Vansittart Bay 26 Aug

A more civilised start to the day with a bit of a sleep in and brekkie about 8.30am. This morning we glide from the Timor Sea into the Indian Ocean. The water is like glass, apparently most unusual, as the crew inform us that it is usually quite rough around this stretch of water. We sit up the front and watch dolphins, turtles and mullet skipping over the water until about 10.30 when we anchor in Vansittart Bay adjacent to Truscott Airfield.

Truscott was originally constructed in 1944 as a RAAF base and was actively used during WW II. It was a staging base for Allied bombers and flying boats, from bases further south, making attacks on Japanese targets in the Dutch East Indies. The site was chosen because it was the point on the Australian mainland closest to Java, where the Japanese forces were concentrated.

Into the tinnys and off to a beach landing with more rock walking. It is amazing to suddenly come across a little bit of vegetation that is struggling to find a hold on the earth through some little crack in the rock.

Trippy lead us to see some Bradshaw art; this style of rock painting is thought to be the oldest in Australia. This artwork is named after Joseph Bradshaw who was the first white man to see it in 1891. It is scattered around rock faces and has been dated back 17,000 years although it is believed to possibly be as old as 60,000 years.



Bradshaw Art






Jennifer is quite excited by this artwork. Jen has previously worked in galleries so appreciates the Bradshaw art more than a philistine like myself. She and Warren have found each other after a number of years alone. She has two children and works from home as a Relocation Services Consultant (that's what it says on your card Jen!!). Warren is a 'semi' retired gentleman who spent some years as a Surveyor in the Kimberley. He also has children and grandchildren. They had only recently returned from a trip to Europe. Warren is a fisherman and it soon becomes apparent that he is after the elusive barra. He has bought his own rod but more importantly a number of bottles of Verve that all the girls are eyeing off.

Back to the beach and a swim, although we have been asked not to go in too far because of the crocs and we had also seen a shark when we got off the tinnys. We were lucky enough to catch sight of a Jabiru standing in the water just off the beach.

The water was very warm and inviting. The patient (Megan) managed to have no trouble keeping her injured foot dry while the rest of us were content just to paddle in the shallows. No point upsetting the local wild life.

Adrian couldn't find a camel so had to settle for an elephant. He looked so regal in his hat and suncream atop this rock mammoth (he's a "banker" ya know)!!






In the afternoon we motored on further to where the wreck of a DC3 is located. It came down in 1942, two years prior to the construction of Truscott, during the evacuation of Java. We walked over the salt pan on the Anjo peninsula where the plane was forced into an emergency landing but hit a boab tree and skidded into the vegetation. The crew and passengers were rescued by a commercial flying boat several days later.

Onto the Eclipse Islands where we threw in a line at dusk for some bait fishing. Between us we caught enough Spanish Flag and Fingermark Bream for lunch the next day. Nice eating fish.

Back to the boat for pre dinner drinks followed by a dinner of roast beef and vegies then off to bed. Each day is filled with activity and we are all falling into bed exhausted with bloated stomachs in the evenings.