Sydney, 19 March 2006

Of all the times to be away from illywhacker! We are in Sydney visiting family and friends and to enable Lyndall to see a specialist. The news from Townsville is not good. A cyclone of 935 hectopascals which is a category 4 and increasing, (5 is the max) is heading for Cardwell just 40nm to the north. Townsville expects extremely high tidal surges and destructive 280kmh winds tomorrow mid morning as it crosses the coast. I stripped the boat before I left although I can think of more I'd like to do now. Our son James has added more lines and friends are checking nearby craft. The big danger is the marina structure itself. If the water rises with the low pressure and a high tide, the walkways and pontoons may lift off or snap the piles which would cause havoc and possible loss of our priceless floating home. Nearby, friends minding our apartment some 100metres away are bringing in all outside furniture and battening down. Supermarkets and petrol stations are choked. Our car is in the garage which could flood. This is going to be a bad 24 hours.