Im going to go through a bit of withdrawal after I leave the present anchorage, one known to be 'relatively safe' and ok for... a 'last swim'. And all on account of ole 'Salty'. He is described as, variously 'cunning' 'patient' 'quiet' 'deadly' and the originator of the 'death roll'. I am of course talking of the famous Australian salt-water crocodile. So, from here to the top and all along the northern coast the following descriptions apply and all scream DO NOT SWIM!!

"They have no fear of humans as they are protected and have not been shot at for over 20 years. DO NOT set up any sort of routine(ie they will wait for you!)DO NOT throw scraps overboard. DO NOT clean fish on board. DO NOT leave a dinghy hanging out the back. The crocs seem to have a love affair with outboard motors and rubber ducks in particular. A torch shone around at night will show a number of red dots...they are the eyes of crocodiles watching. (I will try that tonight)They will watch for some time before doing anything(Yikes! like what?) They have been known to attack dinghies. When in the dinghy, I always go armed. There is a false belief that crocodiles cannot run or jump(I love this one)Believe this and you WILL BE DINNER!"

Hmmm...well, I was going to have a good 'last' swim today but on second thought... maybe I wont for it may indeed be my 'last'. Boy, this Australia! Oh! and PS: there's a creature even MORE deadly .....the JELLY FISH! These innocuous looking forms, if met, apparently make one wish that one had been quickly eaten by a crocodile.

And where am having all these deadly thoughts? Im in the lee of two small islands called Low Isles, a few miles off the mainland. I left Cairns on a lovely moonlit calm night, that allowed an easy exit from the Marina. And for the first time in many a day, a slow relaxed sunny trip to where I fiind myself tonight ....thinking of crocodiles.