Wind   10 – 15 knots SE  Sunny

We cast off the mooring lines for Bojangles as they were heading for Cape Capricorn via the NE passage.

John , Morgan and I rode to the bottom of Auckland Hill and walked the 111 steps to the lockout and cafe. Beautiful clear skies gave us a magnificent view of the harbour and surrounds.

Breakfast at the cafe then a ride back to the marina via the fish markets where we bought more mullet for bait and half a kilo of medium banana prawns. They were only $15 kg which was very cheap.

A few more chores were done including more washing and hopefully fixing the anchor swivel.

Jenny rode to the shops to get a few last minute supplies. Gladstone seems to have fallen on hard times. The drop in the mining boom has really affected the town. Office buildings were empty and several shops had closed down. The streets seemed rather deserted for a town of 35,000.

We have been getting about 2 muddies per day in the trap so we have a lot of crab to eat. John cooked chilli ginger crab for dinner which was very, very delicious. Morgan kept bringing us her bowl hoping for some.