Being Resourceful in The Family Islands

We are tucked snugly into Brammo Bay at Dunk Island (Coonanglebah) for our sixth consecutive day of a Bureau issued Strong Wind Warning. There are far worse places we could be sitting it out in.

Third Mate whittles in a beach shelter built by one of the kids who lives full time on the island.

The bad weather has given us a chance to knock over a few science projects for school which have tested our ingenuity and resourcefulness. Trying to cobble together a periscope (the Third Mate is learning about optics for this science unit) from materials stored at hand in our 13x4m home, without being able to pop down to the shops is a true test. But cask wine boxes and CD ROMs actually work really well.

Scanning Brammo Bay for stray U Boats and lost crocodiles.

The Second Mate had to complete a project on electricity. He has certainly gotten plenty of exposure to the subject recently. Regular blog readers will be aware that the topic of electricity has dogged Arjuna since Curlew Island.

 

But (touch wood) the Captain's resourcefulness and ingenuity in Townsville and Mackay has paid dividends and currently our two new solar panels in conjunction with our wind generator are meeting our power requirements very nicely, despite the never ending charging of five laptops.

 

The Second Mate's school science project brief was to design and build an electrical circuit and alarm to deter would be possum intruders.

A possum intruder alarm

Apart from the minor issue of our non functioning mainsail, now that we have a fully operational periscope and possum alarm, I would venture to claim that we are one of the best equipped yachts on the East Coast.

The Able Sea Monkey joins this crazy resourcefulness fad and is put to work making bread.

There have been some breaks in the weather to go wandering in the national park.


Looking south from Mt Kootaloo towards Timana and Bedarra with Hinchinbrook afar. The remains of the old WWII radar are on the peak of Mt Kootaloo.

The First Mate tricked the crew into hiking into many kilometres into the rainforest to view the renowned Ulysses Butterflies. According to the advertising, the forest here is just bursting with butterflies, sunbirds and doves.

 

But on this particular day it was more a case of cane toads, snakes and dirty big spiders.

 

 

The only Ulysses Butterfly sighted in 10 days at Dunk Island was of course spotted by the keen eyed Able Sea Monkey back at the concrete toilet block in the campsite. This butterfly was looking a bit tatty, so maybe they have been affected by the strong winds.

 

When the First Mate suggested completing the Island Circuit a couple of days later, a mutiny looked likely. Apparently the crew had wised up, studied the map and discovered it was 10km long. So the First Mate was left to enjoy a couple of hours walking in glorious solitude along Coconut Beach and through the rainforest. The crew stayed on the beach under the watchful eye of the Captain who was in his own glorious solitude in the empty Sunset Bar finishing up some gainful employment on his laptop .

(Not a Ulysses) Butterfly

Fruit in the rainforest.

We also managed an expedition to Purtaboi Islet . . .

Second Mate kayaks back from Purtaboi Islet

and the short walk to Muggy Muggy Beach.


Painted Cray shell on the way to Muggy Muggy



Reef Heron  (with his catch)

Unfortunately our resourcefulness was also tested after a tap was left on aboard the boat and we managed to dump all our remaining fresh water down the drain. Luckily we were able to partially hand fill the tank with water from the campground. That's certainly not something we want to repeat further north of Cairns, but has given us all a chance to think about how we can prevent it happening again and a contingency plan for if it does.

Mantis

This gorgeous fellow was found loitering in the Sunset Bar. Reliable entomological opinion informs us that he is indeed a Boy Mantis (something to do with his butch eyes and back claspers), who will only live until he meets Girl Mantis. Presumably the Sunset Bar is as good a place as any to do this.

 

If we were say Bear Grylls or Heston Blumenthal we would be lightly frying him in butter and garlic and eating him. We weren't feeling quite that resourceful and sourced these from the recently reopened Spit Café instead.

Straight from the trawler to the clam shell - how resourceful is that?

But after 20 days of mind blowing resourcefulness it is time to make port again, as we are starting run dangerously low on essentials like string, duct tape and empty cardboard boxes. We are hoping that the wind and swell will settle down enough for us to head to Cairns in the next couple of days to replenish supplies.

Gaff rigged outrigger schooner (Third Mate)