We only went to Gulnare Inlet at the southern end of Whitsunday Island so we have some internet. By request - I have changed the slide shows and the gallery on this site so you can click through rather than it doing it automatically. I'll get the hang of it all eventually! There's a lot of wind, even in here so outside must be pretty rough! We'll stay put for a bit. Last night we had a party for Katrina who turned 60 last week (yes, I know, I'm next!) Richard brought up some silly fake moustaches and crazy glasses for Katrina. She ended up looking like Dame Edna and Sir Les combined, I looked like that ghastly Jason King who lay around in his sunken lounge in a kaftan with a gold medallion snuggled in his chest hair, Laura was a cross between Peter Frampton, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Huw was the slimy private detective from Something about Mary. Pete and Richard already have moustaches so no change there. It was fun. While we were having all this fun we forgot the crab pot off the stern and when we did pull it up something large and snipped off the whole bait container and made off with it! So there's a crab down there now with a catch by date on it....
Well, here we are in Hamilton Island Marina. We stayed a couple of days at Long Island then made way to Airlie Beach for provisioning and to find that Gina And Rod were too bogged down with work commitments to come out with us. A real pity. They say they'll join us in the Carribean instead! We left Airlie's Abell Point Marina (a very busy, fun marina with good facilities) on Thursday 11 June after calling Rupert for his birthday. We had planned to stop at Hook Island's Nara Inlet, which with hindsight would have been a good idea, but continued on to Butterfly Bay at the northern tip of the island. it was sheltered but huge wind bullets came down the mountain behind us making for a very buffeted lumpy night. Anyway despite some rain and bluster we snorkelled at the Pinnacles and Maureen Bay. We then came south to Nara Inlet which was beautiful and protected. We kayaked all around and spent a couple of days there. We all went to look at the Aboringinal rock art in a cave. Next was Macona Inlet, again a beautiful spot with great vegetation, interesting rocks and noisy cockatoos. We moved to Sawmill Bay in Cid Harbour on Thursday for the night. Laura and Huw did the walk to Whitsunday Peak but it was too cloudy to see much. Pete and I walked the short track to Dugong Beach and back. A lovely well maintained track. We motored from there to Hamilton Island yesterday to pick up Richard and Katrina who fly in from Sydney in a few hours to have 5 days with us. So, no more till next Thursday when we get back in range. It's amazing how close to the coast of mainland Australia we are but cut off from all usual phone and internet - character forming probably, some would say......
Left Brampton as planned and arrived at Thomas Island that afternoon. Good spot to shelter from some strongish south eaterlies. Stayed there two nights and left for Shaw Island on Sunday, one night there then on to Happy Bay on Long Island on Monday morning. Arrived to find that the resort there is closed too...! anyway we have a nice anchorage and may stay a few days till we go round to Airlie Beach to pick up Rod and Gina for a few days sailing. The weather hasn't been great but the sailing has and we've made good travelling time. It hasn't stopped us eating well and relaxing. Been out of internet till now so a bit slow with the newer photos - sorry.
Left Mackay on Wednesday 3rd June. Wonderful sail to Brampton Island. Everything working well and the boat sailing the best it ever has. Better balanced, (we redistributed the wine stocks!) and new standing rigging is paying off. While here we explored the abandoned resort. Lots of stories as to what happened but basically it changed hands and the staff walked off and it has been completely left to nature - about 3 years ago. All the rooms are still furnished, the tennis courts have racquets and balls just lying there (Huw and Laura had a game) and we played pool on the left behind tables. Apparently even the mini bars were still stocked - but I imagine that did not last long. It was all a bit depressing really seeing all that infrastructure just going to waste. I'll put some pics up tonight. Huw and Laura walked to the top of the island and Pete and I checked out the oysters. We leave for Thomas Island on Friday.
Monday 1 June
Still in Mackay waiting for electrical work to be finished but we've had plenty to do. Pete's sister Kerry flew up especially to say goodbye and bring her partner Dave to the boat. We all met up with Gina and Rod at the famous Eimeo Hotel for lunch on Sunday. Great views over the southern Whitsunday Islands and good food. (see the pics) Pete and I worked out a good quick release system for the life raft. Gina has organised some press coverage for Laura's magazine articles. We're hoping to leave for Brampton Island in the next day or so to start the Island hopping around the Whitsundays........
Thursday 28th May
Still in Mackay with electricians all over the boat...Huw's Laura arrived from Melbourne on Tuesday to join the trip. She is a travel writer and blogger who has just walked the entire length of New Zealand - The Te Araroa Trail and her story featured in the Great Walks magazine and The Australian Geographic due out in September. She's also a very experienced scuba diver and is looking forward to the Whitsundays - as we all are. Huw and Pete have been servicing wenches Oops typo, I mean winches!
Moreton Island - Sat 16 May
Decided to stay put till Sunday waiting for the weather, Few jobs to do - like fixing leaking toilet... (Huw and Pete!) The sliding door was banging back and forth so until Pete fixed it I rigged up my patented door stop - see the gallery!
Sunday 24 May
Sitting in the Mackay Marina with howling wind and rain! Glad we're not out sailing in it. This week is a make and mend one. The new solar panels get wired up, winches get serviced etc. It will give the weather a chance to change too hopefully by the weekend for a couple of day sails or an overnighter to local islands.
Friday 22 May
We arrived late evening into Mackay Marina after a whole days sail from Middle Percy Island. We had a fantastic couple of days there including catching probably the biggest mud crab I have ever seen. Pete put his fishing knife into the bucket to manoeuver it around and it snapped it in half with one claw! Fed three of us for lunch, (see the photos). While we were there we were invited to the "Shack" for freshly caught goat stew along with the other people anchored in the bay. . Bit of a big night, Huw was very slow the next day (rum!) The "Shack" is where boat people have left memorabilia for many, many years and it's current custodians are Marty and Jane. (see photos) A fascinating place and a good spot to arrive in after one rough night sail from Moreton and a couple of gusty days. We left a memento of a broken winch handle with Chat Eau Bleu etched on it and a limerick I wrote on a wine bladder. (in keeping with the "Shack" spirit.)
Moreton Island - 13 May
Left as planned (well at least the second plan!) around 1.00 pm and had a great sail over to the island. Got to the Wrecks by Tangalooma just on nightfall and then it got interesting.......we found a good place to anchor - not another soul or boat there - dropped the anchor which stopped at 25 feet (in 27 feet of water) ???!!! Huw and Pete managed to get more chain and rope out but then it all went out 200 feet of it....then it wouldn't come back up....except by hand - then the winch thingy jammed, seems that some micro wire on a micro switch in the remote broke, by then we had drifted but nevertheless were firmly anchored in the channel for the Moreton Island barge which thankfully doesn't run at night, so there we stayed. The next morning bright and early with the first light( after anchor watch rosters all night in high winds and rough sea) Pete managed to create a switch out of something and we got the anchor up and moved to where we wanted to be the previous night!
Moreton Island May 14
Lovely sunny day in a quiet spot - no one else here. Huw's been for a swim and life is looking like it should be......what's for lunch, when shall we snorkel, is it too soon for a drink......? We'll probably stay here a couple of days and let a high wind warning go away. I'll put some pics up.
Plans delayed.
We've had last minute problems with the iridium satellite and a late VH installation so now leaving at 10 am Wednesday 13! At least it gave us time to do some extra provisioning - the best meat in the world from Maestro Meats in Annerley- and lots of fruit and vegies too.
Still planning to leave on the 9th May. Will start this blog from then if I am successful at getting it going! Please someone write something so I know.....