Moana Kuewa

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		2010.05.03 - 2010.04.13 AUSTRALIA Sunshine Coast Mooloolaba Wharf Marina Location: AUSTRALIA Mooloolaba An hour and a half north of Brisbane is the resort town of Mooloolaba (just love these Aboriginal town names). What was planned as a short stay was stretched into a couple of weeks because of a “weather hold”, required battery replacement on the Furuno Satellite Compass, and a meeting with the Pacific Asian Enterprise (PAE) sales representatives. However, Mooloolaba was a fabulous place to spend some time. Unlike many of the Sunshine Coast resort towns, foreign visitors are few. Mooloolaba is a favorite location for vacationing Australians. If you did not know you were in Mooloolaba, you’d swear that you were in Fort Lauderdale or Naples, Florida, U.S.A.! From the Pacific Ocean, there is direct access up the Mooloolaba River, Parrearra Channel, Wyunna Canal, and Mountain Creek. Beautiful homes, condos, and apartment complexes line each of these waterways, however only small draft vessels can access the channels, canals, and creek. MOANA KUEWA could only enter and exit on high tide and then only had two feet under her keel in a couple of silted areas just inside the river’s mouth. On the other side of the peninsula from the Mooloolaba Yacht Marina, were miles of beach and park area. Chris really enjoyed seeing so many active people exercising, running, bicycling, etc. when she was out running at 0530 hrs. There was also numerous beach-side restaurants and clubs including the Surfer’s Club, Hot Pipi’s, and Hoggsbreath Café. As always, Jeff and Chris found the Australian people extremely warm and hospitable. MOANA KUEWA’s dock-side neighbors, Matt and Ingy, that live aboard their Hatteress ABSOLUTE with four children, Courtney, Kayla, Sam, & Kiefer, became good friends. They invited Jeff and Chris to their holiday beach-side picnic and the entire family joined Jeff and Chris for bowling. Of course Jeff could not resist becoming “best buddies” with their two dogs, a golden lab named Oscar and pug named Yoda. Up the dock, Mike and Jacqueline shared their wealth of information regarding sailing/cruising in the Louisiade Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. Traveling Individuals Names: Jeffrey Cheske & Christine Bauman