Nearly two months after our unfortunate mishap at Fitzroy Reef, we are spending yet another week at the Gladstone shipyard before we can leave.
In all honesty it has been an ordeal. The stress of hitting the reef was made a whole lot worse by having to argue tooth and nail with our insurer for them to pay out according to our policy and issue the work authority. New Wave dragged their feet for 6 weeks, causing aggravation and delays – not what you expect when you hold comprehensive marine insurance, pay hefty premiums each year, and have not had a prior claim.
Just as well Port City Fabrication and All Quality Engineering were happy to order the materials, machine the stainless steel shafts and re-encase them into the rudders, while we were arguing who was going to pay what! They have been very good to deal with. Our rudders and dagger boards are now repaired and were ready to be re-installed a week ago.
However to put the rudders back in we have to come out of the water for a couple of days, which can only happen when the slipway is available. And here is yet another delay: the commercial boat currently on the slip is not coming off until next week – 10 days later than expected – and the trolley then has to be reset to accommodate Anui. It now looks like Wednesday next week is when we might get hauled out. But that is what we were told a week ago… so… who knows? We just shake our head in disbelief and hope nothing else goes wrong or we’ll have to be taken out in a straitjacket!
Gladstone Region Discovery
While stuck at the shipyard jetty, we kept our fragile sanity by exploring the Gladstone region, doing a few day trips for bush walks, some in the company of visiting friends. Here is a gallery showcasing our favourites spots: the extensive Tondoon Botanical Gardens, Kroombit Tops and its escarpments, Mount Larcom with its steep but rewarding climb, the coastal tracks at Tannum Sands and 1770, and the spectacular Cania Gorge which we went to twice. This tropical region is best experienced in winter when you can enjoy glorious balmy weather without debilitating heat or humidity.
Castle Mountain, Cania Gorge 
Lake Cania and dam 
Lake Cania 
Castle Mountain, Cania Gorge 
Cania Gorge 
Bloodwood Cave, Cania Gorge 
Wattle in flower 
Fern at Fern Tree Pool, Cania 
Fern Tree Pool, Cania 
One of the tracks at Cania Gorge 
Escarpment at Kroombit Tops 
1770 coast line 
Mount Larcom 
Aloe along the Larcom track 
Nearing the top of Mt Larcom 
Last push to the top 
Reached the top! 
Summit of Mt Larcom 
The views at Mt Larcom 
Summit views at Mt Larcom 
Swamp Wallaby 
Tondoon Botanical Gardens 
Grevillea at Tondoon 
Tondoon Botanical Garden 
Black headed Ibis at Tondoon 
Ibis at Tondoon 
Gladstone from William Golding Memorial Lookout
That’s it for the sight seeing. Hopefully our next post will announce we are going back in the water and heading south. If not we will be broadcasting from the local lunatic asylum! Stay tuned.
Sv-Anui 
Oh, we so feel for you. And yes, we are glad you aren’t yet wearing straitjackets….fingers crossed for no more extra delays. Great to see you either way. xx T
Going a bit loopy even if we know this will soon end. Nice to catch up… enjoy Cania Gorge!
Oh dear! Feel for you both. Please stay sane as I do miss reading about your cruising adventures (the good ones)!
Thanks Amanda, will do our best!
Christine – I absolutely and fully understand and appreciate – and that already from a personal viewpoint. I finally got to the regional hospital to be given the worst possible news – and I seem to be inoperable. Got ‘screamed at’ (in tears) as to why I had not turned up a week late A YEAR AGO when tests first showed the abnormality. . , I have politely tried here twice a week since! I am now trying to get people here to do what the Hospital ordered . , , two days later no one has as yet had ‘time’. Truly only telling to ‘help’ your misery -‘ at least your ‘crazy days’ will soon be past history!!!
Oh Eha, your health concerns are much worse than our frustration. But when they are made tougher by unresponsive people it makes all of us mad. Do send me a private email to fill me in.
Sorry to have come on board like this – was just drawing comparisons – shall write later in the day or tomorrow,
Don’t be sorry… letting it out helps you and helps us.
Oh my gosh, I would be very unhappy, guys!! I’d be thinking about staying on land instead. Beautiful photos, you are in a beautiful area!! I hope you can get out of there sooner than expected. 🙏🏻
Hi John, staying on land while all of this is going on is just not a good option for us. Already too many costs between the repairs and the outrageous car hire for a few weeks! We are over it 😤 and I am afraid the blog is a way of letting off steam at the moment.
I see, I have very occasionally used my blog to let some steam out, it happens. No worries. 👍🏻
The drama is never ending with one thing or another popping up!! I really hope next week is when everything gets fixed and you can get back in the water. It’s so frustrating. Hang in there; it seems you’re at the last leg of this repair journey. Can’t wait to hear when this is all over and a distant memory!!
We hope the next post brings good news, Esther!
Hope so too!!
Oh dear we understand why you are frustrated we would be too.
What a great place Cania is we have been there twice . First time we had Christmas 21 in the first caravan park nice & cool in the pool.
Hope you get out of Gladstone soon.
Cheers
Mick & Lyn
Hi Guys, fingers crossed there is some action next week. Too much lost time, money and a huge lack of fun!
We really liked Cania – the escarpments, the sandstones. Have gone twice too while stuck here… a favourite.
We can understand your frustration. At least you probably now have tour guide status of the Gladstone hinterland …. a new venture perhaps? Leading hapless city folk through the regional bush? perhaps not …..
Anyway, here’s hoping for a quick fix of that commercial boat holding up your slipway!
PS If we access your blog only on this one computer, not our other laptop or mobile phones, the site seems to recognise us for who we are. Bit limiting, but we can continue to comment ….. I think ….
Hi guys, good to get your comment. But a big fat NO re touring for landlubbers – not a gig we want 😊. Hoped we will be out mid next week.
Re the blog, let me know what message you get when attempting to comment via your mobile. We are monitoring with WordPress… you might need to clear your cache in your browser on your other laptop and phone.
Thanks Chris, it looks like we could log on with our other devices now, via our gmail address if we use the same password. We’ll keep it simple and use our main laptop with auto access to your blog.
Way busy at the moment, treating underside of car with rust proofing, finishing drainage trenches in backyard, then we’re off to Sardinia for a wee break! Happy sailing (soon)!
Great news. Enjoy Sardinia – sounds like a well earned break from the renovation.
What a saga it’s been for you… I hope the light at the end of the very windy and narrow tunnel actually shines bright this week and you escape from the dock!
We’re finally being hauled out on Tuesday for the replacement sail drives. Fingers are crossed it goes to plan and the work is finished before my sister arrives from Germany! G is being optimistic. I’m more fatalistic as this would be the only time haul out has proceeded to plan!
Hopefully in two weeks time both boats will be back in the water with relieved sailors.
Would you believe, this comment from you finally appeared! Still trying to work with WordPress idiosyncracies!
And both Anui and Roobi have been released by now!
Good to hear there progress finally! Fingers are crossed that you’re back on the high seas by the weekend!
Fingers crossed indeed! Good to see your comment came through this time. 😊