We had a busy Tuesday morning lugging jerry cans and provisions to the boat, and trying to get cash to pay our harbour dues. Somehow the bank was unable to let us withdraw cash on any of our cards and with only AU$10 left I couldn't pay our AU$30 harbour dues. We tried to get cash back at the shops, but in the end it was Sue and Michelle at the Post Office who saved the day by selling me $100 of stamps and letting me take cash instead. Turns out Sue is married to the Harbour Master - so the funds got through!
The previous day was a holiday so we went exploring, and did about 5km along jungle tracks to Dolly Beach, which had been recommended to us. Sadly it was shockingly polluted with plastic bottles and old flip flops. Where had all these come from? Presumably washed down from Indonesia.
The National Parks have done very well in organising routes through the forest on raised board walks, presumably to protect the red crabs which are busy tidying up leaves on the forest floor. The roads have frequent cattle grids, which were a surprise as there are no cattle. However we then realised that the foot high plastic walls along the road edges was meant to channel the crabs to the culverts under the cattle grids so they don't get squashed. Patrols go and record every squashed crab with a big pink circle of spray paint on the road...in memoriam.
That evening we were treated to a barbecue at the Cricket Club, and enjoyed meeting new people, including French Australian, Herve, who told me that Christmas Island has plans to be a launch site for satellites, as it's perfectly positioned near the equator with lots of empty ocean for bits to fall into.
So we enjoyed Christmas Island very much and are grateful for all the hospitality and kindness we experienced. We waved goodbye to Ullar and Ellen on Troll, wishing them a speedy repair for their engine, and set sail the 535 miles towards the atolls of Cocos and Keeling Islands. Winds are strong and being abeam we are making good speed, hoping to arrive in daylight on 6th October.
1 comment:
Thought you were going to say Dolly Bay was littered with old Citroens. 😂 Tight sails. Best,the Wests
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