Dr of Dundee - 1. D of D Ch 1

At the end of the second season, of sailing cruises, we were all old hands with the routine of running charters down the west coast of Australia, and it soon became clear that the most popular cruise is from Exmouth to Geraldton or vice versa, because it includes the Ningaloo Reef and the Abrolhos Islands, and so we concentrated on doing sail cruises on that area only.

Toby and I had celebrated their birthdays on the yacht during charters, as did Alex and Sam, with Alex spending all of his spare time learning to be a deckhand. During the Wet season, Caro was our new housekeeper, and she took up Mrs Templeton’s room, while Alex and Sam share the other room opposite.

When not attending school, the were having awesome adventures in the jungle garden, while I was continuing to build a number of raised platforms and swing ropes, which gradually goes from the gazebo to near the driveway crossing, where a large platform is 5 metres off the ground, and is mostly hidden amongst the upper canopy of the taller trees.

Changes were continuing to happen in Dundee Beach, with a slow increase of permanent residents, with new houses being built each dry season, and with the increase of people, I was able to use the profits of the cruises, to invest in more land and build more commercial buildings for new businesses.

When we returned at the end of the second season, I bought the two properties across the road from our main property, plus the one due south of the main property, all three of which already have sheds on them, and I added a three bedroom cabin on the lower property, which is the new home for Caro and her sons, so they have their own family space.

When not busy working for the community council, Dean, Lance and Declan would be busy planting more trees and shrubs on the three newer properties, to make them into a jungle garden as well, while I employed the local building company, to extend the raised boardwalk, to go around the three new properties.

The north-eastern property that has the most cleared area around the shed, was made into a tree nursery, to grow more trees for the properties. The additional two eastern blocks add another 52 acres, while the southern block adds another 28 acres in area, bringing the whole lot to a total of 205 acres in area.

On the eve of our fourth year since the cyclone devastated Dundee Beach and we moved permanently there, and the Community Council was celebrating its third year of formation, and a large beach party was organised for this, before we set off on our new season of sail cruises.

The population of Dundee Community Council area has now swollen to 780 permanent residents, and we now have an Internet and Coffee café, a restaurant, a hairdresser, a hardware store, and the general store was now selling mostly just groceries.

Although we are not around for most of it, the community is buzzing with activity during the dry season, with plenty of tourists visiting our little community, which now has a 18 hole golf course, a football oval and also a hockey field, plus the school has expanded, and is now a district high school with four full time and two part time teachers, teaching up to Year 10.

Reid is about to turn 15 in a few months, and Toby will be 10 years old, with this being Reid’s last year at the Community school, he will have to attend boarding school in Darwin as of next year. For the Remington boys, Alex was completing his education via correspondence this year, instead of going away to boarding school, as will Sam, who is now in year 8 this year.

I had changed the schedule for departure to the west coast each year, to coincide with the start of the term one holidays, and we arrive back in Dundee during the term three holidays, so that the boys have two terms of formal schooling and two terms of home schooling, which seems to work out well for all.

On the day of the beach party, which is fancy dress, the day after term one of school ended, I allowed the boys to dress up as pirates, and also allowed to have Blue Beard on Reid’s shoulder, and as we arrived in town, everyone wanted to have a closer look at him, which resulted in him calling out, “Walk the Plank” when anyone that he didn’t know got too close to him. Reid kept a bag of seeds and nuts in his pocket to keep him well fed for the party, so he doesn’t try to bite anyone.

When Mr Harcourt first saw him that afternoon, he burst out laughing, “Let me guess, he is part of the smugglers stash from the ship jumpers?” he asked me.

“I am not allowed to say, Mr Harcourt,” I replied in a loud whisper, so only he could hear me. “Oh! Ok, it is our secret then,” he responded quietly, “Not just yours George, we know about this scoundrel and his mates too,” Irene O’Donnell said as she arrived, and gave Blue Beard a scratch on the top of his head. “Of course, looking after their home while they are away, so how many are there of them?” Mr Harcourt asked.

“Originally about 16, but there is offspring now, so we have quite a flock in our tropical jungle garden, and that is part of the reason that I bought the neighbouring properties to accommodate them all,” Uncle James said as he joined us.

“How much land do you have out there on Launceston Road?” Gladys asked, “All five properties at the top of the road, three on the west side and two on the east side, a total of 205 acres,” Uncle James replied. “Wow, that is quite a large patch, and have you turned the new blocks into a jungle garden as well?” Mr Harcourt asked.

“Yes, and raised boardwalks too, plus the lads have a tree nursery established on the north-eastern block, to raise the plants we need to make it like the original garden, it is getting there slowly,” Uncle James replied. “We would love to come and explore it one day?” Irene asked sounding hopeful.

“Once we are away, arrange it with our caretakers, I give them permission to have a small group come and check out the new boardwalks and gardens,” I said smiling. “Oh wonderful, thankyou James, that will be such a treat,” Irene said as she stepped forward and gave me a peck on the cheek, which made me blush, and Mr O’Donnell just burst out laughing seeing this.

“I wonder who that is arriving just now.” Mrs Harcourt asked, and we all turned to look out to the bay, where a trimaran sailing yacht was approaching the bay, with the boys noticing me smiling. “I hope you don’t mind, I invited some old friends,” I replied.

“Hey that looks like Angela and Tracy,” Reid commented, “It is, and Tim is the owner and skipper of that yacht,” I responded. “Hey boss, isn’t that your former crew?” Declan asked as he approached.

“Yes Dec, I have been keeping in touch with Tim, we may be divorced, but we are still good friends, and when he saw how well we are doing with sailing cruises, he, Angela and Tracy have been doing the same from Townsville, the past few years,” I replied.

Once the yacht’s anchors were set, Tim appeared and the three of them waved to us, and we waved back, as they lowered their dinghy and made their way to shore, where we walked down to greet them. “Hello there strangers, how was the trip over from Townsville?” I asked Tim and his crew, “Long and tiring mate, but we are glad to be here at last,” Tim replied as he shook my hand then pulled me into a hug.

Once all the greetings were over, Tim and crew joined the party, and we all had a great time. “Tim, can you tell us about your yacht please?” Toby asked when it was just him and our family in the group. “Sure thing Toby, my how you boys have grown since I last seen you,” Tim responded.

“Let me describe it for you boss,” a new voice said, as we realised that two more people had joined the conversation.

“What the… how the hell… Dr Shaw, may I introduce my other cousins, Chris and Finn Parks, who are twin brothers,” Lance said, as he and Dean greeted them with man hugs and back slaps all around.

“They look just like you guys too, how confusing is that,” I said, and the four lads laughed, “Yes back at home they call us the quadruplets, as we are only a few months apart in age,” Lance said. “Getting back to the Trimaran, she is 20 metres long, 12 metres wide, with three decks. Starting with the fly bridge, it has the helm controls plus seating and dining space.

The main deck has an outdoor seating and dining area, with a small kitchenette, while indoors, there is the master cabin, which is Tim’s cabin, plus the galley, dining area and a forward saloon, which includes the inside helm station. In the centre pontoon, in the forward section, there is a double cabin with private ensuite, which is the Skipper and Chef’s cabin, and in the aft another double cabin with ensuite, which is the only guest cabin.

On the starboard and port pontoons, there is each a double cabin with ensuite and in the aft area has storage lockers, that each contain one double kayak, paddles and life jackets.

The centre pontoon also has an aft storage locker that contains the semi rigid dinghy and outboard motor, with a small engine room between the storage locker and the aft cabin.

Other storage areas are located in the nose of the two outer pontoons, and in the centre pontoon, between the two cabins,” Finn explained. “Well, it sounds quite luxurious,” I said in response, “That it is, she is beautiful and fast, and we have enjoyed the two years that we have had her,” Angela replied.

“How fast is she?” Declan asked, “On average, 16 to 24 knots,” Tim replied, “Wow, that is fast compared to our yacht, we average 11 knots, and have on occasions reached 12 to 14 knots, but only with good winds,” Declan replied.

“As James is aware, we have shut up shop in Townsville, hoping to settle down here where it is a little quieter, but sailing is still popular,” Tim announced, which caught most of us by surprise. “Really, well welcome back to Dundee,” Irene said as she rejoined the conversation.

“Thankyou Irene, we have always enjoyed it here in the Northern Territory, and especially here in Dundee, which I must say has become quite popular now by the looks of it,” Tracy responded.

“It has, most of the people here today are permanent residents now, we have had quite a large increase in population in the past few years, especially with the help of Tim and James and their investment in the community, and now others have invested in establishing businesses here too,” Irene stated.

“Will you be staying on the yacht full time?’ Declan asked, “No, with the help of James, I have bought a property here in town, with a house that the ladies and I will live in, and a cottage, which is where Finn and Chris will live,” Tim replied.

“While we are away on our dry season cruises, Finn and Chris will take over Council ranger and gardening duties from Dean and Lance, so it works out well for everyone,” Uncle James announced. “Won’t you be taking away business from Mr Hunter’s boat hire business?” Reid asked.

“No, more like complimenting it, as we only have the one guest cabin, so the trimaran is more suited for couples, who want some time alone, with minimal disturbance, so we will be having two day and five day cruises that will be mostly down the coast to the Finnis and Daly Rivers,” Angela replied.

“We are also looking at the possibilities of going up the Victoria River, depending on how many sandbars there are there,” Tim added.

“We have discussed it, and the Trimaran will be joining us for the first two days of our trip down the west coast,” I announced.

“So after Dorcherty Island, we will continue south to Victoria River, while you head south-west,” Angela said, “Good, that gives us time to catch up on family news,” Lance said, indicating in the twins direction, and Dean nodded his head in agreement.

We discovered that Tim had bought a property about halfway down Launceston Road, on the eastern side that backs onto the neighbouring creek, were a small jetty already exists to keep the trimaran moored, so they are only 3 ½ kilometres from our front gate, by road.

Allowing Tim and his crew time to settle into their new homes for a few days, we finally set off for a new season of cruising down the west coast, with eight Exmouth to Geraldton cruises already booked, so we had a deadline to get to Exmouth in time, when we arrived at our first overnight stop, we learnt that Tim had remained at home, so as to attend to some business in the city.

As we continued down the west coast, with a short stop in Broome to restock with supplies, just over a day away, we were approaching our overnight stop at Whale Song Camp ground, when a sudden gust of wind hit the yacht, which was so strong that it spun the yacht around nearly 180 degrees.

Reid was in the galley chatting to the lads, as they were preparing dinner, and Toby was with Declan and Caro on the fly bridge.

Once we stopped spinning, the shout of “Man overboard” was heard, and we all headed out to the aft of the yacht, to see who had gone over, and we saw Declan swimming, towards Toby who looked to be unconscious.