Perhaps the aspect of the international cruising lifestyle we most enjoy while living aboard and sailing TIGER LILLY is the interesting contrasts we are blessed to experience. For us, TIGER LILLY is indeed the center of our universe as the people and the places we are privileged to encounter while voyaging seem to exist in a wonderful dynamic panorama of sight, sound, and personal relationships. Often, we are reluctant to say good-bye and continue our journey - but we must, for we are sailors exploring His Blue Planet. Here in Australia the contrasts are stunning. Within the space of a month we have sailed TIGER LILLY from the lush Botanical Gardens juxtaposed by the bright lights of Brisbane's CBD, to the natural beauty and serenity of the coastal barrier islands, to the private dock of an exquisite waterfront home in Mooloolaba. We tearfully gave up our Salvation Army family at the Brisbane City Temple, for new Aussie cruising friends sailing the Queensland Coast, and then became part of the Neil & Maricel Morris extended family - with our own head and shower next to the pool! Everywhere we have gone in the Land Downunder, Australians have adopted us and given us the pleasure of their warm and generous hospitality - as Floridians, we certainly recognize SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY when we see it!

Today we are anchored at Burnett Heads, at the mouth of the river of the same name which flows down from Bundaberg - where we started our Australian adventure some seven months ago. Tonight we will make a 60 mile overnight passage north up the coast to Pancake Creek. We are making a night passage so that we will have the advantage of the rising sun, and a rising tide, as we enter an isolated mangrove creek at the southern extent of Queensland's crocodile country... With a Strong Wind Warning forecast for tomorrow night, we want to get snugged-down in a secure and sheltered anchorage before it starts to blow.

LILLY SEZ: How can a normal person use the words "secure" and "crocodile" when describing the same flippin anchorage? HE may be sleeping with one eye open watching the wind and TIGER LILLY'S position, but I will be sleeping with the boat hook and my Guyana jungle machete close at hand should any crocs come a calling! Since few of these large carnivorous throwbacks to the age of the dinosaurs have pockets for an iPhone, there is little use for cell towers in such places - and we expect to be incommunicado for awhile. Stay tuned for further developments...

Tom & Lilly
S/V Tiger Lilly
Burnett Heads, Queensland, Australia

CLARENCE THE CROC sez: "WHO YOU CALLIN A THROWBACK SISTA?"