Linne and Goldsmith Islands

Enroute to Goldsmith Island we put the anchor down at Linne Island.  I had to see this island on Australia's East Coast, named after Swedish botanist, physician, zoologist, the father of modern taxonomy and modern ecology, Carl Von Linne (Linnaeus).   He formulated the Latin system of naming all living things.   I have read that at the age of five he had his own garden about which he later said "inflamed my soul with an unquenchable love of plants".  I can identify with this man in that regard.

In 1802 Lieutenant John Murray and crew of the Lady Nelson were assisting Matthew Flinders in his coastal explorations.  "They made several landings and found evidence of Aboriginal visitation" (according to the cruising guide "One Hundred Magic Miles" by David Colfelt, in which the author cites his source, Historian Ray Blackwood).  I'm tempted to find out more but this reference is just a teaser.

The island's vegetation seems typical of others in the Whitsundays with pandanus at the high water mark, craggy points supporting tall Hoop Pines, often oddly bent by the wind, and sandy beaches interrupted by rocky shorelines.

Most interesting are the rocks, conglomerate and Coquina with bits of shell, coral, pebbles, etc. all held together by sandy, muddy "glue" that over time (thousands, millions of years?) becomes rock.  I could search for hours finding odd shapes and colours to photograph.

But this is not an overnight stop and we dinghy back aboard and sail on to Goldsmith Island.  We're easily entertained by the naming of many of the islands and reefs in The Whitsundays.  Close by Goldsmith is Silversmith, Coppersmith Rock, Tinsmith, Ingot Islets, Farrier Island, the Anchor Islands (Anchorsmith, Blacksmith, Hammer, Bellows Islet and Ladysmith Islet).  Could there be buried treasure in these parts?  Doubtful, I decided to stay aboard while Robert and Elliot explored Goldsmith Island.