Timing is Everything

Our arrival time at the Gold Coast could not have been delayed another day with an impending storm forecast - 3-4M+ swells and 30Knot winds. We were not in the least unhappy to get settled in out of harms way at the Hope Harbour Marina and found ourselves on a very sociable marina finger. That is to say, we think we all had livers in the same condition.

ANZAC day was the next day and while our isolation, in what is essentially a suburb on canals, didn't allow us to attend a dawn service, our jetty neighbours Barb and John, were keen for a drive and to show us around their terrain. Ironically this entailed driving along the same stretch of coastline we'd just sailed past 24 hours previously. It was reassuring, to say the least, to know that we'd dodged the weather we witnessed.

 

The Bloke in the frame with Barb and John.

 

Wild southerly view from Point Danger towards the entrance of the Tweed River.

 

The Captain Cook memorial stands astride the NSW and Queensland State border

and above the Point Danger Marine Rescue control centre.

More symbols of devotion on the coastal walk.

 

Evidence of the ANZAC Day observances at Currumbin earlier in the day.

Elephant Rock on the Currumbin Beach decorated with poppies made from the bases of PET drink bottles by local school children, symbolizing a river of blood, is decorated like this annually. There were many story boards along the beachfront too but the Digger Koala was an eye catcher. Sadly, the weather prevented much of the usual participation by the Surf Club members at the Dawn Service. The surf was UP to the extent that surfers were being towed into waves by jet ski's.

 Coolangatta Airport is very busy and planes fly very low over the headland.