Manatee visits Australia's own Venice

We spent a few days been knocked by tide against wind in Deception Bay with constant pitching and rolling. Getting to shore was uncomfortable and wet and, as we had things to do in the area we were hesitant to move to another corner of the bay to seek shelter. So we decided to up anchor and head into the 'duck pond' in the Newport canals, which is a suburb of the Redcliffe Peninsular. The pond is in a cul-de-sac in the estate which appears to be waiting further developement. The very assertive ducks checked us out first thing and the huge crows marked their new territory by crapping all over the deck. The fur family seemed very busy with other things.

On the pond

We had just dropped anchor when Ginny and Cath, sailors from further north stopped by on their planned visit. It's always nice to have a cuppa with women sailors!

During our visits to shore from Deception Bay we decided that we really did need a bigger tender, especially in winter as whoever wasn't driving Ini our wonderful tender got very wet and cold weighing down her bow. We decided on a 'tinnie' to be safer from coral and crocodile teeth when we headed further north. Lots of time spent on ebay and searching papers saw us driving many miles in the search for our new tender. None were right for us...too big, too small, crappy motor, poorly patched holes. So our search continued.

Steph our dear friend from Sydney emailed us to say she had a work conference at the Gold Coast, so we jumped in the car with the girls and drove down for a visit before her conference started. It was great to see her (the first time since we had left Sydney) as we had missed her (and Elle's) holidays in Lake Macquarie and Noosa by a matter of days. Her stories about work in the public sector and Sydney made us feel glad we are no longer in that space, even though we miss our friends.

Steph looking very Sydney and Marg very Gold Coast!

On our way back up the coast we dropped into a marina and got chatting to a guy who took us to meet his boss who had a tinnie for sale. She was the marina manager and her tinnie was a much cared for allycraft with a yamaha motor. Sold! Even though she was bigger than we intended, she has a solid wooden sole which makes her very stable. Her name is June and even Idgi seems impressed.

We have remained in the duck pond for longer than we had intended as we both are laid low with a shocking bout of the flu.