1770

After one extra night in Bundy to settle the battery, we set off for the town of 1770. This town was so called as it was the first spot in Queensland where Captain Cook set foot on land, in May 1770. Just before we left Bundy, we heard from our friends Faye and John that they were in Queensland, and wanted to catch up with us. When I mentioned where we were planning to go, John said this was one of his "must do" places he really wanted to see, so they would catch us up there. 1770 lies on the west side of a long thin peninsula, flanked by a calm inlet of water, and is very pretty.

So we arrived in town on a Friday afternoon, little suspecting the particular problem we would have - this was the beginning of the Queens Birthday weekend, and 1770 was a very popular destination. We found one spot for one night in the caravan park by the sea. It was packed solid with holiday makers of all shapes and sizes, and many vans were squeezed into places I think weren't proper sites at all. That evening we were all arrayed in our chairs on the beach, with a glass of wine, watching the sunset, as this is one of the few places on the east coast where you could see the sun set into the sea.

We had booked a cruise the following day to the Great Barrier Reef, so we would be out until 5 pm, and had nowhere to go when we returned. We made a few contingency plans for "free parking" we could squeeze in to if we were caught out. However that night John and Faye told us they would be arriving the next day, and he had managed to rustle up a couple of sites at another park over the internet. So we set off on our cruise feeling a bit more relaxed.

That didn't last long. We were told the boat trip could be a bit rough, and to take some motion sickness tablets just in case. Well, I heeded advice, but to no avail. The trip was worse than a ride on a roller coaster, going on for almost 2 hours - we were tossed about on huge waves like bits of driftwood, rolling, swaying side to side, huge waves that covered the whole boat, splashing across the sides and over the top. The sick bags were well used, and not just by me. The majority of people were puking away, and the crew spent most of the trip replenishing stocks.

However once we arrived, we felt better, and did manage some very pleasant snorkeling, tours of the island, and coral viewing. I eyed the lunch suspiciously, but was re-assured the return trip would be much better, as we would be traveling in line with the wind direction (or something like that.) Well, I believed them, and dug into lunch. It was very pleasant going down, but not so much coming up in the other direction. The way back was just as bad, and I was absolutely exhausted.

The next day was a Sunday and a Baptist church in town had ads up at the caravan park about their services, and had a minibus to pick people up. Apparently they do a good business (ministry) with back-packers. The congregation was small, but very active, of all ages, including many children. After the service there was a lunch to share, then the mini-bus took us on a guided tour of the town before dropping us off. It was great to get a local's perspective.

Apparently some of the property in 1770 is, metre-for-metre, the most expensive real estate in Australia. I think that is because it is so small. There were a few new houses up on the hill, which did not look anything spectacular, but apparently are worth 3-4 million dollars. It is very nice, but that is a bit over the top.

We spent a couple of days relaxing and enjoying the serenity. On the Monday, when all the people moved out to go back to work (ha ha), we got a spot at the nice caravan park by the sea. We even had an open fire, and toasted marshmallows.


GeorgeY's bit

When Lt. Cook (later Captain Cook ) first arrived, he liked the calm waters and parked the ships, and went to land. He collected samples of flora and fauna, and saw a bustard. They shot it and had a nice dinner, during which they agreed that it was most the delicious they had had, and honoured the place by naming it 'Bustard'.

Later it was named 1770 to honour Captain Cook's year of landing, and not because the name sounded insulting. Being a long weekend, prices went up, even for the inland caravan park that was not that full. Then Monday morning people started leaving and it got more empty, but the prices stayed up. I think the name given by Captain Cook should have been preserved, with a slight alteration to the spelling.

Lady Musgrave Island is the start of the Great Barrier Reef and an important breeding place for sea turtles. The tour operators recommended sea sickness tablets. Eva took their advice. I did not. Most people, including young surfy dudes, were fully sick, except the captain, the crew, me, and the lucky few.

We saw turtles, fish and corals, and walked the island. Being a National Park you can get a permit to camp on the island for a few nights, but you need to be totally self sufficient, carting in food and drinking water.