Wind Se 10 – 15 knts

After a lazy morning we let go of the mooring bouy and headed for the entrance to the Daintree River.

The tide was 2 hours past high so we figured we had enough water to get over the shallow part at the entrance. A red and green buoy marked the channel but we cut a bit close to the green marker and not close enough to the red. The depth got to .2, .1 then 00 then we ran aground almost getting stuck but John gave the motors a rev and we bumped along the sand for about 50 metres until we finally reached deeper waters. We had been very lucky as the tide was ebbing and we would have been stuck there for 8 hours before we could have floated off.  After motoring upstream we anchored past the first bend in the middle of the river in 3 metres of water . A good breeze was blowing across the river so we figured it would serve a double purpose of keeping us cool, and the mozzies at bay.

We lowered the dinghy and motored upstream to the ferry crossing about 5 kms away. The vehicular ferry is the only coastal access to the Cape Tribulation area and further north and operates all year round except in heavy rain and  flood conditions.

The Daintree is wide with many islands and shallow shoals in several parts. At high tide it would be navigable for O’vive as far up as the power lines after the ferry crossing.

Huge tall mangroves line the banks giving way to thick rainforest behind. We kept a sharp eye out for crocodiles but didn’t see any.

 

 

We were hoping to get a coffee or an icecream at the cafe at the crossing but were told by the ferryman that it was demolished two years ago.

Instead we pulled up to the other side and let Morgan out for a walk. A guide waiting for his group of tourists told us there is a 4 metre croc hanging round this landing so we were very careful getting back in the boat.

cant see the 4 metre croc but hes in there somewhere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rest of the afternoon passed with reading eating and replacing the VHF aerial into its bracket. The aerial fell down onto the deck late yesterday, hope its not damaged. John hauled me up the mast and we cable tied it back in place hoping it is still working.

The last of the sweetlip was devoured for dinner with chips.