Turkey Beach and Gladstone

On Thursday we relocated from Pancake Creek to Turkey Beach.  As the crow flys it is only 5 nm but we had to go around Rodds Peninsula and back again; a distance of 15 nm. The sail there was enjoyable and we found some deep water for anchoring just off Turkey Beachs’ boat ramps.  Turkey Beach is a small settlement with very little activity during the week.  There are boats in most garages and tractors for launching boats indicated that fishing is the primary pastime.  On Friday we saw many fishers enjoying their nine day fortnight with a spot of fishing despite the windy weather. 

Turkey Beach

Everyone has a tractor

Maripi and Mini Maripi at Turkey Beach

We saw a police RIB (rigid bottomed inflatable) come in but did not do on deck to greet it.  A few hours later, the Police boat Lyle M Hoey came in and approached us to within 10 metres. They used their PA system to ask about where deeper water to anchor might be and stayed the Friday night anchored about 500 metres away from Maripi.

Lyle M Hoey up close

Lyle M Hoey

On Saturday Morning, with a forecast strong wind warning for the next several days, we decided to use the incoming high tide and seek the shelter of the marina in Gladstone.  It was also time to resupply fuel, water and food. Gladstone has many ship movements associated with the five major construction projects concurrently happening within the Gladstone Port area.  We passed many ships on the way into Gladstone on the long 10nm entrance channel.   

Challenge Prelude

Note cruiser on deck between hatches

 We got in safely into the marina.

Maripi in Gladstone Marina

Gladstone Marina

There are so many work boats in the marina and some are unfamiliar to us.  We speculate what they might be used for.  This one is a front row forward.  Look at the defensive gear.  Robyn reckons it would be a great boat to learn to drive on – so long as you hit whatever at slow speed, the prospect of doing damage is minimal.

Great boat to learn on!

Saturday lunch was at the Yacht Club.  Robyn remembers rafting up in Auckland Creek after the finish of the Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race in the 1980’s.

View up Auckland Creek from Yacht Club

In the marina, not far from us, was Footloose V. Footloose V, formerly Footloose was fitted out in Robyn's Bundamba back yard by Robyn and her ex, Allan, from 1982 to 1984. Footloose was then lifted over the top of her house, placed on a semi trailer and launched on Melbourne Cup Day 1984 at Manly.

Footloose V

On Wednesday we booked a three hour harbour tour on the Curtis Endeavour II. Gladstone Harbour is well protected by Facing and Curtis Islands. The barge does a regular service to these Gladstone Harbour islands and other privately owned islands.

The amount of activity in the harbour is amazing. There are four 18-20 billion dollar each LNG terminals being constructed on Curtis Island. These terminals will take coal seam gas from the Surat and Bowen basin, liquefy it and then export it in huge tankers. As well, the new Wiggins Island coal loader is being built. This will double the coal handling capacity of Gladstone (about an extra 80m tonnes per year) and service new coal mines in the Surat basin, including the proposed Xstrata  mine at Wandoan. There is lots of dredging occurring as well as pile driving for wharves.

 

LNG plant on Curtis Island under construction

Every spare barge in South East Queensland is here. The second Manta Ray barge from Inskip Point is here, (remember our encounter with it’s brother at Pelican Bay) as well as Stradbroke ferries’ Quandamooka.  The Moreton Venture which used to run from Scarborough to Bulwer is working here as well.

Inskip Point Manta Ray barge

Moreton Venture

We have filled up our fuel and water tanks and went shopping for provisions for the next leg of our trip. Gladstone is an industrial town and it still has great sunsets.

Sunset over the Gladstone Coal loader

Sunset in Gladstone Marina