08/10/2006: "SHARK BITE ....... Rodney four months before accident"

22 August The Mercury started easy this morning and it wasn’t long before we were off for the Nine Mile Reef. The sea was as calm as its ever been, it was almost hard to believe it was the ocean.

Clear sunny sky, glassy water. Conditions were perfect. When we arrived at Nine Mile the water was clear enough to see the bottom in seventy feet. There was however, a very strong rip from from N to S. We threw the anchor over and caught onto the ledge.

Ron and Snowie went down with the only two lungs (scuba). I watched them with my mask from the surface. They battled their way down against the current. Snowie came up later and I donned his lung and with a powerhead and spare cartridge descended down the anchor line.

I met Ron halfway and he told me in sign language there were three Queensland groper on the bottom.

As soon as I got to the ledge I went down onto the sand. The current (here) was much less. I saw two cod (groper) about 200 pounds each on the bottom. I got as close as seven feet from one but he flicked out of range of the powerhead (on a handspear).

I spent only a few minutes on the bottom and decided to come up. Valerie took a couple of pictures with the Calypso-Phot (color) when I was about ten feet from the surface.

We went back to Cook Island and Ron picked up eleven pounds of lobsters. We sold them for four shillings and six pence per pound.

Rodney Fox and his wife Kay met us at the boat ramp. They decided to come to Nor’ West Island with us. We will leave Tweed Heads for Gladstone in the morning.

23 August Rodney gave us a hand to pack up the tent and things this morning. We went around to the Porpoise Pool and said goodbye to Ron Cox, Hec Goodall and Barry O’Brien. Then we left a forwarding address at the post office and set off for Gladstone.

Stopped in Brisbane for some anchor rope and a new rig line. Had a steak and salad for tea at a place called Childers. Arrived at Gladstone about 9pm and went to sleep around the wharf (on stretchers in the open).

24 August As it turned out were unable to leave for N W Island from Gladstone and therefore have to go to Yeppoon to see Captain Wally Muller.

Rodney Fox and Kay decided they would go to Heron Island for a few days so we bid them farewell and set our course for Rocky (Rockhampton).

We made the 100 miles without breaking a windshield!

They call it the Crystal Highway up here (because of the broken windscreen glass on the side of the road. The highway is sealed wide enough for one car, so when passing a car in either direction, two wheels are throwing up stones).

08/10/2006: "SHARK BITE ....... Rodney four months before accident"

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