. The weather today was glorious.  The forecast going forward is looking quite good too although there will be rain in next 2 days followed by dry cooler conditions. We are still hoping for a good weather window to go to Lady Musgrave reef after Bundaberg. But that is 6 days away yet and anything could happen.

At 6am we were up and getting the dinghy ready for lifting back on the deck and at 7am we were off to Urangun. Pushing  a knot of current it took a bit longer but the conditions were perfect. No wind and a sunny morning.

We arrived at Urangun at 10.30am and I took the outboard to the repair shop to replace the propeller that decided suddenly to give up. The repair shop could not get a new one so I settled for a second hand one for $40 and all fixed.

We will stay the night and head off to Bundaberg in the morning.