We ducked into Mourilyan Harbor on the 17th and planned to pick up our anchor and head to Cairns early the next morning the 18th. However, by the evening of the 17th the rain was coming down in torrents and the wind was roaring through the anchorage like a bullet train. The rain kept up on and off throughout the night dowsing us enough that the captain and the crew elected to spend another day in Mourilyan. We did get our knickers in a bundle as we watched the cargo ship The prince of Tokyo maneuver her spin in the designated swing basin. Now I can see why it was so important to anchor behind those yellow buoy markers. I could have counted mosquitos on the stern of the ship as she manuevered stern to stern of us in the harbor. Sitting in the boat, working on email and tidying things up, I was remembering how I had heard that people who went cruising lost weight, ate healthier, and were in general more active. I don't think they know us. We had these 10,000 calorie burritos for dinner , French Toast for breakfast and a Greek salad for lunch. I really think the person spreading that rumor was using it as bait to get their life partner to join the cruise. Tomorrow we head for Cairns, our course is laid, our plans are made, our prayers are said, and our fingers are crossed.
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At anchor in Mourilyan Hrbor--looking up the Moresby River. The change in the ripples on the water delineate the reef edge. Anchoring in Queensland is tricky with tidal falls, reefs, coral bommies, rocks, shallows, and even crocs!
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The narrow entrance to Mourilyan Harbor. That is a dredge and tug anchored behind us.
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May 17, 2012 We actually got to sleep in to 7am as our next leg is a short one. It rained last night and we were greeted with grey, overcast skies and whitecaps outside the lee of the island. We had the anchor up by 8:20 am and set our course for Mourilyan Harbor-- a commercial sugar loading harbor. As we leave Dunk we are hit with 20-28 knot winds and waves 6-9 feet--with short periods. Serenity and her crew handle it fine--although 'auto' does do one 'crazy Ivan' in protest. Soon we don our foul weather jackets as the rain gets serious. We pass the Sisters Islands, Stephens Island, and the North Barnard Islands before we turn towards the mainland and the entrance to Mourilyan Harbor (you know, we still are not sure how to pronounce that word). The harbor at Mourilyan is a busy commercial port--yet the entrance is only 190 meters wide. We get into the harbor and after checking a couple of spots we anchor at 11:30am in 13 feet of water, just outside the big yellow bouy marking the turn basin for the big ships. There is a big cargo vessel at the wharf as we enter--but he left after our friends on Scholarship and Keris came in and anchored near us. It felt so nice to come in from the rain and get dry clothes on--and no rolling--sweet! Sherry made us hot tomato soup and grilled cheese snadwiches--ahhh, comfort food! The photo shows the grey skies and rough seas off Kent Island, part of the Barnrd Islands. Notice the white water to the right? That is waves breaking on the treacherous rocks off Kent Island.
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The abandoned resort on Dunk Island. We did not go ashore, but the resort looked really modern and nice--it even had a runway for planes. Although, Mike said that there were some horses gazing on the runway today.
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Keris anchored off the abandoned resort pier.
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