Back To Bushy Atoll

Weather had been so bleak of the last weeks or is that months. Forecast had the wind softening Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We chose Sunday if only to give the sea more of a chance of settling after the blows we had received. Got away at 0700hrs from Mackay Harbour entrance where we could see it a little lumpy out the back and we soon found it. Forecast was westerly and we got it gentle with slight increase the further out.

The intrepid explorers were Mornê and (Natalie, Lylah and Alex) 3up on the GTX Limited 300. I did not envy them had only sorrow but Kudos to the three for hanging in there it would have taken some stamina. My trip meter showed a 188.3ks the February trip was 188.5ks we improved our navigation by 200M LOL. Its a long journey for 3up in sub glassed out conditions. The run out was basically lumpy with pot holes. We had plenty of talks about continuing and they did.

Penrith Island that lies 70ks out from the Harbour and about 5ks East is a shipping Channel. This not a place to break down or have any problems when crossing in the path of one of these. Even if they see you they cannot stop in a short distance like many kilometers and very slow to turn. So you would probably end up as seafood.

After a long uneventful trip with exception to the container ship we arrive around the top of the tide at 1000hrs. We duck around to the eastern side and find paradise as it should be calm. Straight up we encounter large Rays, large Turtles and a Sand Shark they called it.

Mornê got the drone up to get his amazing shots that found its way as the Feature photo as is with the last Bushy post. Thanks Mornê.

We needed to move anchorage as the tide was dropping after a moderate 4.7M. Needed to keep access to open water so around to the northern end we go. To enable our search of the mysterious Carnivorous Forrest that Mornê had heard about along with the shack that a bloke lived in for a period.

We found the Forrest of Pisonia Grandis, no I didn’t piss on them LOL. These trees are known as bird killers see links if interested. The ground was like walking on a fine potting mix and there is a light odor and few feathers. Have been told at certain times it can stink of decaying birds. Dont know how this fella lived in the shack that was surrounded by these trees. Quote taken from link

For now, it seems, the tree’s potentially deadly seeds are simply a reminder that sometimes nature DNGAF.

(Does Not Give A F****) ?

https://www.sciencealert.com/this-tree-seems-to-kill-birds-just-for-the-heck-of-it

https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pisonia+grandis

The ground was that fertile it grew a shit house. Will have to check it out next time along with the mysterious mounds like huge bush turkey nest cant imagine what else ?

Time and tide waits for no one. Against us again and needed to get off island. Needed to travel over a shallow reef that in itself isn’t a issue as long as the jets don’t pick up any loose rock or coral to jam the impeller that can stop you dead. With a 3 hour run back into a westerly giving us a ETA about 1530. That gave us 2 hour buffer of day light should any mishap occur that could put us in the dark. Enduring conditions was the run home for the first 60ks or so that was about 2.5hrs. Flattened out nicely around Baily Islet for the balance of run in.

Ramp at the harbour was absolute KAOS. We managed a narrow gutted spot to park a couple of skis. Went up to get trailer that was parked real close and went to join the queue that turned out to be well past the round about with the anchor at Ron Searle Drive. I re-parked into the overflow car park and walked back to jetty.

Conditions were not great and Harbour ramp was crap but cant wait to chance it all again. One day we might crack a stunning glassed out day with a 1300hrs high tide and get there early. To swim/skin dive the Atoll, taste the Bird killer Cabbage tree leaves, have closer look at the mounds, lay on the beach, check out the dunny and maybe take piss on a Pisonia Grandis. Feels like the right thing to do ? Cant find any evidence of the trees being classified as Carnivorous ?

Thanks for reading and fellow explorer’s and hope You enjoyed the blog.