Day 15, Year 3: Magnetic Island
Date: Saturday, May 24, 2008
Weather: Another Beautiful Day
Location: Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia

We received an email this morning from our friends Felix and Monika aboard Makani. They made it through the Red Sea and are now in Irakleion Harbor, Greece, where they began their circumnavigation seven years ago. We were so excited to hear from them as they are the first people that we have met on our circumnavigation who have made it “home.” Home for Felix and Monika is actually Germany but it sounds like they are staying in the Mediterranean for another year as they said they would see us there
in 2009. Of course, that depends upon whether or not we go around South Africa or through the Red Sea to the Med. We’re not ready to make that decision yet and we have many miles to go before then. We have only traveled some 20,000 to date, but Felix and Monika reported traveling 49,000 miles, visiting 52 countries. We first met Felix and Monika on way from the Galapagos Islands to the Marqueses. We had been sailing for days and had not seen another boat. One morning we saw a boat on the horizon
behind us. By noon that boat was beside us and called us on the VHF radio. It was Makani and they asked us if they could email us their position each day and have us relay that to the radio net as their SSB radio was not working. We said we would be glad to do that and then they were on their way, fading into the sunset in front of us by evening. Makani is a FAST boat and she has served Felix and Monika well in their travels around the world. So congratulations to Felix and Monika and to Makani.

We also reconnected with some good friends today that we first met in Panama. Patrick and Margaret of Aqua Magic sailed into Horseshoe Bay this morning. We went right over to say hello and then invited them over for sundowners this evening. It was great to catch up on news of family and friends. They are doing the Sail Indonesia Rally, as we are, so we will probably be crossing paths many times in the next few months. After greeting Patrick and Margaret this morning, we went to shore with Donna
and Gerry of Scot Free II and caught the bus heading across the island. We were only taking the bus for a short way to the start of something called the “Fort Walk.” We followed a ridge overlooking some of the beautiful bays of Magnetic Island to the ruins of the forts complex that was operated here during World War II. We were also on the lookout for koalas, but none were to be seen on the walk today. The views from the fort were spectacular on this very clear day. When we walked back down,
we caught the bus again and took it to Nelly Bay. This is where the ferries leave for Townsville and it is also the only place on the island with an IGA grocery store. We are planning to buy groceries in Townsville when we go over on the ferry on Monday, but one could skip the Townsville trip and stock up at this store. It had most everything you would want and the prices weren’t all that much more than in the larger towns. Donna and Gerry might do that, but we just have to revisit Townsville.
That is where is daughter went to college and where we visited her twelve years ago. So we will take a trip down memory lane on Monday in Townsville and do our shopping at the same time.

Our citing of the Woobegong two days ago generated a comment from a one of our faithful log readers that was quite informative to us. We saw signs in Airlie Beach for “flake and chips” and wondered if that was any different from “fish and chips.” Evidently shark meat is referred to as “flake” in Australia. So thanks, Rich, for sending along that information. There’s one other bit of information that cruisers visiting here might find helpful. In the latest edition of Lonely Planet’s “Australia”
it says that there are no internet cafes on the island other than in backpackers and hotels. That is no longer true. There is Marinanet wireless here in Horseshoe Bay, as well as internet availability in Noodies Bar and Cafe. We also saw a huge sign for an internet cafe in the little borough of Arcadia today, so the internet is alive and well here.

080524 Day 15 Magnetic Island–Fort Walk and Nelly Bay