Tiare Taporo III in Trinity Inlet

We are now anchored in the Trinity Inlet, Cairns - just downstream from Redbank Creek. This is a very extensive tidal inlet almost as big as Whangarei Harbour. There are thick mangroves on shore which largely preclude any chance of landing, even if one was sanguine about the crocodiles!!
We left Bluewater on Sunday and our original plan was to go north to Lizard Is. but we have flagged that plan because there is a gale warning out for most of this week and we had serious concerns about getting back against gale force SE winds. In any case we will be going there as part of our voyage next year to Darwin. So, we decided to go back to Fitzroy Is. once the winds die down and the anchorage not so rolly! In the meantime we have come into the Trinity Inlet which has the CBD of Cairns on its northern banks as you enter. It was suggested that it would be a good idea for us to come up here to get a bit of local knowledge in the event that we had to come back up here if a cyclone greater than Category 3 headed this way. Not a silly idea.
So, here we are and very glad to be in sheltered waters while the absolutely crazy winds rage. Right now it's 2000 on Monday night and the winds have died right down but during the day we have had gusts up to 28 knots so goodness knows what it's like outside. There is a strong tide running through here so at times we are held against the wind which isn't so comfortable but at least it's calm. There has been no rain and in fact continuing bright sunny weather.
We continue to meet lovely people as part of the cruising experience. The latest are Chris and Gilli from a wooden double ender called "Westwind". We have had drinks and BBQ's with them and others at Bluewater which has a great atmosphere. Chris and Gilli are leaving in a week or so on their voyage down to Tasmania to be part of the Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart in early February. We would love to be part of that and so would the "old girl" - the boat of course!! But, it's around 2,000 miles down there so would add 4,000 miles return to our already extensively planned itinerary to Singapore next year. That's 4,500 miles on its own.
Jean is cooking dinner - steamed salmon for her and roast rolled lamb noisettes for yours truly. The lamb is rolled with creamed macadamias and is absolutely delicious, courtesy of a great butcher at the Smithfield shopping centre! On that note the fresh food continues to impress. We have discovered a seafood place on the northern outskirts of Cairns which has bugs, prawns, squid and very good fresh fish of all kinds. Then there's Rusty's Market in Cairns where the array of fruit and vegetables is mind boggling and reasonably priced. Pawpaw, mangoes (just starting), citrus of all types, strawberries, avocados, pineapple, grapes, asparagus, beans, herbs, courgettes, and all manner of other greens you can imagine.
As well as that we have found a website that has great specials for wine - some as low as $4.99 per bottle. And not cheap nasty stuff. In fact we found some Grove Mill (from NZ!) Pinot Gris which was wonderful - Jean's favourite. Sadly it now seems to be out of stock - we should have bought the lot and cornered the market! If we'd sunk the boat, never mind!!
So, things aren't all bad - just the frustrations with this pesky weather which we probably still haven't come to terms with. We are looking forward greatly to the visits of Hamish and Sara (from Whangarei) and Jean's son Perry and his girlfriend, Tracie later in November. Hopefully we'll be able to take them out to the reef or Fitzroy.
More in due course as always,
Lots of love from us.........
P.S. Jean is much better although not completely back to her old self. She went to Cairns Hospital the other day for a check-up just as a precaution and all vital signs seem normal so that was re-assuring.

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