Monday
After the derogatory comments made by Paul about our exploits and culinary delights I am not sure that we should let you into our secret adventures in the far north of this country. However I will relent.
Barry and I went on a fishing charter today. We keep saying we shouldn't do these, as a result of past experience and after this one we are now definite.
There was another person on the boat as well as the charter guide, who was a friend of the latter and getting a free ride. The end result was no fish trawling to the reef. I caught a large fish which turned out to be a 'mother-in-law' fish and as I didn't have one it had to go back - brought back memories of Kalumbaru - whilst Barry caught a blue nose, as did Pete, the captain's friend. Barry was allowed to wind in a Couta, caught whilst trawling on the way home. Yes, very expensive fish, but we ended up with all the fish so had enough to feed everyone with fish and chips.
Meanwhile the others went on a tour of Thursday Is. and I will let Mrs Doc tell you about their exploits.
Mrs Doc:
Further to the above: Duly at 8.15am, Duds and his harem of four boarded a 'small' boat and headed north for a visit to Thursday Is. This was a very pleasant 90 mins with a first stop at Horn Is. After a visit to the very interesting WW2 museum and a rather nice coffee stop we boarded our vessel and set off across the bay to Thursday Is. Here again we visited various historical 'spots' including a taxied adventure to view the three great canons that were placed on top of the highest point to protect the island from Japanese attack during WW2. Actually, only one canon had been fired prior to the advent of any Japanese war vessel appearing. Apparently a Russian vessel on approach refused to identify itself so the Island defence force set off a blast across their bows which caused the Russians to immediately identify themselves.
Sandy and Ruth both expressed some disappointment that there were not more Island craft-ware on sale on either the water front or in the shops on either side of the main drag. We later spoke with the tour boat owner who said the Islanders weren't really interested in visitors, they just carried on their own lives at their own pace. Managed to spend 'some' money to boost their economy though. Maureen modelled her new outfit at the fish dinner that evening.
Now to the trip home. We had been informed on setting out that morning that the weather was going to deteriorate and sure enough.......! Once we were clear of the Island wind slammed into us and we surely felt every Bump! Both Maureen and Ruth were eternally grateful for some Travacam pills Doc had supplied and I do believe some of the others took precautions also. All in all it was a great adventure and as viewing the tip-top of Australia was special, so was a visit to Thursday Is. There are some 167 islands to make up this particular island community and it was daunting to know that we
were just 100k's shy of New Guinea, just 18 of them being inhabited in some way or other. The Torres Strait peoples themselves appear to be an industrious lot, the biggest difference between TS islanders and our own mainland aboriginals is that the mainlanders are nomadic. The rest I gather stems from there. Our taxi driver made much of us all being one nation. Mmm!
Today is a rest day and get ready for the big trek south. There is the usual panic of what to do with all the veggies and fruit before we hit the quarantine stop at Coen. Lots of veggie and fish patties in the fridge.
Some rain today, but not enough to cool us down, just to make it more muggy. This has been a good camping spot, we have checked out just about all there is to see here at the top, and won't have to come again.
The tent folk have survived well, the battery problem is under control, and we have made the primitive camp kitchen our own. Cheers from Umagico.
PS: I suspect Sandra enjoyed the Torres Strait island trip because she got to cuddle a fellow
passengers' 8 month old baby who took a reciprocal shine to his 'boat' granny.
Sent from Samsung tablet
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