A few Archipaddlo pics

Phone reception is rare in the Gulf of Carpentaria but as I write this I can see the distant glowing red aura of a communications tower disappearing into the flat plain behind me. Thankfully, with all these techno gizmos, I can use this rare power to upload a few pics to this page in a slightly larger format than the usual postage stamp.

Because of what turned out to be a rather dreadful anchorage for Trivial Pursuit off the small town of Pompuraaw, when we would normally be pulling up the sheets for a night's rest, we are pulling up the sails and heading south. The waters here are sublime one minute, bucking like a bronco the next. The distance is great and it makes sense to capitalise on the conditions, even if it means sailing all night.

Fortunately we share these waters with billions of excitable dinoflagellates, tiny bacteria that, when given a nudge, will illuminate themselves like a tiny cyalume stick by cleverly mixing together a couple of volatile chemicals. So I'll enjoy my bleary-eyed watch tonight, identifying the constellations, and staring in wonder at the magical bioluminescent trail left by this tiny boat and all the fish darting away in fear of it.

Here's a few pics of the adventure so far:

1. A dramatic sand cay on Hedge Reef.

2. Juz and Lain hitting the sticks

3. We are in croc territory and this hungry reptile kept us company on Restoration Island

4. Bear Grylls II - just getting a taste of the wildlife

5. Relaxing over a stunning reef on Wednesday Island in Torres Strait. Half an hour later this calm water became a torrential tidal race. (Oh, yeah - I gave up on the Bin Laden impersonation!)

6. Trivial Pursuit

7. A colourful and stunning beach backed by bauxite cliffs just south of Weipa.

8. Lain relaxing in paradise on Forbes Island

9. Lain on the tiller of Trivial Pursuit - happy as a dugong in lawn clippings.