Graptolite - Thursday on TI

10:37.84S 141:44.82E Friday 22nd August, Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia

We anchored in Escape River on Wednesday night. The crew went off in search of crocs in the mangroves with dinghy and spotlight but fortunately didn't find any, although we did see some salties the following morning basking on the sand when we were on our way out.

The Albany Passage, which had so much discussion of its dangers on the radio, turned out to be very pleasant and then we were through to Cape York and the most northerly point of mainland Australia. A short hop further on and we were at Thursday Island which had a certain symmetry to it because it was actually Thursday. We anchored off Horn Island and caught the ferry across to TI (as it is known). We shopped for a few provisions (beer, chocolate, the usual) and had a night onboard playing cards and watching 'Perfect Storm' on DVD.

Duncan was dropped ashore on Horn Island to get a flight home as he had a training course to attend in Perth. The rest of us, together with 'Viva', left TI for Darwin on the flood tide at midday, naturally passing Friday Island on Friday.

We had another early evening fly-past from a Customs aircraft who wanted to know what the devil we were up to. It seems there is no chance of getting into any trouble in these waters even if you want to.

M