Splash and Dash Searey Seaplane Delights
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 Photo Info
Posted By: Hal Brown
Date Posted: Sep 28, 2013
Description: Flying Down Under is always a bit exotic for someone normally flying in the other hemisphere. It’s not so much the air is different, it’s just a different atmosphere.

The skies are down-right friendly. What’s down below, maybe not so much. You just never know if there is a Great White tracking you, a croc waiting in the billabong, a redback lurking in your shoes or maybe a death adder hiding in the bush. With every critter on the ground trying to eat you, it’s just feels safer in the air.

It helps that the Aussies are some of the friendliest people on the planet. That certainly was the case with David Geers and his mate, Tim. They agreed to take point as we flew off fossicking up the hard lollie coast for some tucker.
Date Taken: Sep 28, 2013
Place Taken: Bribie Island Channel, Queensland, with Glass House Mountains in distance
Owner: Dan Nickens
File Name: Gone_Flyabout.jpg   - Photo HTML
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Category: 537, Yacht Tending Oz
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Viewers 

  

Read what others had to say:

Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    As the world’s largest island, Australia has beach a plenty.      Attachments:  

Over the Beach.jpg
Over the Beach

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    It’s a national park, but someone got the bright idea that clearing a viewing area on top of the cliffs was a good idea. Not all the locals agree. One complained, “It’s a blight. The Park Manager’s got kangaroos loose in the top paddock.” I can’t see why that would be a problem.      Attachments:  

Hell s Gate.jpg
Hell s Gate

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    While the tropics are a bit further north, it’s easy to think one’s gone troppo cruising the long beach.      Attachments:  

Gone Troppo.jpg
Gone Troppo

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Dave get’s low with no worries.      Attachments:  

Sandy Shadow.jpg
Sandy Shadow

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Sand has been accumulating along this coast for a long time (as long as 700,000 years, making this an extremely old dune sequence). It flows up the coast and is blown inland by the wind. Some of the sand becomes cemented, allowing the dunes to grow to unusual heights. The cementation also colors the sand.      Attachments:  

Big Sand.jpg
Big Sand

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    The Cooloola Great Walk is a five day hike. It’s also a great drive in your ute as long as you avoid the soft sand. A Park brochure has this advice: “Pools left by the falling tide hide dangerously soft sand. Vehicles stuck in these are difficult to rescue. Pass on the high side, close to the dry sand.”<br /><br />There is one other bit of odd advice: “Keep to the left of oncoming traffic.”<br />      Attachments:  

Caravaning.jpg
Caravaning

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    The old cliffs are a beaut and colorfully stained.      Attachments:  

Rainbow Cliffs.jpg
Rainbow Cliffs

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    The National Park brochure has advice for landing airplanes: “Obey signs at beach landing zones. Drive higher up on the beach if necessary. Planes need the wetter, harder sand to land.” Is this a great country or what!<br />      Attachments:  

Long Runway.jpg
Long Runway

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    The white stuff on the cliffs was definitely not snow. It’s sandy and dry as a dead dingo’s donger.      Attachments:  

S no snow.jpg
S no snow

    
  
John Robert Dunlop - Oct 14,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Your vernacular is certainly becoming .... 'varied'..     
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Australia is a surfing Mecca, but that’s not usually recommended for SeaReys.      Attachments:  

Surf Zone.jpg
Surf Zone

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    It is said that sea levels are rising. Maybe. Or maybe we’re just flying lower lately. Perfect for getting the current QNH.      Attachments:  

Sea Level.jpg
Sea Level

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Fair suck of the sav! The water was so sparkling blue!      Attachments:  

Sparkling Water.jpg
Sparkling Water

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Well, it was blue before.      Attachments:  

Not so blue.jpg
Not so blue

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    You can feel the air pulsing when a big wave passes under.      Attachments:  

Riding the Crest.jpg
Riding the Crest

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    A wedge of dunes is anchored by rocks out on Double Island Point.      Attachments:  

Breaking Dunes.jpg
Breaking Dunes

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    The prospect of a protected splash down lured us to cross the peninsula.      Attachments:  

Short Cut.jpg
Short Cut

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    It was low tide, but the calm water trapped behind the spit was too attractive to ignore.      Attachments:  

Quiet Backwater.jpg
Quiet Backwater

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    The water in the tidal pool may have been calm, but the brisk wind blowing over the peninsula made for an exciting approach.      Attachments:  

Turn to Splash.jpg
Turn to Splash

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Watching David’s plane rock down to the water was a clue. I would have guessed he had the wobbly boot on, but my airplane was dancing the same way. No drama. Just a few extra smackdowns before alighting.      Attachments:  

Splash Zone.jpg
Splash Zone

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    After crossing a narrow channel we were flying over the world’s largest sand island: Fraser Island. That’s heaps of sand.<br /><br />Such a sand island is sure to have great beaches. The island consists of eons of sand trapped on an old volcanic ridge stretching 75 miles long. The sand extends several hundred feet deep and up to a height of almost eight hundred feet above sea level.<br />      Attachments:  

Big Sandy Isle.jpg
Big Sandy Isle

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    For such a sandy place, there were lots of lakes. According to the World Heritage folks, the island holds more than half the perched fresh water lakes in the world. The claim seems to be a bit bold, but it is undeniable that there are forty significant fresh water lakes perched above the island’s primary sandmass aquifer. The perched water is trapped above low permeability cemented sands and organic material. It looked perfect for SeaReying, but since David didn’t stop I figured he had something better in mind.      Attachments:  

Island Refreshment.jpg
Island Refreshment

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    It doesn’t get much bluer.      Attachments:  

Flying in Deep Blue.jpg
Flying in Deep Blue

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Hooroo to the sandy land.      Attachments:  

Lands End.jpg
Lands End

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    David heads for the bright white line in Hervey Bay.      Attachments:  

White Line Approach.jpg
White Line Approach

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Low tide out in the bay.      Attachments:  

Over the Shallows.jpg
Over the Shallows

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Sailing in shallows, I hope the captain knows the tide is going out.      Attachments:  

Cutting it close.jpg
Cutting it close

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    A white spot in the big blue bay.      Attachments:  

Sandy Spot.jpg
Sandy Spot

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    David announced lunch at the end of the channel. It was about time for a cuppa.      Attachments:  

Channeling Lunch.jpg
Channeling Lunch

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Signs, signs, everywhere a sign<br />Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind,<br />(Showing seaplanes how to park?)<br />Do this, don't do that, can't you read the signs?<br />      Attachments:  

Seaplane Signs.jpg
Seaplane Signs

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    It’s bad news when a tinny sets sail on the out tide while the captain is getting the trailer. Seaplaners to the rescue! The seaplane guys have light anchors that can be used to hook it. The tinny owner was heard to exclaim in delight, “You little ripper! Goodonya.”      Attachments:  

Boat on the tide.jpg
Boat on the tide

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    A Wilga on floats (owned by Paradise Seaplanes, <a href="http://www.paradiseseaplanes.com.au/">www.paradiseseaplanes.com.au</a> is parked beside the restaurant. Seaplanes should roam free, but this one is fenced in on the water. (No, that’s not really land under the floats. This seaplane is legally parked offshore.)<br /><br />One of the local councilmen doesn’t like seaplanes. He tried to kick the Paradise Seaplane out of the city. It turns out, however, that the land under the seaplane is actually unregistered fill. The town’s solicitor had to admit that city maps show that the seaplane is parked in the water outside local jurisdiction.<br /><br />The solicitor did get an earbashing from the councilman. “Pig’s arse!” he proclaimed. He is still spewin’ and the Wilga is still flyin’.<br />      Attachments:  

Corralled.jpg
Corralled

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Best seat in the house.      Attachments:  

Table with View.jpg
Table with View

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    After waiting until low tide, David decided it would be prudent to check the water depth at the end of the ramp.<br /><br />Bugger. It wasn’t good news. We concluded there was a high probability of getting stuck. We weren’t wrong. All it took was manpower to get out.<br />      Attachments:  

Bathometric Survey.jpg
Bathometric Survey

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Between the mainland and Fraser Island are vast sandy shallows.      Attachments:  

Low Tide.jpg
Low Tide

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    With the sun moving well west, there wasn’t much time to play around in the silvery shallows.      Attachments:  

Liquid Silver.jpg
Liquid Silver

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    One gigantic sand box.      Attachments:  

Sandy Sights.jpg
Sandy Sights

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Time to race for home port as the sun starts sinking.      Attachments:  

Turning Homeward.jpg
Turning Homeward

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    If you enjoy sand, sun and solitude, this is your place.      Attachments:  

Sandy Point.jpg
Sandy Point

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Sand copying water.      Attachments:  

Solid Waves.jpg
Solid Waves

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    An accordion in the sand.      Attachments:  

Sandy Ripples.jpg
Sandy Ripples

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    There is no end to the rippled mazes of the Great Sandy.      Attachments:  

Rippled Maze.jpg
Rippled Maze

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    That right there is real ridgy-didge.      Attachments:  

Grading to Wet.jpg
Grading to Wet

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    I was gobsmacked by the intricate sand art.      Attachments:  

Crossing Lines.jpg
Crossing Lines

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    To say I was getting bored with the sand would be one big porky.      Attachments:  

Moving Sand.jpg
Moving Sand

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    With so much SeaRey suitable water there was too much temptation to resist splashing, though the hour was getting later. Much later.<br /><br />Will it be a problem getting back to an unlit grass field after dark?<br /><br />“No worries. She’ll be right.”<br />      Attachments:  

Late Splash.jpg
Late Splash

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Leaving the sandy side behind.      Attachments:  

Boundary Line.jpg
Boundary Line

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    It was a race between the twilight and the good green grass at Caboolture.      Attachments:  

Running Late.jpg
Running Late

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Running fast and low.      Attachments:  

Late Rush.jpg
Late Rush

    
  
Dan Nickens - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    With sunset well past, the old volcanic cores of the Glasshouse Mountains rose up into the dim light indicating we were approaching Caboolture. There was just enough light to see the grassy runways.<br /><br />A barely seen mob of kangaroo jumped past the hangars. It was dark when we shut down.<br /><br />One of the airport guys came over to me and pointed to the shadowy Roo. “Next time you arrive this late you should buzz the runway to run this mob off.”<br /><br />“We don’t have kangaroo where I’m from, but I’ve heard that theory applied to deer on the runway. Trouble is that they may run off for the pass, only to run back on as you’re circling to land.”<br /><br />Grinning like a shot fox he replied, “Kangaroo must be smarter than deer. It's London to a brick that if you hit one you’d have a bad go of it. ”<br /><br />“Maybe. Or maybe it’s been such a lucky day that we’d both just bounce away.”<br /><br />“If you’re that lucky, mate, you better go get a scratchy.” Without waiting for a smart answer, he turned to walk away saying, “And Bob’s your uncle.”<br /><br />No argument there, but I don't have an Uncle Bob.<br />      Attachments:  

Spooky Spires.jpg
Spooky Spires

    
  
Steve Kessinger - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    What's Aussie for 'Niiiiccccceeeeee........'?     
  
Don Maxwell - Sep 28,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Dan, you're a lucky feller. Thanks for the grand SeaRey ride! Makes me want to check the airline schedules.     
  
David Geers - Oct 02,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    G'day Dan thank you for taking me through the trip again. Great photography! Next time I will find somewhere nice to go. However I do think you should have surrendered the Aussie slang book at US customs. Dry as a dead dingo’s donger?     
  
Jim Moline - Oct 02,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    David<br />If you don't know this expression...............you are far too young.     
  
David Geers - Oct 03,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    What do you mean know it mate...... I use it all the time. I hope then this doesn't make me old.     
  
Kevin D'Angelo - Oct 03,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    what a great ride- thanks for sharing     
  
Philip Mendelson - Oct 04,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Ditto!!     
  
John Robert Dunlop - Oct 14,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Double Dit     
  
David Geers - Dec 16,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    G'day all, have just uploaded to YouTube a short video of this lunch date with Dan.<br />Sorry it's not my best camera work, I hope you find it entertaining.      Attachments:  

Flyabout with Dan
Flyabout with Dan

    
  
Dennis Scearce - Dec 16,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Very entertaining, David. Thanks for posting. Makes me want to go out and buy a Searey. Oh, I already did.     
  
Don Maxwell - Dec 16,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Great fun, David! (Especially the part at about 10 minutes in that makes it a real <I>SeaRey</I> Adventure.)<!-- >'"><br><font color=red size=6>' or &gt; missing in user HTML. Please fix the HTML.</font> -->     
  
David Geers - Dec 17,2013   Viewers  | Reply
    Yes it certainly became a Searey adventure, as I also got stuck in the same spot. It just goes to show not all beaches in Queensland are beautiful white sandy beaches. I had the privilege of flying with Dan twice. The second trip also had another Searey adventure! Stay tuned for the up-and-coming footage.     


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