back to the tropics

The last couple of days have been spent unpacking, organising uni stuff and catching up with Sabre busibness before heading north. Flew to Cairns this afternoon - few speedbumps along the way - I really don't know why they keep buzzing the seatbelt light - just leave it alone and let the passengers sleep. In the end I really didn't know whether it was going off or going on!

Car pick up went smoothly - so I would recommend the Cairns Airport Parking business - you drop your car to their Lake St frontage and they take you to the airport - then do the reverse when you come back. Car is stored in a yard somewhere. I should have checked speedo to see the distance :-)

Drive up to Kuranda in the mnoring - day at the medical centre and check in to the villa again for the remaining three weeks.

the last leg took ages

What seemed an achievable last leg turned into a marathon - storms around Toowoomba and SE Qld resulted in mudslides, release of water from dams (resulting in flooded roads) and worsened road conditions - especially for inprogress roadworks.

Learnings - if a road is open for trucks, it may not be OK for passenger vehicles; the western access to Brisbane is inadequate for truck transport; from the west it is McDonalds then Hungry Jacks !!

Arrived home about 11pm and went to bed!
Looking out this morning - I think it has been raining a lot here in Brisbane :-)

No mechanical problems on the jouney - I think I clocked 5000km for the round trip - so a good result in that department. Now to unpack and get back into student mode ... must do those things before reviewing the film I have taken the last week or so. I am looking forward to that.

Coonabarabran after a hail storm

Travelling well - heading north towad the humidity and rain. Drove through a hailstorm between Dubbo and Coonabarabran - fun driving - maybe the most ' exciting' part of the whole trip - given the lack of visibility.
No problems with the car/trailer.

a surprise result

With all the results finalised, the presentation held and the drive hme started - there is so much to reflect on.
The real surprise was the 2nd place in Grand Master Division. I had not considered a placing expecting the guys to be ahead of me in that one.
The results are still sinking in. What they mean and the whole experience is so foreign - but also exciting.
Next short term priority is uni work due in the next week and getting back up to Kuranda (fly to Cairns) to conrinue the placement.

back from the coffee pot

... back to the tent - no results posted at club or on website - so no update on my placings - busy day tomorrow - breakfast, pack up the tent - race at 11.55am - presentation - pack boat and sailing gear onto the trailer ....

Race 7 and Race 8

Windier today - SE - off the land - so gusts and shifts.
I did ok starts for me - let myself down on the works.
Good reaching speed.
High 20's and 30's placing - not sure.
Off to the coffee pot for nibbles

Race 4, Race 5 & Race 6

Three races held 31 December - forecast was for 40 degree temperature - the light morning breeze faded about 11am - we all wondered what would happen!! One view was that it would fade and there would be no wind - others spoke of 20k westerley on the other side of the gulf.Race management can be a nightmare.

Fortunately, a SW breeze came theough and held for the afternoon - allowing 3 races to be held. Wind strength was light-medium. Overall - pleasant sailing. Some hiking.

My results still astound me a day later - 11, 11, 12.

Silly me - I did not tighten my battens - so in Race 4, I look up on the square run and wonder why my sail is not right!!! Obviously I have been tightening them TOOOOO tight!! Aftetr Race 4 I returned to shore and tightened the battens - well - a bit anyway - so they weren't loose!! Went back onto the course in taime for Race 5 and then Race 6.

31 December 2010 is the best day I have had in my sailing career.

Update Race 3...

We sailed Rce 3 in a light SW breeze - sailed the full course - breeze was just holding for us. Such tight racing. Here is a link to the regatta results  - it is updated daily. http://sa.sabre.org.au/?page_id=34
Race 4 was not held - there was insufficient wind.

During Race 3 I made sure I concentrated the whole time - focus, focus - remind myself of what to do - ask myself what I should do next. Any loss of concentration meant others came closer from behind. I was pleased with boat - had the mast straighter by half a hole on the shrouds.

Tomorrow will be a BIG day - Race 4 in the morning - 11.55am warning signal, then Race 5 & 6 after.

Morning Race 3 & 4

I spent some time in the shower thinking about today - I am pleased with my results yesterday - there were some risks I took - they paid off. BUT - I may have had some luck. The boat is only limited by ME - so if I can stay in the top third of the fleet I will be pleased - but to crack into the edge of the top 20% - that would be delightful. I feel scared about it actually. Getting the boat into the front row at the start is hard - and keeping it there is just as difficult.

My strategy today is - just sail the boat, get in the front row, don't have any infringements and sail a clean race - if anything special is to happen - it will happen. I hope we keep some wind though - the forecast is light and I don't find that as good for keeping focus out there - I focus best when I can feel the wind and the movement of the boat in the water and the effect of hiking and body position.

All that said - I am feeling more nervous today than yesterday.

Tomorrow we havae a dodge tide - check out the tide for 31 Dec to see what I mean!!! Only two places in the world where this happens - makes me feel kinda special.
http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/oceanography/tides/tide_predications.cgi

Race 1 and Race 2

Today saw 10-15k SW seabreeze which we all appreciated. Placings today for race 1 & race 2 for the Qld team were:

61, 37 Robyn Collins
66, 65 Anne Mussett
12, 22 Sue Hextell
9, 4 John Campbell
44, RET Peter Skinner
OCS, 44 John Nobbs
Here is a link to SA results page  http://sa.sabre.org.au/

The Nationals are great racing - but also socialising and having fun. Here is Jenny playing her piano at the '"Coffee Spot" - well its the cabin with a bunch of sailors who willing make coffee for anyone who drops in - which is what Anne and I did thid evening.

And ... here is a video of Jenny playing her piano .... sorry - my camera does not record sound

Invitation Race and Welcome BBQ

Here are some details about today's Invitation Race ...

- we had a very light SW breeze today (200 degrees was compass bearing to the top mark
- two general recalls before the fleet got underwy on the third attempt under a black fla
- the race was shortened, so we just had one triangle and one winward retur
- John Campbell finished 8th, best placed Qld sailo
- about 23 boats finished in the time limit
- John C was the only Qld entry to finish
- the rest of us were back in the fleet struggling against the tide and lightening wind
The forecast is for temperatures to rise progressively over the next few days - which may result in more light winds.

Pictures at the welcome dinner ...

Val and Peter

Anne and Robyn

John and Sue

Jacqui and John

Qld Sabre team all arrived

The last couple of days have been spent travelling.
All 6 Qld Sabre sailors at the Nationals have arrived her at Brighton-Seacliff SC, Adelaide.
I spent a very cold night last evening in Balranald.
It is cool here tonite at the beachside caravan park - I have a sleeping bag as well as blankets tonight.

Tomorrow is further registration and an Invitation race in the afternoon - 2.00pm start I think.
This afternoon was spent getting organised.

I am camping - typing this blog by torchlight. There is a band playing at the surf life saving club - which makes for a pleasant end to the evening.

Everyone has had some little incidents happen on their journeys - no injuries or serious damage.

the BIG drive

Flew Cairns to Bris on Thursday morning - first task once home was to get a renewal on my driving licence - all smooth - just took a bit of time.

Picked up Quicksand from Ian and Fran - great modification to my Sabre trolley so that the boat sits nicely. The boat/trolley has now done 1450km and still riding well. TY Ian.

Drove Bris to Gilgandra on Friday - slept in the car - no room at the inn!!
Today visited Janet and family at Warren, then Mum at Blayney.
Pressed on westward - in West Wyalong tonight.
980km to go - might get that done tomorrw.

Lots of water laying around low areas and beside road - well - many of the areas I have travellled the last two days. HEAPS of mosquitoes.

down the range to Cairns

Finished at the medical centre about 5.30pm, had the car packed from this morning - drove down the range and have found motel accom in Nth Cairns - same place I stayed on the way up. It's helpful to stay at the same place - they don't ask for a drivers licence!! The first place I tried turned me away - lol - their loss.

Having a meal at the motel restaurant - just had a tropical storm pass thru - now its just the rain - so my table is dry again!! I am no longer getting a fine spray of rain on me.

Alarm set for 4am, so I can get my 6am departure from Cairns Airport.

It felt oddly strange driving down the range away from Kuranda knowing I will be away till 10 Jan. It's a good thing to not be too connected to a place - otherwise you mis out on all the others you could have visited.

is this normal?

I dozed off this afternoon whilst working on my literature review. Is this normal? Or do I have a tropical disease? Like sleeping sickness??

Here's me at Yorkeys Knob on Sunday. Lots of people disappointed the beaches are closed.

Tomorrow is last day at the medical centre - then fly to Brisbane - to start the journey to Adelaide (after I get a new licence - no licence - no drive)!!

have i found a venue for the next sabre states???

... yes i have - Yorkeys Knob Boating Club ....
... because of the stingers in summer, i think a winter timing would be best
... all i have to do is start a Sabre fleet up here and away we go
... now the logistics ..
Here's a link to the club website http://www.ykbc.com.au/

weekend relaxation and study

Yesterday I did a trip to Mareeba, some coffee plantations and outlets, then down to Tolga and Tinaroo (almost made it to Atherton but the detours along the way were enough).
The Coffee World at Mareeba was heaven.
The Australian Coffee Centre (Skybury) was more like a traditional plantation visit.
Interestingy the bushland on the tablelands could pass for the NSW south coast as you drive along - except when you get out and go walking - you realise that you are a lot further north!!

Sadly for somebody, one of the bags of chocolate coated coffee beans seemed to be spoiling - so I have eaten them!!

Tinaroo Sailing Club has a HUGE rigging area ...

This pic was taken from the waters edge. There was a nice Se breeze while I was there - but their sailing season is in its summer break - there were a few water skiers the other side of the point. More pics are on my fb photos for those interested.

On the way home I called into Togla - where there is a war memorial dedicated to those serving in the field hospital that was located there in WW2. Across the road there is the relic of the field hospital!! I managed to get this pic placing the camera lens thru a hole in the corrugated sheeting wall ...

Today - Sunday - well and truly into the uni stuff - research project - dementia patients and their oral health - not a good combination!! Plus I wantched Monty Halls (again) .... I am starting to like his 'expedition'.

Planning now to take a break over lunch - will go down the range to Cairns and take a look at some suburbs I hear people refer to - Freshwater, Redlynch and Ellis Beach (maybe) or Yorkey's Knob.

I feel like I have been here months - but it is only two weeks. Will be at the medical centre Mon, Tues, Wed - I fly to Brisbane this Thursday, and return 10 January for the second half of the nursing placement. I am looking forward to coming back.

orthopaedics in general practice and a trip up the mountain

Now I know why it's called GENERAL practice!!
Today I had - orthopaedic patient with swelling of her arm within 24 hours of orthopaedics ward hospital discharge, pregnancy testing, diabetic/insulin review, removal of sutures from a childs head and a lady's leg, vomiting toddler (had drunk laundry liquid), clean-up of waiting area following the vomiting :-), wart removal, finger stump dressing ....

This afternoon I did the trip Kuranda to Mona Mona and return with the QHealth Indigenous health workers - we were taking some gift grocery baskets from the Kurand neighbourhood Centre to residents at Mona Mona. It's only 18km one way - but dirt all the way - up Black Mountain Road. The Mona Mona community has been in the media recently with Qld gov't granting lease to the local residents. The area has had a sad history. Kuranda is the closest medical, shops, etc for these folk. I had provided nursing care to a resident earlier in the week. I am really thankful for the opportunity to visit Mona Mona.

Trip to Smithfield

Sadly there was a drowning yesterday on the river - a kayaker from Atherton. Heard the helicopter last night and read about the incident in local news blog.

I went down to Smithfield yesterday afternoon/evening - restocked the food shelves.
The trip down and back up the range reminds me so much of the journey from Lithgow to Mt Victoria - via Victoria Pass. Happy thoughts.

Community clinic and a treat

This morning I joined the Kuranda Medical staff (dr, nurse, health worker) at Kowrowa a small community about 15km NW from Kuranda. QHealth child health nurse was also part of the clinic service to the community. Lots of people arrived, and even more children. Children and teens who were due for follow-up health assessments attended, plus some adults for their own health assessments. Most of these are delivered as part of Closing the Gap initiatives.

As a student nurse, this provided a first hand opportunity to see the adult health effects of alcohol and smoking. Many children have low haemoglobin - making them vulnerable to colds and infections. Gained some more experience listening to children's apical pulse.

The clinic was held in a community hall - only has one power outlet - so lots of extension cords to run the laptops. I didn't take any photos - it would not be appropriate for me as a new person. The Indigenous health worker visits the community on a regular basis - maintaining relationships and making sure follow-up of medical care happens. She is fantastic how she does her job.

My treat ... the car key arrived, and one of the staff has loaned me a steering lock - so if the thief returns with the car key that was stolen - the vehicle will be a little bit harder to get out of the driveway. Another treat - I bought some lasagne at a takeaway on the village, and had it for dinner with some salad. Made a change from rice!!