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GARRY’S ANCHORAGE, FRASER ISLAND—ENGULFED BY DUST...continued |
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Naively we used to think by being at sea and not being connected to the grid we could escape these issues. The filth over our boat is a rude awakening. There is no escape. |
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DUST STORM NUMBER TWO |
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SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER. We made use of the southerly winds to cross the shallowest part of the Sandy Straits and anchor at Sheridan Flats. We took the dinghy up Yankee Jack Creek on Fraser Island, to the old logging wharf and fresh water cascades at the end. It is a delightful trip, but the sand flies licked our repellent off then sucked us dry of blood. By the following night I was a screaming mass of red, itchy, swollen lumps, and was having trouble sleeping. |
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Above: the clear tea-coloured waters of Yankee Jack Creek, stained by tannins from the vegetation |
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Yet another forecast for 25 knots from the N-NW boomed out of the radio, to be followed by another SW change. So we moved to the southern end of Turkey Island, to better ride out the storm. It’s a lovely spot and teeming with turtles – you could almost walk ashore on their backs. |
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Above: sunrise turns the ever-present dust pink, at Turkey Island |
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The north wind blasted in as predicted, but we’d picked our anchorage well. The SW change fizzled somewhat, but the terse entry in the ship’s log sums up the outcome: Boat filthy again with dust from the second storm. ‘Highly unusual’ to get two, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Not to mention the ash fallout from the fires. Thank goodness we didn’t bother to clean Masala after the first dust storm. |
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Right: dust and heavy smoke create an other-worldly sunrise, seen from Moon Point, Fraser Island |