tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51286707248541244082024-03-13T15:22:01.478+10:00Sea PiperJantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-30859743404163897432015-10-30T07:36:00.001+10:002015-10-30T07:36:06.782+10:00Holding on Herald <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Royden's just about got the big cast-net conquered.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clear, clear waters off Orpheus Island and plenty of sea life to go with it.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Orpheus waters again.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's always new anchorages to discover - particularly when the weather gods are feeling benevolent and sending light breezes and smooth seas our way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After a couple of relaxing days on Orpheus Island we hoisted the sails and headed south, making our way along the Palm Islands then down past Havannah and Acheron Islands to Rattlesnake and Herald Islands where we're now anchored.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With an average of 10 knots of breeze (sometimes 12, sometimes 4!) coming from the east then slightly north-east, we managed to maintain 4 to 7 knots. A very relaxed and peaceful sail. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Both Herald and Rattlesnake are used for military training and are largely denuded of vegetation. When planning a trip through here, sailors must first check that there's no training exercises - if there are, there's usually a five nautical mile (or more) exclusion zone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our usual course towards Townsville takes us via Horseshore Bay on Magnetic Island but with the present conditions (and no bombing planned) we thought we'd pay these isles a visit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Despite their barren-looking state (except for magnificent white sand spits and extensive reef), a decent colony of curlews exist on both islands along with the odd coucal pheasant. Their calls echoed across the water last night. It was beautiful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">When we arrived we must have disturbed the entire turtle population as turtle after turtle came up around the boat to have a look at us. There would have been at least a dozen, possibly more. Then they all moved away and we didn't see another.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The fishing is also rumoured to be good - but up to this point the catch has been small in number and too small in size.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Herald Island sandspit with Magnetic Island in the background.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-26046902075207333872015-10-27T13:13:00.000+10:002015-10-27T13:13:05.397+10:00Tasty morsels<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The two week stopover for Sea Piper in Dungeness (two road-hours north of Townsville) worked a treat with the usual October hull-growth thwarted by the fast running tidal flows in the Herbert River.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It also worked as a great option for our recent visitors, Julie and Keith, who flew back from Victoria with us to spend a few days sailing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With sea sickness blighting most of Julie's trips on water, spending the first two nights in the calm waters of the channel (even though the wind was blowing over 20 knots at times) paid off and we were able to take advantage of the lighter winds on Saturday to sail up to Dunk Island for an overnighter and enjoy a walk to the lookout on Mount Kootaloo and a little of the Sunday music session on the foreshore before taking the rising tide and light easterly back towards Hinchinbrook Island to anchor at Garden Island for Sunday night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We dined on fresh fish on three out of the five nights - bream, trevally and shark. All delicious.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sand flies/midges found our visitors delicious also despite them donning long sleeve tops and long pants along with the burning of numerous mozzie coils around the cockpit. Luckily Sea Piper's insect screens kept the little wretches from inside or I'm sure we'd all be itching.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One fish ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">two fish ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My fish ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">... your fish.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We farewelled our visitors in Dungeness last night and this morning motored across to Orpheus Island in millpond conditions. In fact the crystal clear water is beckoning me for a snorkel and swim around the coral reef here so this is the end of this blog.</span><br />
Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-91076859743077047152015-09-30T09:08:00.001+10:002015-09-30T09:08:21.611+10:00Fish once more.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJa62KA-CBG5FhuUE1iUsrUL1yaOdec5EFshkcWeEYxiBrC5cakcK3bS2RVgiQRD0PwO758WVWGNVzlkgHvNHn3iYkwX545rOGuwpSYdYxAQQq-N15m9QuQlBYC6HjUdrMyZ88-M9nDY6v/s1600/2909+GoldSchnapper+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJa62KA-CBG5FhuUE1iUsrUL1yaOdec5EFshkcWeEYxiBrC5cakcK3bS2RVgiQRD0PwO758WVWGNVzlkgHvNHn3iYkwX545rOGuwpSYdYxAQQq-N15m9QuQlBYC6HjUdrMyZ88-M9nDY6v/s320/2909+GoldSchnapper+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Golden Schnapper from the Hinchinbrook Channel</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fish are biting again!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We're currently in the Hinchinbrook Channel, near Haycock Island, and yesterday afternoon Royden caught a beautiful golden schnapper - the biggest he's ever caught. It followed landing two nice bream (and the odd catfish which went straight back in).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The previous day, on our way across from the Palm Islands to the channel, we snagged a huge tuna mackerel which we were really excited about. It was a beautiful looking fish with plenty of meat on it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">However our fishing books informed us that it wasn't much good for eating. Reluctant to give in, we cut fine slivers of meat then marinated it in a spicy mix for several hours before searing it in a hot pan - all to no avail. It was chewy and had an odd taste (once you got past the marinade).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">However, it has made excellent bait so it's not been wasted!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's been so excellent in fact that just minutes ago something big grabbed the bait and took off, whipping the reel from the rod and bending the first carrier before breaking the line. Our guess is a shark!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDf1X_2qpKdG-Dqpw7HC3MczOW3-bnV85dNDXQrehmQkEDZ-l2iWof_qy7nk85FnzZiJCf7RSJKheCUNVdUz6Guqq6r8gcUKH1IEplxnfVDME2Z5OnIxL0nnuMaBVNQlxrloXsiRX6JoXp/s1600/2809+TunaMack+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDf1X_2qpKdG-Dqpw7HC3MczOW3-bnV85dNDXQrehmQkEDZ-l2iWof_qy7nk85FnzZiJCf7RSJKheCUNVdUz6Guqq6r8gcUKH1IEplxnfVDME2Z5OnIxL0nnuMaBVNQlxrloXsiRX6JoXp/s320/2809+TunaMack+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Tuna-mackerel</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Since my last Blog entry, we've had a week of land time before heading to sea once more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">While on land we took a trip south (half an hour away) to the small fishing village of Cungulla on the edge of Cape Bowling Green </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">National Park to see what the cape looks like from `the other side'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was low tide and the sand and mudflats stretched for kilometres with the sea on the distant horizon. No chance of getting a catamaran in close to shore!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAI9oavaYkZ4ukzsHPfiv6YombLTF5J3jLM8J4z9SRh8VUuu4YfJf_jwopcqzl0l9qhufe924R3lXhWIF_fSgZkHrQbG_Cu-PzH4HmiK_ykn1EsHhBaHkQrz8keL5epnmg-ioTx1PyWg9D/s1600/2309+Cungalla-Bwlng+Green+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAI9oavaYkZ4ukzsHPfiv6YombLTF5J3jLM8J4z9SRh8VUuu4YfJf_jwopcqzl0l9qhufe924R3lXhWIF_fSgZkHrQbG_Cu-PzH4HmiK_ykn1EsHhBaHkQrz8keL5epnmg-ioTx1PyWg9D/s320/2309+Cungalla-Bwlng+Green+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>The view from Cungulla, on the edge of Cape Bowling Green</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On the other side of the highway the mountains house a large camp ground on the Alligator Creek. Despite its name, the creek is way above sea level here and has some beaut swimming holes - with no crocs (or alligators).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9PskhU0_39WuJi3uBwdepBjc5JRE6exBTPKmw4_QCLKzeTM2X7KGE95liHwy5-cweX7mzZWDPWsIvwCEc8uaSKY4QcOxvMJWkYcJHpmWVMLtnH7laf8seRwanm9EOi3VxdrDMsF68wbY/s1600/2309+Cungalla-Bwlng+Green+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9PskhU0_39WuJi3uBwdepBjc5JRE6exBTPKmw4_QCLKzeTM2X7KGE95liHwy5-cweX7mzZWDPWsIvwCEc8uaSKY4QcOxvMJWkYcJHpmWVMLtnH7laf8seRwanm9EOi3VxdrDMsF68wbY/s320/2309+Cungalla-Bwlng+Green+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Alligator Creek bordering the Cape Bowling Green National Park campground.</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On the day we set out from Breakwater Marina the wind was howling and the waves breaking. Two years ago we would not have entertained the thought of going out in those conditions, but as we were only heading to Horseshoe Bay on Magnetic Island, these days it's bearable (though we did end up anchoring for a few hours off West Beach until the tide changed and the north-east swell eased a bit).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We anchored in Horseshoe on sunset and spent a lovely couple of days lolling about, including a bus trip to Nellie Bay and going to the Sunday morning handcraft market on the foreshore in Horseshoe. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With the wind, tide and swell all in our favour we had a beaut sail through to the Palms on Monday but finding all the moorings taken in Little Pioneer Bay we pushed on to the Hinchinbrook Channel as the tide change favoured our entry - just!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbsNLFNzC3frN0wy8YyHyawH5A5DZw10p_w7CxqzlAX_YJPwd810NpufDtHFmcAp-ksG4VqKq8WChZkSOrN0Vw6-7DMoU5NiOVSZdbxg11fyVV8CY9vsghZS2e7bBo7DZ-VDk18agTJlJ/s1600/3009+Haycock+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbsNLFNzC3frN0wy8YyHyawH5A5DZw10p_w7CxqzlAX_YJPwd810NpufDtHFmcAp-ksG4VqKq8WChZkSOrN0Vw6-7DMoU5NiOVSZdbxg11fyVV8CY9vsghZS2e7bBo7DZ-VDk18agTJlJ/s320/3009+Haycock+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Morning in Haycock Island in the Hinchinbrook Channel</em></span></td></tr>
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Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-54857916083153986512015-09-23T09:00:00.001+10:002015-09-23T09:07:59.138+10:00Bye bye crew<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our three weeks with Leigh and Rob on board flew by and, thank goodness, we managed to snare a mackerel the day before we tied up back in Townsville.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our sail from Bowen to Cape Bowling Green ended up as a motor-sail as the wind dropped out almost completely (so different from the previous day's super sailing) but the weather was glorious and we soaked up the colours of the sky and the sea, the odd dolphin and one sea snake as we made our way north.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It must have been cruisers' migration week as we saw several other yachts on this stretch whereas we saw not one as we came south three weeks prior.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cutting out Cape Upstart from our usual anchorages proved a good move as we saved at least 10 nautical miles and easily reached the sandspit of Bowling Green before sunset - mind you we started out at 4.30 am as that's when both Royden and I woke up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The mackerel patch outside Bowen yielded no fish however one unlucky mackerel found our lure in the deep water off Bowling Green and was relegated to the barbecue that night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was delicious.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2Iq469IJoJUgfPlVKCuAbPuWr6C441do1KDr8HXjHvephhgzh4g_ysRs5sDJ6AFdEqxiydMIFNxi54WD7jG1qRCQTWppZNcdEL5RlH_lKNk-rOiPI-UjBro16-u6D0kNGmO8K9VuDJXL/s1600/1609+Bowling+Green+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2Iq469IJoJUgfPlVKCuAbPuWr6C441do1KDr8HXjHvephhgzh4g_ysRs5sDJ6AFdEqxiydMIFNxi54WD7jG1qRCQTWppZNcdEL5RlH_lKNk-rOiPI-UjBro16-u6D0kNGmO8K9VuDJXL/s320/1609+Bowling+Green+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>At last, a mackerel for dinner. Perfect size too.</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bowling Green once again provided a delightful overnight anchorage with dead calm conditions and a beautiful sunset.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hot showers all round and a fish dinner equalled a pretty good last night at sea!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Again, lots of yachts on the move as six others came into anchor after us, all heading south.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">No whales performing breaches or flipper slaps this time though.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNm9U2ajPZ_6NgYeqSCgdbRVPzrxheM90rHCsSfyvyRMbecb4Yu8ZFA04T1CExi_ONoFOnvFu-iFj7M0Yx0nMC1V5l-zCCnOjZucGxC_4wL-kT9yJmm74QimWx6fuQtEC3tr7nzME8NQz/s1600/1609+Bowling+Green+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNm9U2ajPZ_6NgYeqSCgdbRVPzrxheM90rHCsSfyvyRMbecb4Yu8ZFA04T1CExi_ONoFOnvFu-iFj7M0Yx0nMC1V5l-zCCnOjZucGxC_4wL-kT9yJmm74QimWx6fuQtEC3tr7nzME8NQz/s320/1609+Bowling+Green+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>A car carrier cruises by in the deep water the other side of the Cape Bowling Green sandspit.</em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkh2IZK0SUJNvLmX7j-NCMhdAXXNGqAiXrSuqFPffpU7dNq8tDmZuUbREafltFf5IeTS2xOcDFhtH4Olc3m1p4BmWzHiOwW5MnhDQyFdBB9O3JvKHq-WIf8smgRMRUbMh4tgM5JY2UQC3/s1600/1609+Bowling+Green+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkh2IZK0SUJNvLmX7j-NCMhdAXXNGqAiXrSuqFPffpU7dNq8tDmZuUbREafltFf5IeTS2xOcDFhtH4Olc3m1p4BmWzHiOwW5MnhDQyFdBB9O3JvKHq-WIf8smgRMRUbMh4tgM5JY2UQC3/s320/1609+Bowling+Green+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Another beautiful Bowling Green sunset.</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">With Thursday's total lack of wind we didn't even bother to put the main sail up. With tide and a slight swell rolling us forward, we motored around Cape Cleveland and into Townsville by mid-afternoon to be greeted by the Double Vision crew to assist with the customary bottle of champagne to toast the end of another excellent adventure.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFPY174xP-7eWojqt6l8jYUUSVtB4xwRUznfJGdGC98uA3x8ZnxCI6U6c1O26MGi4oukiuVRxPwIjjcQPjPNkFR-q-8_TtFYo9vkpjUKR1qUm-baVOnxdWdN5x6YNpS4iPo6rV3sIwAuP/s1600/1709+Cleveland+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFPY174xP-7eWojqt6l8jYUUSVtB4xwRUznfJGdGC98uA3x8ZnxCI6U6c1O26MGi4oukiuVRxPwIjjcQPjPNkFR-q-8_TtFYo9vkpjUKR1qUm-baVOnxdWdN5x6YNpS4iPo6rV3sIwAuP/s320/1709+Cleveland+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A becalmed catamaran is dwarfed by a warship doing manoeuvres off Cape Cleveland. There's a helicopter in there somewhere as well</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoP9Q0NLxCdhzPoqTR4KoCmkh2Qsh-iexdPTI0jovLQLs9whZlyw-eXEjX6KbMhCti6XNMX7DT6FHQUypGNs0hbNSYgLZr3tkjgbfkfg0KzdxITbqoH2qOu0WI9eAevPyTukZWyTFCBIW1/s1600/1709+Cleveland+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoP9Q0NLxCdhzPoqTR4KoCmkh2Qsh-iexdPTI0jovLQLs9whZlyw-eXEjX6KbMhCti6XNMX7DT6FHQUypGNs0hbNSYgLZr3tkjgbfkfg0KzdxITbqoH2qOu0WI9eAevPyTukZWyTFCBIW1/s320/1709+Cleveland+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Great weather for little fishing boats around the reefs off Cape Cleveland.</em></td></tr>
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<br />Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-49111335071483816862015-09-15T16:07:00.000+10:002015-09-15T16:07:30.945+10:00Keeping ourselves entertained<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zSZCwBE6M8AoRGi_FNSQIzIuJ_ARF1sIpEB5vY2k6fhC4qYinEv65rYAfFLggLU1TCPngnMoD0xOuQqXSih0gzdJm-z7qcgKsvbRMh9dcU7Moy1h713PsmXlEMZPHwOVJTzEV0KPqpkL/s1600/1309+Bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zSZCwBE6M8AoRGi_FNSQIzIuJ_ARF1sIpEB5vY2k6fhC4qYinEv65rYAfFLggLU1TCPngnMoD0xOuQqXSih0gzdJm-z7qcgKsvbRMh9dcU7Moy1h713PsmXlEMZPHwOVJTzEV0KPqpkL/s320/1309+Bread.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was also baking to be done. Yum, fresh bread!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our stay in Macona came to an end yesterday as the wind began to ease. We headed out in the early morning and ducked into beautiful Nara Inlet (next to Macona) for a look before heading up to the northern reaches of Hook Island and Butterfly Bay.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezITrkbhqz3ajaKffwcpyttznz5VRWT77cSM-ZKKeYzFBbEW3PmOEvWYdoh-saFJpIoqiOuv5M69P75UZw1xmniVdAo7CXiwiarK8pKEjTN7sJeg8apGVqiBr2dCq0MFQN-3gxFElOJzt/s1600/1309+Macona+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezITrkbhqz3ajaKffwcpyttznz5VRWT77cSM-ZKKeYzFBbEW3PmOEvWYdoh-saFJpIoqiOuv5M69P75UZw1xmniVdAo7CXiwiarK8pKEjTN7sJeg8apGVqiBr2dCq0MFQN-3gxFElOJzt/s320/1309+Macona+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entertaining ourselves in Macona with Barry, the pineapple top - <em>This is livin' Barry</em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCRWupjKEkga024GyqwVcC55LEjACmMch0cDrPkoTAvijXpV-GWFpamwbmM2MjyjvYd-3TWZoH_DxBDmwPpWbGjwr139vrYa-0HJd8g70HIAa_3qw6SxMYk9PrwZ8Y6NiVexX455mvSi4/s1600/1309+Macona+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCRWupjKEkga024GyqwVcC55LEjACmMch0cDrPkoTAvijXpV-GWFpamwbmM2MjyjvYd-3TWZoH_DxBDmwPpWbGjwr139vrYa-0HJd8g70HIAa_3qw6SxMYk9PrwZ8Y6NiVexX455mvSi4/s320/1309+Macona+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pandanus fruit In Macona Inlet</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There were sails out on the water everywhere in the light breezes and low swells.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was delightful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Much to our surprise there were moorings available in Butterfly Bay (there's no anchoring in this part of the islands) and so snorkels and goggles were donned to explore the fringing reef and bommies. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWj59vQ-hb2kLm9hIwL3yt47CtzLRUZhLzXv8MDYmEB963zmMbpxlYEDpq2yv9iTxtnzcQlTcEwPMl3Rm3m_r4fv6DXuu3Ya_gu5R_uUTrBWMN7328ylON9qEhyyKRyk-31UwWBHD6y0Q/s1600/1309+Rob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWj59vQ-hb2kLm9hIwL3yt47CtzLRUZhLzXv8MDYmEB963zmMbpxlYEDpq2yv9iTxtnzcQlTcEwPMl3Rm3m_r4fv6DXuu3Ya_gu5R_uUTrBWMN7328ylON9qEhyyKRyk-31UwWBHD6y0Q/s320/1309+Rob.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luckily Rob doesn't have to move around far on the boat with his injured ankle.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">An angel fish must have fallen in love with our ladder as it remained within a metre of it for the whole time it was in the water.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Luckily we were back on board before a thunderstorm hit and sent a chilling set of bullet winds through the bay.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikw8PDkY88sI4A4-hLgXe95CUzn3ivJ7WE5iaHZvuB1iQm4Rv7E9GQ6sgEyehxWWVg7-GyLgG0lV4sbTod8nKX2QijOejX1nhnH2M7g-3oqpqpkMfaQQEdHIflY-KNpyrE3wcuUKt71PfE/s1600/1409+ButterflyBay+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikw8PDkY88sI4A4-hLgXe95CUzn3ivJ7WE5iaHZvuB1iQm4Rv7E9GQ6sgEyehxWWVg7-GyLgG0lV4sbTod8nKX2QijOejX1nhnH2M7g-3oqpqpkMfaQQEdHIflY-KNpyrE3wcuUKt71PfE/s320/1409+ButterflyBay+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snorkelling a bommie in Butterfly Bay.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5ptW_cR21hG-LeIHGKaKRpsMs79wQYHGcIQjMWhA82JRFIuJuQ_bzqHtrvEYySSJPF-oFpmIJrwhTKNn4NwzmQurElcbr9jNhnAu1PLenBcQlIt3VlXnjzkUkBgfJErgXZGuy9wwVPU-/s1600/1409+ButterflyBay+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5ptW_cR21hG-LeIHGKaKRpsMs79wQYHGcIQjMWhA82JRFIuJuQ_bzqHtrvEYySSJPF-oFpmIJrwhTKNn4NwzmQurElcbr9jNhnAu1PLenBcQlIt3VlXnjzkUkBgfJErgXZGuy9wwVPU-/s320/1409+ButterflyBay+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The angel fish and the ladder - a love story?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This bay is renowned for its bullet winds and we reckon the tourism industry probably had the bay renamed from Bullet to Butterfly to make it less threatening.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DBsmhql_qe1WL7FWBQs4vfovnsxBUn-ouQ8xObUBt2SQRj42PyGY2w3Z6gqk2EoYWWEE4Vp2RguYJeFlzd3DbShFSoS7RG5FXSxmXNwE3q_ekK8226N0Z05G2nW6mAkKieH9Drcnb0e0/s1600/1509+Gloucester+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DBsmhql_qe1WL7FWBQs4vfovnsxBUn-ouQ8xObUBt2SQRj42PyGY2w3Z6gqk2EoYWWEE4Vp2RguYJeFlzd3DbShFSoS7RG5FXSxmXNwE3q_ekK8226N0Z05G2nW6mAkKieH9Drcnb0e0/s320/1509+Gloucester+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Setting a mackerel line this morning.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This morning we farewelled the Whitsundays and headed north towards Bowen expecting winds of around 10 to 15 knots. Instead they were 15 to 20kts with a following sea so we were flying along hitting over 9 knots at one point. Fortunately we'd started out with a reduced mainsail and just a little head sail which turned out to be perfect for the conditions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We've dropped anchor in Queens Bay off Bowen and plan to set off at daybreak tomorrow for either Cape Upstart or Cape Bowling Green depending on the wind, tide and our sailing speed.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39dDLz8zKYG4oj1FmcBNXey5y4Isg0f44nmPhjvmQYeO05kcBN5KwrFSXpMKCvT_eb9wzHnyINaP7hqmxj6vnW_oyhcXYW_8h8s95upt1rwu2mUbhCdt-gQaljZwjcLuBZ1O6XmHJdLQQ/s1600/1309+Bait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39dDLz8zKYG4oj1FmcBNXey5y4Isg0f44nmPhjvmQYeO05kcBN5KwrFSXpMKCvT_eb9wzHnyINaP7hqmxj6vnW_oyhcXYW_8h8s95upt1rwu2mUbhCdt-gQaljZwjcLuBZ1O6XmHJdLQQ/s320/1309+Bait.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rob has found new and innovative ways to get his bait.</span></td></tr>
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Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-67335794785844970992015-09-13T08:00:00.000+10:002015-09-13T08:00:57.423+10:00Expedition<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Birthday Mog!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The discovery of a small creek behind the beach opposite our anchorage proved too much for Royden's curiosity yesterday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With a small backpack carrying necessities like Allan's Snakes and a camera, off he went up the mountainside, returning a couple of hour's later with some beaut photos of the lagoon we are anchored in and of the caves he found.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here's an example:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PTnwWs8bq9DlvwvlrCgclk5lfSwMoXxJlL1vYUkWldnsUi6aWDth17NxOrd3BrRLvrvzbf2Dhi1b1VEnF31TnCOVLb1dLG6VKSuFxoG2jcPxriToFya5zWskGWhiqj9UM56CPtAE7zhU/s1600/1209+Macona+views+%252823%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PTnwWs8bq9DlvwvlrCgclk5lfSwMoXxJlL1vYUkWldnsUi6aWDth17NxOrd3BrRLvrvzbf2Dhi1b1VEnF31TnCOVLb1dLG6VKSuFxoG2jcPxriToFya5zWskGWhiqj9UM56CPtAE7zhU/s320/1209+Macona+views+%252823%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-66130789638418159862015-09-12T12:46:00.001+10:002015-09-12T12:46:19.814+10:00Hiding out in Macona<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our stay in Cid Harbour was tranquil, despite the weather forecast of a freshening south-easterly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Royden and Rob climbed to the Whitsunday Peak while Leigh and I decided the walk to Dugong Bay was our preferred option.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A number of little trailer sailers were beached at Dugong and their owners were enjoying a laid-back afternoon in the shade of the foreshore trees. A further explore beyond the boats unearthed a couple of very big goannas devouring a fish.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Unfortunately I'd left my camera behind so missed the opportunity to take a photo of these two, or the boats or the beautiful pitta bird we disturbed along the track.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A chat to one of the trailer-sailer owners revealed that he and his twin brother (both incidentally hailing from Beaumaris where Leigh and I grew up) had got lost on their way down from the Whitsunday Peak about nine years ago before the track was marked or well-tramped. They'd watched the Hamilton Island yacht races from their mountain view then couldn't find the path down and ended up (separately) in Gulnare Inlet on the south side of the peak. The brother was rescued when he managed to hail an anchored boat but the fellow we spoke to ended up sleeping on a rock then climbing back to the peak in the morning, where he was rescued by emergency crews alerted the previous night by his wife.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">What a story!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Subsequently, Marine Parks marked the track and warning signs greet would-be climbers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Unfortunately the boys return from their climb included Rob's ankle giving out as he reached the sand and he's been somewhat immobilised ever since, so these enforced rest days are probably well-timed.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZKvtc3J8E-wq3fOWgIieGD4xvZ1CkDlUUjJ4AXeRy1jzmCbtEbw7sUTSx1sEf624UlPq0hTfbfMvYixx8gt_-vi60LtCKJ1Db24kSOZLv9DxHdcNYz3kfF6EVmUbtStfzT7bftnHI6ag/s1600/1109+Macona+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZKvtc3J8E-wq3fOWgIieGD4xvZ1CkDlUUjJ4AXeRy1jzmCbtEbw7sUTSx1sEf624UlPq0hTfbfMvYixx8gt_-vi60LtCKJ1Db24kSOZLv9DxHdcNYz3kfF6EVmUbtStfzT7bftnHI6ag/s320/1109+Macona+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Macona Inlet at low tide - time for some hunter-gathering.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcAAv0_zTerkBVi-POH5PUSJamUsLxAyNpdgEm_7GLd8BKJKMMzjUjPqZTBKszLLVcAslBtZfts5-sBkVdKZijOD1peSHedwbJNNuju3VbT3lmBwyeTI7k_OEdXKTGsBJGJfPbxI07AFp/s1600/1109+Macona+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcAAv0_zTerkBVi-POH5PUSJamUsLxAyNpdgEm_7GLd8BKJKMMzjUjPqZTBKszLLVcAslBtZfts5-sBkVdKZijOD1peSHedwbJNNuju3VbT3lmBwyeTI7k_OEdXKTGsBJGJfPbxI07AFp/s320/1109+Macona+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plenty of oysters for pre-dinners</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">With Cid Harbour filling up as the winds increased on Thursday morning, we decided to make the shift to Macona Inlet, at the southern end of Hook Island. This inlet is off-limits to some charter boats because of its extensive reef at the entry and in the bay however i</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">t's well protected from the worst of the wind and swell so it wasn't surprising to catch up with some fellow yachties already anchored here.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hL-Hi_DnVfNDURmWnGnpNW4IINtGvw2PdF_EJsxxdTnBQxLSe60nw6jv4NuogaODGDXJmIEjafpaaqUaKDlwYFjQBUishnrFmW5FnIfvyvZ9v7YE6tmDZUynIQdjz4HFFie8PfVq5P1k/s1600/1109+Macona+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hL-Hi_DnVfNDURmWnGnpNW4IINtGvw2PdF_EJsxxdTnBQxLSe60nw6jv4NuogaODGDXJmIEjafpaaqUaKDlwYFjQBUishnrFmW5FnIfvyvZ9v7YE6tmDZUynIQdjz4HFFie8PfVq5P1k/s320/1109+Macona+%25287%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Macona Inlet</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">With winds gusting from 20 to 30 knots we look like being here for another day or two yet! The only boats that seem to be moving around are the charterers making the most of their days in the Whitsundays.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Just on dusk last night a big cabin cruiser came roaring in and ground to a halt when it hit the reef. Unbelievable assuming that this new-looking multi-million dollar boat would have the latest navigation systems and warnings. The skipper managed to back it off the reef before heading out to deeper waters to anchor.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSGimiBpcHP1Z_p5-O26SlviVxs1fp-3q_4hSXfiqvhEEgeVCO4yHICxUkzdllWvu1PZL_bCRIgRh-xoXzJTKVPIYBya4_MsnhvIi4PiggRF_o8eU3H58bJ6ZDz16LOoOtUqIRbIMWwd0/s1600/1109+Macona+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSGimiBpcHP1Z_p5-O26SlviVxs1fp-3q_4hSXfiqvhEEgeVCO4yHICxUkzdllWvu1PZL_bCRIgRh-xoXzJTKVPIYBya4_MsnhvIi4PiggRF_o8eU3H58bJ6ZDz16LOoOtUqIRbIMWwd0/s320/1109+Macona+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are many caves and eroded rock formations along the beach in Macona. Leigh looks like she's in the jaws of a giant hippo!</span></td></tr>
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Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-1990947839173588242015-09-09T12:44:00.001+10:002015-09-11T08:31:05.979+10:00Blue skies, blue seas and perfect tell-tales<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyX84SbgE9MBnBMrPJKBIZ11NbwrorccDkd_Twa2Q-le1xYyJMoQMyo9NgSeRpPoT3wfydhk2ruZH_u-wl9IbFqxAT7xHB4gI8IwiPv2WWA6bpMaiDqb1sw2YEW2HTvtxz4WCFZzjZKiF/s1600/0708+Whitehaven+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyX84SbgE9MBnBMrPJKBIZ11NbwrorccDkd_Twa2Q-le1xYyJMoQMyo9NgSeRpPoT3wfydhk2ruZH_u-wl9IbFqxAT7xHB4gI8IwiPv2WWA6bpMaiDqb1sw2YEW2HTvtxz4WCFZzjZKiF/s320/0708+Whitehaven+%252811%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hill Inlet at the top of Whitehaven Beach</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A week has past since my
last Blog entry because the weather has been so beautiful it seemed a shame to
sit inside on the computer. Also because internet and phone connections are spasmodic depending which side of the islands we are on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">After leaving </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Gloucester</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Island</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> we sailed south (again with northerlies) to Double Bay West for an
overnight anchorage and the chance of some fish for dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">They continued to elude us!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We moved the next day around
to Double Bay East with a similar result despite the boys’ best efforts
trolling the bay morning and evening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The locations more than made
up for it though. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIgp6hcTknhQWWiReI6PYI_rFwkyjFaky-kEuVZcCEaK2ZRtSdSgt98cDMi8xvOAwyRHACX3ul2Px2eRqZJLtslq7ahH5LM0-E2Bbuk0jnm5l3gXkcWUaRdK5TEhas4yIHJGDiR-Gu2PH/s1600/0309+Double+Bay+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIgp6hcTknhQWWiReI6PYI_rFwkyjFaky-kEuVZcCEaK2ZRtSdSgt98cDMi8xvOAwyRHACX3ul2Px2eRqZJLtslq7ahH5LM0-E2Bbuk0jnm5l3gXkcWUaRdK5TEhas4yIHJGDiR-Gu2PH/s320/0309+Double+Bay+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reasonably relaxed in Double Bay.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGO8QJ6QPsgF_QE8RuikaAIJRqosGlRvCmKfVd6szbFIvbLVZBEXn6-ZZjHYFpjvHX-_1MQV_UzKQ0Xw78zQcOmNEul6qdbl_Z3i1OippZC5-BHlIYduhLip2Hl4_ZLDeFd6LOoSqFZu_A/s1600/0509+Airlie+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGO8QJ6QPsgF_QE8RuikaAIJRqosGlRvCmKfVd6szbFIvbLVZBEXn6-ZZjHYFpjvHX-_1MQV_UzKQ0Xw78zQcOmNEul6qdbl_Z3i1OippZC5-BHlIYduhLip2Hl4_ZLDeFd6LOoSqFZu_A/s320/0509+Airlie+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lazy Saturday arvo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Saturday morning we
grabbed an early start and sailed around to </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Airlie</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Beach</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">
in time to get some fresh fruit and veges from the weekly market, and to meet
up with David and Vikki who had driven down from Townsville for the weekend.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We all spent the afternoon on
Sea Piper and planned a sail for the Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHrThPgnHmBz8qN50VEpKYiRUto8V4-d6H43DjNzXgWcxEvV6gDjmxU5OA9qvwywy2hd9gufCR_vLzgglLjM1YplXMjjW0YU-8Am70i06h7vnor7-uLRytCe-fsTbCk_LNId73IFektdQ/s1600/0708+Whitehaven+%252814%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHrThPgnHmBz8qN50VEpKYiRUto8V4-d6H43DjNzXgWcxEvV6gDjmxU5OA9qvwywy2hd9gufCR_vLzgglLjM1YplXMjjW0YU-8Am70i06h7vnor7-uLRytCe-fsTbCk_LNId73IFektdQ/s320/0708+Whitehaven+%252814%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please explain David Kirkpatrick - mini-tinnies instead of man-cans? </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We couldn’t have picked a
more perfect day. The wind took us around to </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Woodwark</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bay</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">
(with a perfect tack off the point!) and pods of dolphins greeted us as we
headed deep into the bay for a lunchtime stopover.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIgp6hcTknhQWWiReI6PYI_rFwkyjFaky-kEuVZcCEaK2ZRtSdSgt98cDMi8xvOAwyRHACX3ul2Px2eRqZJLtslq7ahH5LM0-E2Bbuk0jnm5l3gXkcWUaRdK5TEhas4yIHJGDiR-Gu2PH/s1600/0309+Double+Bay+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The sky was cloud free and
the sea was aquamarine and crystal clear. Superb!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OMlD1rQ4NMa1AfeTeffOW3_TKL93ItzjwvdwAnpXvaxUztk2NcP2upV9vrwBwL6lrNAWT-kRL2wrZhPvzBi7teYwMDTS4gtWUIWbaiviqEvTforqvMe4JhW4f0mqGU_jS0REavZu4t7n/s1600/0609+Woodwark+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OMlD1rQ4NMa1AfeTeffOW3_TKL93ItzjwvdwAnpXvaxUztk2NcP2upV9vrwBwL6lrNAWT-kRL2wrZhPvzBi7teYwMDTS4gtWUIWbaiviqEvTforqvMe4JhW4f0mqGU_jS0REavZu4t7n/s320/0609+Woodwark+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please note: Perfect tell-tails on the headsail. Ditto the main though you can't spot them in the photo.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72oHgyr6w_iQbmcomCd9gwJB25qxzwj-15HjC0d-CPg3s7OuSylaNtXAbrK_nKXCsqB7njcoknEkk959Tvhce6OPJ-vIZQ0c4_Finjcp2_88hizC9cdV4ef61pDNttBhVUREP1pSLCs4F/s1600/0609+Woodwark+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72oHgyr6w_iQbmcomCd9gwJB25qxzwj-15HjC0d-CPg3s7OuSylaNtXAbrK_nKXCsqB7njcoknEkk959Tvhce6OPJ-vIZQ0c4_Finjcp2_88hizC9cdV4ef61pDNttBhVUREP1pSLCs4F/s320/0609+Woodwark+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take up relaxation positions</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We managed to get back into
Airlie around </span><st1:time hour="15" minute="30"><span style="font-family: Arial;">3.30pm</span></st1:time><span style="font-family: Arial;"> and dropped
David and Vikki off at the public jetty where we topped up our water tanks
before heading to </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Funnel</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bay</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> for an overnight anchorage.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Big mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The bay lived up to its name
and funnelled bullets of wind down on us for the first half of the night. The
rest of the night the anchor chain scraped on the rocky bottom. It was nice to
up-anchor at daybreak and head for </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Whitsunday</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Island</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> and the famous </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Whitehaven</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Beach</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5rx-nuN8sfu8Dist2bB44mMW-IWV6JS5KM2F_-k418-YQyu-RB47T-uTIPRgd9ggvEmCBqHEkp5tRL_EtlDSJLLm7wMiMGPbr5nxE6vz0Tn1qUPe3EuYYQg8OvM0Nk5pQV6h8BZ3Lczv/s1600/0708+Whitehaven+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5rx-nuN8sfu8Dist2bB44mMW-IWV6JS5KM2F_-k418-YQyu-RB47T-uTIPRgd9ggvEmCBqHEkp5tRL_EtlDSJLLm7wMiMGPbr5nxE6vz0Tn1qUPe3EuYYQg8OvM0Nk5pQV6h8BZ3Lczv/s320/0708+Whitehaven+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just like the brochure!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The `Wow' factor was in full
force as we passed through the passage between Whitsunday and </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hook</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Islands</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">. The outer face of the islands is quite different to
the inland side. Hoop pines grow prolifically in the rockiest, barest locations
and the rocks have an array of colours from black, to brown, cream and green.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Many of them now have new
names – Cow Face Rock, Bambi Rock, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidU6458rwbuHxbVt40_K6KeUFlabqDHn4WI00_UPBMHuROQsEIiPBS-DDkzxkc9edUK3ErNZrnLpaxt_DrwdjhW2LUiwjEhyphenhyphenJ2VoV-aSbzglGkxM9RekWFuaghyekGxhDnGJNY5FhVJYWM/s1600/0708+Whitehaven+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidU6458rwbuHxbVt40_K6KeUFlabqDHn4WI00_UPBMHuROQsEIiPBS-DDkzxkc9edUK3ErNZrnLpaxt_DrwdjhW2LUiwjEhyphenhyphenJ2VoV-aSbzglGkxM9RekWFuaghyekGxhDnGJNY5FhVJYWM/s320/0708+Whitehaven+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Securing the dinghy in Tongue Bay </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We anchored off the northern
end of Whitehaven but the sea was pretty lumpy so we opted to tuck into nearby </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Tongue</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bay</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">
and dinghy across to its beach which has a walking track to both a lookout and
Whitehaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The tides were perfect for
this manoeuvre and we spent a lovely couple of hours walking and swimming in
this pristine place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlxl8dDJSeZmD0O51gCD19Or07ld1TrS37bVqaAXg0ReH4jUSClCsWPeADxWD-x8nTlPxwIAFFKCB9a0dAy3d4867ThVAGU-7imtFzv83R1bROqMagOZl-kq6skgU7yM5ioT_1I6k5qXg/s1600/0808+Haslewood+Is+%252817%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlxl8dDJSeZmD0O51gCD19Or07ld1TrS37bVqaAXg0ReH4jUSClCsWPeADxWD-x8nTlPxwIAFFKCB9a0dAy3d4867ThVAGU-7imtFzv83R1bROqMagOZl-kq6skgU7yM5ioT_1I6k5qXg/s320/0808+Haslewood+Is+%252817%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The clear waters of Windy Bay made spotting turtles and stingrays easy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzI4CDYzZxwbU-0Nz-8yfGjPi9KXcvnkBbNuLx9iS8Ur7wXyTXFgcrVflAyxdj5mrI1ApA8I9pm27jlivRqVMQ8r6EQCe-2R5BZCWKAkqMihyphenhyphenqYDs-15zTf4ZvneByFahvwzDblqFz3mb/s1600/0808+Haslewood+Is+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzI4CDYzZxwbU-0Nz-8yfGjPi9KXcvnkBbNuLx9iS8Ur7wXyTXFgcrVflAyxdj5mrI1ApA8I9pm27jlivRqVMQ8r6EQCe-2R5BZCWKAkqMihyphenhyphenqYDs-15zTf4ZvneByFahvwzDblqFz3mb/s320/0808+Haslewood+Is+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The view from Windy Bay across to the top of Whitsunday Island</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yesterday morning we moved
anchor to the east, across to </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Windy</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bay</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">
on </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Haslewood</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Island</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> – a gem we hadn’t discovered before. It would appear the charter boats
aren’t allowed to go there as we had it all to ourselves before another private
catamaran <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mojo</i> came in.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was a great island to
explore with a huge sandy beach, especially at low tide, stingrays, turtles and a rough track across to the south side of the island. The bay emptied out quickly at low tide so we had to keep moving
the dinghy to keep water under it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNppbol1CztpyPZT0D8ByTYQqH4RCUsrez0h9P7QpaONwSgHdQ-M8AuRNSXfj0Q8g6QrG5nIO-gTp5p1ZwXpsxkWTnw9xKLSPE0WhdNBQnlDVy8wrqKbnRkbuobtzgsFxCzI8mYEFAYr1/s1600/0808+Haslewood+Is+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNppbol1CztpyPZT0D8ByTYQqH4RCUsrez0h9P7QpaONwSgHdQ-M8AuRNSXfj0Q8g6QrG5nIO-gTp5p1ZwXpsxkWTnw9xKLSPE0WhdNBQnlDVy8wrqKbnRkbuobtzgsFxCzI8mYEFAYr1/s320/0808+Haslewood+Is+%252810%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Windy Bay beach</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The boys had much fun trying
to dislodge (unsuccessfully) some coconuts from the one palm tree on the beach.
It involved a long rope found in the scrub and a rock swung like a hammerthrow.
Hilarious!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fishing proved a little more successful and tonight's menu will include some fillets.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwNUzAgAUYhKOqClEq0R8xqok05VtIrzpcfHUgE-UfunXaVErShK7PUOgU5UfXoTBmnp_ZQTjP2wQo4k56znbdf1hfncsfMXfqW_iFLuxtzqWbpLfAIitBxWKI6lO5ZLFMYQn-RLGkKM_/s1600/0808+Haslewood+Is+%252819%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwNUzAgAUYhKOqClEq0R8xqok05VtIrzpcfHUgE-UfunXaVErShK7PUOgU5UfXoTBmnp_ZQTjP2wQo4k56znbdf1hfncsfMXfqW_iFLuxtzqWbpLfAIitBxWKI6lO5ZLFMYQn-RLGkKM_/s320/0808+Haslewood+Is+%252819%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Newly named no-name-island - <em>Cutest Island Ever</em></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This morning we’ve come back
through the Hook Passage as the winds are going to increase to 20 knots plus
today and remain so for the next few days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We’ve anchored in </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cid</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Harbour</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">, off </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Whitsunday</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Island</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">, amongst at least 50 other boats with numbers set to increase
throughout the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On previous trips over the
past five years, we have never seen so many boats around the Whitsundays. Great
for Airlie and </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hamilton</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Island</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">’s economy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-83906645937638078772015-09-02T14:46:00.001+10:002015-09-02T14:46:42.802+10:00Breakfast <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day four and we had declared a rest day - until the wind got up from the north and we shifted from Bona Bay, on Gloucester Island, around the corner to a more peaceful anchorage at Breakfast Bay on the south side of the island.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We arrived at Bona around 5pm yesterday after a 9 hour trip from Cape Upstart. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The sea was fickle and confused for the first part of the journey. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">The big black cloud hovering over us as we left Upstart created its own weather system and we zigged and zagged trying to get a comfortable ride while still heading roughly in the direction we wanted to go.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4MY37QNqdVf7apULlp5TSVlyym_KrOIYMMuWTMZcEK-e9GJCSaw3HNX7KKpvwj1C6hay5celnoDhZzqFZDBgUaEGp-rZaHKG_LWOReluaYfYYN5j7FohyphenhyphenwLj9yG3Xdhw0BqMEavD7pBD/s1600/0109+Abbott+Bay+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4MY37QNqdVf7apULlp5TSVlyym_KrOIYMMuWTMZcEK-e9GJCSaw3HNX7KKpvwj1C6hay5celnoDhZzqFZDBgUaEGp-rZaHKG_LWOReluaYfYYN5j7FohyphenhyphenwLj9yG3Xdhw0BqMEavD7pBD/s320/0109+Abbott+Bay+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leaving the Cape Upstart weather system in our wake.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">After passing the Abbott Point jetty, the wind and sea settled and we were able to sail comfortably past Bowen to our anchorage at Bona Bay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our sailing pattern was a repeat of the day before when we left Bowling Green and motor sailed for the first couple of hours before having a beaut sail down to Cape Upstart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our preferred anchorage at the bottom of the Cape proved a good choice once again as the wind swung in from the north making the anchorages close to the cape very swelly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This morning we went ashore and met up with <em>Iron Mongrel</em> crew Mac and Kerry who have been in the Whitsunday area for a few weeks now. We managed a walk on the beach and a bit of an explore before the black clouds rolled in and the sea roughed up leading to our decision to move to this far more peaceful location.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We're hoping the garfish are as active tonight as they were last night. Every time we threw a light on the water they went berserk, jumping and leaping everywhere. Royden and Rob were much entertained by trying to catch some for bait using a net with holes far too big for the purpose. Leigh and I were equally entertained watching them!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">At this moment the boys are constructing a finer mesh net out of some old shade-cloth to try their luck with tonight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDGXSevQGy_ZObW0NDiSwNSgXUlTyuUCHOmqr6wEkWmJ0O0v1udpVdEebvppuFDTjcZMJnk6hAxsfjzztrMrpUeOB6vBnVUorWkMq_oJBnm7eLKvIc9zift6faxvcVl22gZwfZMinJxhq/s1600/0209+Breakfast+Bay+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDGXSevQGy_ZObW0NDiSwNSgXUlTyuUCHOmqr6wEkWmJ0O0v1udpVdEebvppuFDTjcZMJnk6hAxsfjzztrMrpUeOB6vBnVUorWkMq_oJBnm7eLKvIc9zift6faxvcVl22gZwfZMinJxhq/s320/0209+Breakfast+Bay+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Breakfast Bay looking across to Monte's and Shag Islet.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qTa5JA0I3nbp6JGnDoSAR0ACulzUHOFETOny_tdFTQFnojFQ20VanATes5YY-4BE5GUTT9G7nlKa6II-BDxMcqdtg62ASM6JnTGaqOAkXW36xl0s0YXdF0pbAb-LD_fmPG2XCu62wULu/s1600/0209+Breakfast+Bay+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qTa5JA0I3nbp6JGnDoSAR0ACulzUHOFETOny_tdFTQFnojFQ20VanATes5YY-4BE5GUTT9G7nlKa6II-BDxMcqdtg62ASM6JnTGaqOAkXW36xl0s0YXdF0pbAb-LD_fmPG2XCu62wULu/s320/0209+Breakfast+Bay+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast Bay is the go-to bay in a northerly.</td></tr>
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</span> Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-47082815753355685222015-08-31T09:31:00.004+10:002015-08-31T09:31:58.753+10:00Heading south to the Whitsundays<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXl8zcoCrQju1jhRiv0By58Kpuk37oPU7KgFLe7VaSLkri3Uq1of5Ot6Kf9raUPKQ1XzMx0dFM_gtQOfxZkMoRgT7a3aSZ-6IQZpSvrAzDZQ1uiQvDdCwRlneUwkmer13bMY4o1FtsIZxy/s1600/3008+Mr+Squiggle+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXl8zcoCrQju1jhRiv0By58Kpuk37oPU7KgFLe7VaSLkri3Uq1of5Ot6Kf9raUPKQ1XzMx0dFM_gtQOfxZkMoRgT7a3aSZ-6IQZpSvrAzDZQ1uiQvDdCwRlneUwkmer13bMY4o1FtsIZxy/s320/3008+Mr+Squiggle+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Full moon rising at Cape Bowling Green - as drawn by Mr Squiggle (or taken from a bobbing boat).</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s been a busy week since
we tied up in Breakwater Marina last Monday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Having noticed that the
stitching on the front trampolines was perishing in several places, the first
job was to undo the lashings holding them in place then deliver the tramps to
the sailmaker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We’d rung Townsville
sailmaker Lex Prior the week before to organise a repair and were able to drop
them off by </span><st1:time hour="16" minute="0"><span style="font-family: Arial;">4pm</span></st1:time><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In typical fashion, he did
the repair and had them ready to reinstall by Tuesday afternoon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Earlier on Tuesday Royden had
hired a trailer and picked up our brand new 80 metres of anchor chain which
came in a 40 gallon drum. Getting it was ok as Bullivants, the supplier, had a
forklift. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Getting it off the trailer
was somewhat more challenging but all credit to Royden who works out the
logistics prior to the job. The drum and chain were safely trolleyed into one
of the marina’s shipping containers until the high tide when the walkway was
closer to level and trolleying the barrel down the ramp was less of a hazard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But before that the tramps
had to be reinstated so that was Wednesday morning’s job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Thursday morning we took
Sea Piper to the works dock (nearest the container) for the installation of the
new anchor chain. But first the old rusty anchor chain had to be unloaded and
the anchor removed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As fate would have it,
another yachtie had his boat at the works dock having his hull scraped. He
looked at our old anchor chain, decided the bulk of it (the non-rusty end) was
better than his and promptly took it off our hands, relieving us of the job of
getting rid of it. Win, win!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Just as an aside, our new
anchor chain is the tested Australian made variety. It was 2.5 times the price
of chain from </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">China</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Arial;"> however we decided that `cheap’ did not necessarily equal `good’ and
seeing it’s our main means of staying in the same place overnight, we opted for
the dearer chain. However it’s an indicator of what Australian manufacturer’s
are up against in a global market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">With all major jobs complete
it was time to restock and ready Sea Piper for her next outing with Rob and
Leigh on board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">With perfect conditions
forecast for the next few days, we set off yesterday morning (Sunday) to </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bowling Green</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">. The wind was almost non-existent when we left the
marina, but rounding </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cleveland</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> it rose to 9 and 10 knots north-easterly so we were
able to sail from there – a great way to start the trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A giant turtle stuck its
head up as we sailed along. Next thing Leigh called out with great excitement
as a whale fully breached out towards the horizon. Sailing through </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bowling Green</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bay</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">
we saw another two pods splashing and blowing. What a wildlife show!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After a blissfully calm
night at </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bowling
Green</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial;">, we have
set off this morning for </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Upstart</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> with an early whale sighting and some dolphins to
start the day.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv7LaLIHIV4oGdyyGNZxyLc5IGuCT1qmjSLuPgVBrWjRfGa1qTkx1N6LvzOwZfuORAWHVjinFwlLJ-KBECt98w4TfvXwOc2m_cg5teJC6JhJc0PQY-Qb1QbMhuOx3bzABY2CO6SOoTv3s/s1600/3108+Bwling+Green+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv7LaLIHIV4oGdyyGNZxyLc5IGuCT1qmjSLuPgVBrWjRfGa1qTkx1N6LvzOwZfuORAWHVjinFwlLJ-KBECt98w4TfvXwOc2m_cg5teJC6JhJc0PQY-Qb1QbMhuOx3bzABY2CO6SOoTv3s/s320/3108+Bwling+Green+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunrise at Bowling Green ...</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNo8Pedc9TSAUlvndPV2HkRq5pbSfrebzfwkO25hUpslDxL9WtPr94xLg1mQpGesCcM5QgCOgYcJpvnPHydFxIzByR1uYBPGqi5cct26JIMDjMY31N9BzqfhG3cDw5-UCVAwzUDsGOoeFs/s1600/3108+Bwling+Green+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNo8Pedc9TSAUlvndPV2HkRq5pbSfrebzfwkO25hUpslDxL9WtPr94xLg1mQpGesCcM5QgCOgYcJpvnPHydFxIzByR1uYBPGqi5cct26JIMDjMY31N9BzqfhG3cDw5-UCVAwzUDsGOoeFs/s320/3108+Bwling+Green+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">... and moon-set on the western side</span></td></tr>
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Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-50861304703106203572015-08-24T10:42:00.001+10:002015-08-24T11:32:33.727+10:00Happy Anniversary to us<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday's plans to head south from the Palms to Magnetic Island were put on hold when the promised 10 to 15 knot easterly failed to arrive and was instead replaced by a 20 knot south-easterly, which would have meant punching into a head wind and swell for hours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">No thanks!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With time on our side we decided to sit it out and celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary moored safely in Little Pioneer Bay.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGM9JFbLlsN4DZ6jSYR-DBzhuZkLv-lc-NZJo64meVos26GzJv1F0pGaJSK_MYf09vCxSmB9uMGapwC6emsfnchTpxEg_21qEmIRumTrGi5-j-7Sv_bojTAt9Ahwi6udo_a9ql82L4flD/s1600/2308+Anniversary+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGM9JFbLlsN4DZ6jSYR-DBzhuZkLv-lc-NZJo64meVos26GzJv1F0pGaJSK_MYf09vCxSmB9uMGapwC6emsfnchTpxEg_21qEmIRumTrGi5-j-7Sv_bojTAt9Ahwi6udo_a9ql82L4flD/s320/2308+Anniversary+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tide chart marks a special day</span></td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKAj4Y4kzpxk0ptiB31TYilUX-SnLH2unp5_njKQ6RBHzXVG3EJFmFuGsAAsx0KfXMjFx5LVwMEZsFuhL60pnkHeDfKJ6UsBi5z5tJ1I8J9CKuq2JvpgAkBmAHw6oriGWDP5MememSqys/s1600/2308+Anniversary+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKAj4Y4kzpxk0ptiB31TYilUX-SnLH2unp5_njKQ6RBHzXVG3EJFmFuGsAAsx0KfXMjFx5LVwMEZsFuhL60pnkHeDfKJ6UsBi5z5tJ1I8J9CKuq2JvpgAkBmAHw6oriGWDP5MememSqys/s320/2308+Anniversary+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time to celebrate.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Royden, bless him, produced a chilled bottle of champagne and some raspberry chocolates he'd managed to find in the limited stocks of Dungeness, while I rustled up some savouries.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A much nicer way to spend the afternoon rather than slugging it out with the elements.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The wind finally died off around 5pm by which time we weren't going anywhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After another showery but calm night (this is the area of Australia's highest rainfall) we were both awake at 4.30am and decided to slip our mooring and head off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's a little eerie setting off into the pitch black but it's also a beautiful time to be on the water and watch the light slowly define the surroundings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Rarely have we seen Halifax Bay so calm which has meant motor-sailing all of the way but it's better than flogging Sea Piper, and ourselves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A beaut mackerel happened to like our lure as well so that's secured dinner for the next few nights.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">PS Within minutes of posting the above, the wind shifted and strengthened a couple of knots so motor is off and we are sailing along. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yee hah!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0qHpg8hmpp471DfxAXg10-b1jLLE7GKz9TXKriI-z1-0ZwOmYBzm8sZlGy1FdDr6MlDwH8nS5SdVvuVOG4THtcSZtZK2SzFB9sYnCwpmGNLfiBWyfAEyeTDD1yPBo_m9xCzTJmYrugRO/s1600/2408+Mackerel+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0qHpg8hmpp471DfxAXg10-b1jLLE7GKz9TXKriI-z1-0ZwOmYBzm8sZlGy1FdDr6MlDwH8nS5SdVvuVOG4THtcSZtZK2SzFB9sYnCwpmGNLfiBWyfAEyeTDD1yPBo_m9xCzTJmYrugRO/s320/2408+Mackerel+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy, happy, happy!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AdZp5LMhFia0GQF21GDSWwVgCQ_ZELSICnUsm1aBYvK17OIRDbdaP9yM5nnEyrJFj8Nqg-XF-174UJNVnU7ToLXjxy_XFB5ED0eFD7NRmKi5W3VTkfi8oOnjXc4LkuUY3noT5jpcsFUo/s1600/2408+Mackerel+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AdZp5LMhFia0GQF21GDSWwVgCQ_ZELSICnUsm1aBYvK17OIRDbdaP9yM5nnEyrJFj8Nqg-XF-174UJNVnU7ToLXjxy_XFB5ED0eFD7NRmKi5W3VTkfi8oOnjXc4LkuUY3noT5jpcsFUo/s320/2408+Mackerel+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An excellent catch</span></td></tr>
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Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-31199356427119218632015-08-22T14:33:00.001+10:002015-08-22T14:33:22.423+10:00Dungeness - pre and post<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgd_wSphWO5Uj7XNAnfkDzT2ZPBruv2Tqp4Y7Z3a7ESIN_EICd8tuUHPfbWsJMtHdzqOWcYxjxT_bpacaHJm2KQoi3uJJeklUk2EtpM76IgTgCkPDnwM2XASEF5KKr_oUUQ1ocyC3Ms16/s1600/1908+Dungeness+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgd_wSphWO5Uj7XNAnfkDzT2ZPBruv2Tqp4Y7Z3a7ESIN_EICd8tuUHPfbWsJMtHdzqOWcYxjxT_bpacaHJm2KQoi3uJJeklUk2EtpM76IgTgCkPDnwM2XASEF5KKr_oUUQ1ocyC3Ms16/s320/1908+Dungeness+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dungeness</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's hard to believe nearly a week has passed since my last blog entry - probably because each day was pretty much a repeat of the previous ie take in the magnificent views, catch fish, cook fish, eat fish, take in the view, etc. Yep, the fishing was pretty good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We diversified for a day and a night by heading into Dungeness (behind Lucinda at the southern entry to the Hinchinbrook Channel).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The main reason for our visit was that we were down to our last two mozzie coils. These are essential for warding off the hordes of midges/sandflies that hang around the mangroves.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It also gave us the opportunity to walk on land for the first time in eight or so days</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">The town consists of a couple of resorts with a restaurant, bar and small shop at one, a newish public dock and boat ramp, some holiday townhouses and a </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">reasonably new set of pontoons hired out as marina berths.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Getting into Dungeness by boat requires a good map, absolute adherence to the shipping markers and a bit of local knowledge. It is extremely shallow and can only be accessed on a rising tide, preferably close to the top of the tide. Fortunately for us the high was close to the middle of the day so access was achievable - but only just as the high was quite a low one. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was good to stretch our legs and we ended up walking two kms into Lucinda for an ice cream and look around the old jetty that we have passed by sea many times now. The boating channel is only a stone's throw from the jetty and I remember it's proximity freaked us both out a bit the first time we travelled the route back in 2010!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As an extra treat to our land visit, we went to the restaurant and had steak for dinner. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcWrc4colNojfS6qSqt7A9HaY5O2lLZlEIA9tlpxVOhNtDXQ1fNU8V-2ArMoTSFxqXSjittbMm7Pfl0izn30Bv8WKQeZkdxUXYu5f7SSXDS31uH-Nu9vwDy1p0rrDnE7I1E78yWuEt30o/s1600/1808+Sunday+Ck+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcWrc4colNojfS6qSqt7A9HaY5O2lLZlEIA9tlpxVOhNtDXQ1fNU8V-2ArMoTSFxqXSjittbMm7Pfl0izn30Bv8WKQeZkdxUXYu5f7SSXDS31uH-Nu9vwDy1p0rrDnE7I1E78yWuEt30o/s320/1808+Sunday+Ck+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Final anchorage in the Hinchinbrook Channel - Sunday Creek. The fishing wasn't as good here.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">With mozzie coils replenished and Sea Piper's water tanks filled, we headed out on the following day's high tide to anchor up in the Channel in preparation for our trip across to the Palm Islands this morning.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9yD9DBzLnBTGj4Tf8ZyBxLxzvq5DNMT3vBlhlGFCSAwseZdmYwBnurlU5QkQgbJwbF-13RMBzKqP2DdIxRCk5GfKHaNdPHZM9Atnpi67O2am3ftOVhbGx2RtWJh67aaQx5xvorZ3C3vH/s1600/1908+Hbrook+channel+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9yD9DBzLnBTGj4Tf8ZyBxLxzvq5DNMT3vBlhlGFCSAwseZdmYwBnurlU5QkQgbJwbF-13RMBzKqP2DdIxRCk5GfKHaNdPHZM9Atnpi67O2am3ftOVhbGx2RtWJh67aaQx5xvorZ3C3vH/s320/1908+Hbrook+channel+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glass out conditions</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was glass-out calm when we left but the Bureau's forecast 15 to 20 knots blew up just as we got near the end of the Lucinda jetty and prepared to cross to the Palms. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Deciding to take a more comfortable (but longer) course across the ditch gave us the bonus of a whale just off the port side. It was slowly meandering northwards weaving its huge bulk in and out of the waves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We're now snugly moored in Little Pioneer Bay on Orpheus Island with the aim of using the forecast easterly tomorrow to take us south to Magnetic Island then into Townsville Monday where we pick up our new anchor chain - all 80 metres of it (so I guess we won't be literally picking it up).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Visitors Leigh and Rob fly in to join us this Saturday and with a bit of good weather, we hope to sail south to the Whitsundays.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Watch this space!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-70345220126945908992015-08-17T11:27:00.000+10:002015-08-17T11:27:20.812+10:00Hanging around<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qIFKqm9ZMLrGWFmGaTMG8azAo-ATse72bfQOMxntfNTTvvVfGlJUEz_rVSFvu39CceNT7Ix73iYa6yt1CWfMDLu48qX9yaH3Sksx8iUYOfQiLxtFj8tPaF-2UENFByh10snGvU2deRnn/s1600/1608+Anchorage+Pt+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qIFKqm9ZMLrGWFmGaTMG8azAo-ATse72bfQOMxntfNTTvvVfGlJUEz_rVSFvu39CceNT7Ix73iYa6yt1CWfMDLu48qX9yaH3Sksx8iUYOfQiLxtFj8tPaF-2UENFByh10snGvU2deRnn/s320/1608+Anchorage+Pt+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Catching fish ....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUXiQARpDJ04sThBbC4wmLNukNceKguOPjOYXUxONsMDjuooZbPwSJMXKFwWRg8byy7jO-515LfI05qmOvXFybO-hdiB4OccFO-4G8jYXREto8alrW69-pq-1Vi6OIU01C__c1Uby7hNd/s1600/1608+Anchorage+Pt+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUXiQARpDJ04sThBbC4wmLNukNceKguOPjOYXUxONsMDjuooZbPwSJMXKFwWRg8byy7jO-515LfI05qmOvXFybO-hdiB4OccFO-4G8jYXREto8alrW69-pq-1Vi6OIU01C__c1Uby7hNd/s320/1608+Anchorage+Pt+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">... and watching out for whales.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's activities: Catching (cooking and eating) fish (bream, salmon and shark), knitting more Mini Peeps (named by Alexander and Sonny), learning to finger-pick the uke and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">spotting which mud bank Tic Toc the Croc is sunbaking on today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Retirement is tough!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-49153554325239443932015-08-15T09:12:00.001+10:002015-08-15T09:12:35.482+10:00Reflections<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnR4AxuOOYdP9-RIrmsV7AuE7IY_g1mASg2oJSdYHfhenJPRxeiz5zsasO3QSZEIkHZIu7EuONNz38P5wv5UQYvhIAisA1GmxQ5x69VrPi4rxiXZxrREflq5pVIaHcsz_8SLxaYsHf5Es/s1600/1308+Anchorage+Pt+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsizKktmuFaoZYMxRo3vsshWyJM8GFgJhFbfat-TSZHyUYXxFP4H6Y99CWAFLqBYh1UalijmoK9j8S3HKFuHcni8HynxXfRyVCAHc7KQodwgmagzLnE9fAkZBmmZ4euYeM7TnKiEzTLCp/s1600/1408+Anchorage+Pt+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsizKktmuFaoZYMxRo3vsshWyJM8GFgJhFbfat-TSZHyUYXxFP4H6Y99CWAFLqBYh1UalijmoK9j8S3HKFuHcni8HynxXfRyVCAHc7KQodwgmagzLnE9fAkZBmmZ4euYeM7TnKiEzTLCp/s320/1408+Anchorage+Pt+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Early morning reflections in the channel</em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-O_pHF3bJHOvH0NbYZRSeb-bxI33BeYBiVS5pT8OAsM-8U6hyphenhyphenGIKdPOOnXYGxNrbvg-hbAwgdDiN_dBNds2yrQzMrvsGM345ifd6IqwXKwaNMx-Kr7oZAMwlNX6QRiiB3y5CP6sq8FSQ/s1600/1408+Anchorage+Pt+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-O_pHF3bJHOvH0NbYZRSeb-bxI33BeYBiVS5pT8OAsM-8U6hyphenhyphenGIKdPOOnXYGxNrbvg-hbAwgdDiN_dBNds2yrQzMrvsGM345ifd6IqwXKwaNMx-Kr7oZAMwlNX6QRiiB3y5CP6sq8FSQ/s320/1408+Anchorage+Pt+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>... and who should come along for a photo opportunity</em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zOOPDRayrrFhFU5Nvc4spA7hZqFxkeuNRgUkutWJTmsQAusAmVrqDxc3zUqeHlN6MWfa-5HWmleQZbdvFhK_qSPCBFrQm4r6s-iqXsBMGF0YlO3YB0_2GO4WP7ARUSvFosJwmbtLIoz_/s1600/1408+Anchorage+Pt+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zOOPDRayrrFhFU5Nvc4spA7hZqFxkeuNRgUkutWJTmsQAusAmVrqDxc3zUqeHlN6MWfa-5HWmleQZbdvFhK_qSPCBFrQm4r6s-iqXsBMGF0YlO3YB0_2GO4WP7ARUSvFosJwmbtLIoz_/s320/1408+Anchorage+Pt+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Reflections looking towards Hinchinbrook Island.</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a sense of deja vu yesterday morning when I took a photo of the perfect morning reflection of the Hinchinbrook mountains in the still waters of the channel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This place never fails to impress us with it's beauty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But it was during the night that we saw the reflection that had us both in `Wow!' mode.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">There was no moon so it was total blackness all around except for our anchor light and the stars in the cloudless sky.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Those stars were perfectly reflected in the glassy waters giving the sensation that Sea Piper was suspended in the middle of a glass bubble.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was awesome!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was also cold. Temperatures have been dropping to single figures which is pretty unusual for mid-August - from our experience anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But with gorgeous days, we're not complaining.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Heard on the news yesterday that a fire had broken out (suspected deliberately lit) at the abandoned Hinchinbrook Island resort. We caught a snippet on the tv last night, filmed from a passing helicopter, and it looked ferocious so suspect the main building and nearby cabins are reduced to ash. It's a wonder we didn't see the black smoke across the mountain although the wind would have been blowing it away from us. </span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnR4AxuOOYdP9-RIrmsV7AuE7IY_g1mASg2oJSdYHfhenJPRxeiz5zsasO3QSZEIkHZIu7EuONNz38P5wv5UQYvhIAisA1GmxQ5x69VrPi4rxiXZxrREflq5pVIaHcsz_8SLxaYsHf5Es/s1600/1308+Anchorage+Pt+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnR4AxuOOYdP9-RIrmsV7AuE7IY_g1mASg2oJSdYHfhenJPRxeiz5zsasO3QSZEIkHZIu7EuONNz38P5wv5UQYvhIAisA1GmxQ5x69VrPi4rxiXZxrREflq5pVIaHcsz_8SLxaYsHf5Es/s320/1308+Anchorage+Pt+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Is that a smile Mr Crocodile?</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-36905737414689625552015-08-13T15:26:00.002+10:002015-08-13T15:26:37.227+10:00When to swim - and when not to ...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Txf08jHGUyXc8uBp1hgJKdHnPw9jQOEccUIrqmyIg8TrT-JFegYqe4BDi59YFkeB5MyzPixwCN-u9kno_UsMLgIvYHLWecGUTv4tmWWU-1viZMGYqzeynfQyq4XwQS_pfbP-crwJqRin/s1600/Gem%2527s+pics+1016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Txf08jHGUyXc8uBp1hgJKdHnPw9jQOEccUIrqmyIg8TrT-JFegYqe4BDi59YFkeB5MyzPixwCN-u9kno_UsMLgIvYHLWecGUTv4tmWWU-1viZMGYqzeynfQyq4XwQS_pfbP-crwJqRin/s320/Gem%2527s+pics+1016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Sea Piper in the spotlight! Early morning sail</em>.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes the weather gods smile kindly upon you - and that's certainly been the case for the past week or so cruising and hanging out with <em>Paws</em>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dunk Island was excellent - as it always is. The Sunday music sesh is still well-supported by mainlanders with the water taxi doing a booming business all day and the sand spit dotted with private boats from Mission Beach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">When Monday dawned, we had the place virtually to ourselves, save for the workers slowly but surely reclaiming the resort from its Cyclone Yasi devastation over four years ago. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4tZABlqf1bsNBMMPNRAk3pNPDAYCs0vF0YjasKNubkJv1KKw5za7bJZWrS0zAXytTqAp-8MD_0wKYMWWP9DgC1-nmOb3NCGOoW3zEEes8xbkDNt0zwYgIZwbXXXvVjHwygcM8_txiBfK/s1600/1108+Dunk+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4tZABlqf1bsNBMMPNRAk3pNPDAYCs0vF0YjasKNubkJv1KKw5za7bJZWrS0zAXytTqAp-8MD_0wKYMWWP9DgC1-nmOb3NCGOoW3zEEes8xbkDNt0zwYgIZwbXXXvVjHwygcM8_txiBfK/s320/1108+Dunk+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Andi and Gem explore Dunk's clear waters.</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Andi and Gem were up at dawn on their paddle boards exploring the reef, nearby Purdaboi Island and Dunk's lagoon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We joined them ashore and the four of us set off on the walking track to the top of Mt Kootaloo then down again and around to Muggy Muggy Beach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The view from the Kootaloo lookout is fabulous, taking in all the Family Group of islands with Hinchinbrook's Mt Bowen towering in the background.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The rest of the day was spent doing not much!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZhD7orHWj-eHZoqHQ_7J8WQ2xFYzpyjF6UyA2ImQjpqB1q25edHPdXGV7WNbJbNQcIA5nf7Ka96Pk0RIqPYdL9t0XWWzabGHJh6w21bdejXOpwtSKkzpHTmDYYUrlE-JmRNKh8FKE4EC/s1600/Gem%2527s+pics+947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZhD7orHWj-eHZoqHQ_7J8WQ2xFYzpyjF6UyA2ImQjpqB1q25edHPdXGV7WNbJbNQcIA5nf7Ka96Pk0RIqPYdL9t0XWWzabGHJh6w21bdejXOpwtSKkzpHTmDYYUrlE-JmRNKh8FKE4EC/s320/Gem%2527s+pics+947.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Dinghy time</em></span></td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">With almost glass out conditions on Tuesday, the four of us took <em>Sea Piper</em> across to the mainland at Mission Beach to top up the grocery stores and check out the sweeping beach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Wow! Crystal clear water and beautiful white sand. So many places along the tropical coastline have a narrow belt of sandy shoreline that becomes mud, making the water quite murky and uninviting. No wonder the islands are so popular. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We were able to anchor in closely - a short dinghy trip (or swim) to shore. and, lu</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">ckily for us, the well-stocked supermarket is just a couple of hundred metres back from the foreshore so the shopping trip was done and dusted quickly (along with a load of washing at the Laundromat which is a little bit further away) - and Mission Beach's economy boosted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After lunch and a swim, <em>Sea Piper</em> headed back to Dunk for another night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yesterday we said our farewells to <em>Paws </em>as they are continuing to head north to who-knows-where with maybe a return to Townsville later in the year - or maybe not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We headed south, calling in at Cardwell for some (dinghy) outboard motor spares. We anchored off-shore in the muddy waters at low tide and had turtles popping up all around. Lots of sea grass here which is a nice return from (again) Yasi's devastation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Getting to shore proved pretty tricky with Royden eventually giving up on the muddy foreshore and tying up at the jetty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With parts purchased and stowed, we headed to one of our favourite anchorages in the Hinchinbrook Channel and were rewarded with a nice bream, followed by a blue threadfin salmon. Yum!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4trhNAoLa-eYbsI0yKM4hyphenhyphenktwu5I074wL5_7DkFFpUEp2jPlXA-CPI3tyATqj3UNqHySglREapDwGHNjIBNdQD5ni3AB3SKVykiOJZA0q5t_u3GKjztgOrLU5WwZ5V8vyUWURTtv1YFcb/s1600/1208+Hbrook+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4trhNAoLa-eYbsI0yKM4hyphenhyphenktwu5I074wL5_7DkFFpUEp2jPlXA-CPI3tyATqj3UNqHySglREapDwGHNjIBNdQD5ni3AB3SKVykiOJZA0q5t_u3GKjztgOrLU5WwZ5V8vyUWURTtv1YFcb/s320/1208+Hbrook+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>The evening cloud settles like a shawl over Hinchinbrook's peaks.</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Having read this blog until now, ours may seem an idyllic lifestyle. But there is a downside. This morning's jobs included unblocking the calcified build-up in the (salt water) plumbing in the bathroom. A most unenviable task. It is when this job and the regular bilge clean-out occur that I am thankful I have lost most of my sense of smell - and that I'm the assistant whose nose isn't closest to the work in progress! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">There's always a list of jobs to do on a boat but at the moment, the fishing lines are back as we approach change of tide, and a three-metre croc is sunning itself on the mud bank across from us. No swimming here!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4tZABlqf1bsNBMMPNRAk3pNPDAYCs0vF0YjasKNubkJv1KKw5za7bJZWrS0zAXytTqAp-8MD_0wKYMWWP9DgC1-nmOb3NCGOoW3zEEes8xbkDNt0zwYgIZwbXXXvVjHwygcM8_txiBfK/s1600/1108+Dunk+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAllkOPCGx1l0BrO5Ev_w61ct6_grzKzLNhEGUUc6QNc2H-_0BqC9mRyhzVVhJtdwspLdpO_p3ijYid64cPCBnujs91026WTdQ0S_mLGfbtcmHZTlkyEL4pOhwygT-KO0MYzXXvVcqQQA4/s1600/1308+Anchorage+Pt+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAllkOPCGx1l0BrO5Ev_w61ct6_grzKzLNhEGUUc6QNc2H-_0BqC9mRyhzVVhJtdwspLdpO_p3ijYid64cPCBnujs91026WTdQ0S_mLGfbtcmHZTlkyEL4pOhwygT-KO0MYzXXvVcqQQA4/s320/1308+Anchorage+Pt+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Sleeping now - disappearing into the murky depths later.</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Txf08jHGUyXc8uBp1hgJKdHnPw9jQOEccUIrqmyIg8TrT-JFegYqe4BDi59YFkeB5MyzPixwCN-u9kno_UsMLgIvYHLWecGUTv4tmWWU-1viZMGYqzeynfQyq4XwQS_pfbP-crwJqRin/s1600/Gem%2527s+pics+1016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZhD7orHWj-eHZoqHQ_7J8WQ2xFYzpyjF6UyA2ImQjpqB1q25edHPdXGV7WNbJbNQcIA5nf7Ka96Pk0RIqPYdL9t0XWWzabGHJh6w21bdejXOpwtSKkzpHTmDYYUrlE-JmRNKh8FKE4EC/s1600/Gem%2527s+pics+947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </span></div>
<br />Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-68940653726908433502015-08-09T17:51:00.001+10:002015-08-09T17:51:41.298+10:00Awesome<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only one word for today's sail from Hinchinbrook to Dunk Island - AWESOME.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With the early morning wind in the north-west we weren't confident that we could maintain the sails heading due north but Venus must have aligned with Mars and we ripped along at 7.5 knots and more, 20 degrees and less off the nose, and with just 12 knots of breeze.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Total buzz!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Add to that frolicking whales and a pod of dolphins to make up the perfect trifecta.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Arrived at Dunk in time for lunch and the Sunday muso session.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77ye0iccUALL6bKDQ3_bb84XmEakmMg-7-_PehwSoKJZpu36Z3zLrLVKaVpR9aDzvtoczaaxFepcuCr2CFB9WZTMnMLSoUv4pCYVVIf-ddxSTrwAxSadF-boUQVAhMtg-m0oWzzQ-Yj90/s1600/Aug+2015+Paws+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77ye0iccUALL6bKDQ3_bb84XmEakmMg-7-_PehwSoKJZpu36Z3zLrLVKaVpR9aDzvtoczaaxFepcuCr2CFB9WZTMnMLSoUv4pCYVVIf-ddxSTrwAxSadF-boUQVAhMtg-m0oWzzQ-Yj90/s320/Aug+2015+Paws+%25289%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Paws scooting along this morning. Hope they have some pics of Sea Piper doing the same.</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkVXvIUynxXfix6Cd_0uqvRdMNlE2EkhSs-Q9jYIUAk2n4meSsVwieH3NVd3jutkg9eoev6kN_13ENJm5yrtyOKljbCtZb3kS-l04IoyPnbKBNcsRrqAbUqNieSXLjzVDC8rELsxXT284/s1600/0915+Dunk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkVXvIUynxXfix6Cd_0uqvRdMNlE2EkhSs-Q9jYIUAk2n4meSsVwieH3NVd3jutkg9eoev6kN_13ENJm5yrtyOKljbCtZb3kS-l04IoyPnbKBNcsRrqAbUqNieSXLjzVDC8rELsxXT284/s320/0915+Dunk.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">Welcome to Dunk - once again.</span></em></td></tr>
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Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-33296566370279245672015-08-08T16:41:00.000+10:002015-08-08T16:41:59.157+10:00Return of the Manti
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn8KW6h6U5OMhaZblPV3sY5oY1K_97CGeZeNvinW3NLPsrH_-XBYA6vt9zl6Neu_XFcf5M-1VyM7beCHHfLXuYlsgJ5Irwyw4nys91gUU_vcd6XoJjHvNZ6gBHPTHvBGMapybAzxofc5p/s1600/Visitor+pics+Peter+n+Mina+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn8KW6h6U5OMhaZblPV3sY5oY1K_97CGeZeNvinW3NLPsrH_-XBYA6vt9zl6Neu_XFcf5M-1VyM7beCHHfLXuYlsgJ5Irwyw4nys91gUU_vcd6XoJjHvNZ6gBHPTHvBGMapybAzxofc5p/s320/Visitor+pics+Peter+n+Mina+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>One of the rare occasions that we're both in a photo. Thanks Peter and Mina!</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Oh poor neglected Blog – but
at last I’m making amends with my first entry for 2015.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sea Piper</i> adventure continues, despite having sold her twice last
year – neither experience having put money in our pocket. But I’m not going to
dwell on those – one almost-transaction that was sad and the other bloody
frustrating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We have put <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sea Piper</i> back on the market but, rather
than let her languish in the marina any longer, off we’ve headed for a bit of
an adventure, catching up at Hinchinbrook Island with our lovely friends Andi
and Gemma on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paws</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxUBNNPz6FOr4IhrANKfuYwvNgNsI0LZ5zdcA9SMmElL7DGXXtNEI4onTusuai-1yh3_7PUZdxgMkEWaMuB_-bomqfZv3MPP1F1wKLo-TDxbC7c0nErMEz1Fq74F9mcG-1CecKFWozx-K/s1600/0608+Creek7+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxUBNNPz6FOr4IhrANKfuYwvNgNsI0LZ5zdcA9SMmElL7DGXXtNEI4onTusuai-1yh3_7PUZdxgMkEWaMuB_-bomqfZv3MPP1F1wKLo-TDxbC7c0nErMEz1Fq74F9mcG-1CecKFWozx-K/s320/0608+Creek7+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Easton Cats Sea Piper and Paws at anchor in Creek 7</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our first anchorage together
– our </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Easton</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> catamarans side by side resembling hovering preying
mantis (or is that manti?) – was behind the sand spit at </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Garden</span></st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Island</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> off Cardwell. A couple of nice bream ended up in the pan for dinner but
the tide wasn’t low enough to allow a decent prising-off of oysters.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sea Piper’s</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;">
trip to this meeting point was via </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Magnetic</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Island</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">, the </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Palm</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Islands</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> and round the outside (east) of </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hinchinbrook</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Island</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">, experiencing two mother and calf whale sightings on the last leg. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even though we see whales in
the ocean each year, each new sighting is just as awesome as the first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Nearing the Brook Islands at
the top of Hinchinbrook was a huge whale (I know, I know, they're all huge) sleeping (or suckling maybe?) with her small
calf doing a little roll over every now and then, while mum would emit an
occasional soft blow – like she was snoring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We passed quietly by and she
remained undisturbed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">From our meeting point with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paws</i> both yachts headed to Macushla in </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Missionary</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bay</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">
at the top of </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hinchinbrook</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Island</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">. Lots of lovely memories of family holidays and walks to Macushla from </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Richards</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> resort for us and a new place to explore for Andi
and Gem. Unfortunately the track from Macushla beach across to Shepherd’s Bay
is overgrown (the resort became defunct some years ago with Cyclone Yasi
finishing the job) and with only thongs on our feet, it looked a bit rugged to
tackle the invading rainforest. Maybe another day – with shoes on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The eight creeks running
into </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Missionary</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bay</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">
are reportedly good fishing (and the best cyclone holes) so off we went on a
high tide to explore Creek 7 accessed via Creek 6. We lost lots of bait and
caught a few catfish and undersize stuff but nothing substantial – yet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On our second day in the
creek (and suitably kitted out to deny the thousands of midges access to our
flesh) we dinghied along several kms to where a (Marine Parks) boardwalk provides
access across the mangroves and over the dunes to </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ramsay</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bay</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPvt6OAovIea6l43fbD1kvnq-69NbRRmgT7CIqj5269wum4jXaG5V1UleXJNuSH-PwEZkuqD0s__a5owdUW4T2dOC-97sxCeqJ_Zd7vGaSbkD9y3_xEYM4ZrxGrwGEGJffBVW8uInG5q_/s1600/0608+Ramsay+Bay+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPvt6OAovIea6l43fbD1kvnq-69NbRRmgT7CIqj5269wum4jXaG5V1UleXJNuSH-PwEZkuqD0s__a5owdUW4T2dOC-97sxCeqJ_Zd7vGaSbkD9y3_xEYM4ZrxGrwGEGJffBVW8uInG5q_/s320/0608+Ramsay+Bay+%252810%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Hinchinbrook's highest point Mt Bowen and The Thumb in the background while kilometres of white sandy beach stretch out in front of us.</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">What a delightful day - including
a fire on the beach with potatoes and corn in foil cooked on the coals, fresh
fruit and great company.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52vCgjKj1CNQSlEliusQSJZrTnLtW-GtkmU9EuMbExjyTcG_hZbABrYnCZJHAkLbuLwWzhlXDxJvPKoy5X-xiJZGEXbnD-g8qIyKM3pAS5BjgB6BrmPbxsPmNezwpsKTWJr-WOGoxaU9z/s1600/0608+Ramsay+Bay+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52vCgjKj1CNQSlEliusQSJZrTnLtW-GtkmU9EuMbExjyTcG_hZbABrYnCZJHAkLbuLwWzhlXDxJvPKoy5X-xiJZGEXbnD-g8qIyKM3pAS5BjgB6BrmPbxsPmNezwpsKTWJr-WOGoxaU9z/s320/0608+Ramsay+Bay+%25286%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andi in charge of lunch on the beach</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The 15 knot wind off the sea
put paid to any midges with Royden even stripping off (not totally) for a swim.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRY1840bfY7Y2B2P2AeDm2a3318ucGOBnPaDqMEC6S9E0kTl4tfPgPlUOJidIwJee8C_2giUlbsYdKq-E-5scEnNc0bYZZXqGC-5z9zahV0Tk0jRLzzvQaSqPR1JcDSd8j2K7WHVS1mSwr/s1600/0608+Ramsay+Bay+%252812%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRY1840bfY7Y2B2P2AeDm2a3318ucGOBnPaDqMEC6S9E0kTl4tfPgPlUOJidIwJee8C_2giUlbsYdKq-E-5scEnNc0bYZZXqGC-5z9zahV0Tk0jRLzzvQaSqPR1JcDSd8j2K7WHVS1mSwr/s320/0608+Ramsay+Bay+%252812%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Royden braving the ocean while the wind threatens to blow his trousers away!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our only disappointment was
not finding the remnants of an 1800s wreck embedded in the sand. This was
discovered by a couple of fishermen following Cyclone Yasi but as the beach is many
kilometres long, and we didn’t know which end to head for, and the tide was
rising, it will have to wait for another day and another walk to catch a glimpse
of the wreck.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After a couple of nights in
Creek 7 we decided to move to Creek 2 – Coral Creek – to see if the fishing was
any better. Accessing any of these creeks is tricky as there are huge mud bars
right across the entries with Coral Creek having, you guessed it, an added
coral bar to one side. Inflowing tide – and a reasonable one at that – is a
must. Thankfully the next couple of high tides are a bit bigger than the one we
came in on which didn’t leave us much to spare. However the beauty of a catamaran
– particularly Eastons – is the shallow draft which gets us tucked into places
keelers can only dream about!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtgMeOvJ7YB-TBFRG8HvYZcN7YZg-vgtigH4839N62I2CWiphROugIOHPlls9Pe8QGUQhouPUYn9rvE_p61afQ-YrLP3OZ9p5PrzdGD0S5VCmjiIxWPtMQNPa-QUt21TA1aJYPPlnRkjI/s1600/0608+Creek7+%252813%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtgMeOvJ7YB-TBFRG8HvYZcN7YZg-vgtigH4839N62I2CWiphROugIOHPlls9Pe8QGUQhouPUYn9rvE_p61afQ-YrLP3OZ9p5PrzdGD0S5VCmjiIxWPtMQNPa-QUt21TA1aJYPPlnRkjI/s320/0608+Creek7+%252813%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunsets are pretty good out here.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Right now the Eastons are anchored of Macushla beach once again with a trip to Dunk Island planned for tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-90950777792365373182014-09-28T12:03:00.000+10:002014-09-28T12:04:27.200+10:00Slaying a dragon<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqPti5252aWBAS0jTF8LQ3TjqXQX_d3lM7jfaJ3xixy7EAzDyXqgPlrZyl-cpRrY6owguPcMajZiYp3H89Mqg69sExBB3xSx_usVfSVmNpnuO920tLbaJf8Ista8hBdBXGrPEA3bERia4/s1600/2609+Bowling+Green+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqPti5252aWBAS0jTF8LQ3TjqXQX_d3lM7jfaJ3xixy7EAzDyXqgPlrZyl-cpRrY6owguPcMajZiYp3H89Mqg69sExBB3xSx_usVfSVmNpnuO920tLbaJf8Ista8hBdBXGrPEA3bERia4/s1600/2609+Bowling+Green+(2).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ever-so-long sandspit at Cape Bowling Green.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At last we've put some demons to rest by anchoring overnight at Cape Bowling Green. It feels more like having slayed a dragon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cape Bowling Green lies between Bowen and Townsville. It's a long, long, long sand spit that takes forever to get around whether you are heading north or south. The shifting sand near the Cape results in random shallow spots where many a boat has run aground. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We have heard so many stories about Cape Bowling Green experiences, mostly bad - so it put us off ever anchoring there - until now.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyHxd89jt8ARjy0l4PpHcZdp8yi9J6kAQZ3dxYj-B0EVEUmqI9fL2i8pLZew95myv-X2bRdRjK4db7OB3f1VQuxuyuN1KvDailsLfxcoI6dIiHzZXokAP9sTHPUahcCE8h4obE6oeOnZQ/s1600/2609+Bowling+Green+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyHxd89jt8ARjy0l4PpHcZdp8yi9J6kAQZ3dxYj-B0EVEUmqI9fL2i8pLZew95myv-X2bRdRjK4db7OB3f1VQuxuyuN1KvDailsLfxcoI6dIiHzZXokAP9sTHPUahcCE8h4obE6oeOnZQ/s1600/2609+Bowling+Green+(4).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peaceful times at Cape Bowling Green</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With dead calm conditions forecast, we decided to give it a go and were amazed when we rounded the spit on Thursday afternoon to find this beautiful lagoon with the sea shut off by that long high sand dune. A lone palm tree stands sentinel at the southern most point of the anchorage - the same palm tree taunts you as you spend hour after hour sailing around the Cape trying to leave it in the rear view mirror (if your boat has one).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Birds and fish abound in the `lagoon' and we spent a lovely evening taking it all in. Next morning, with conditions still glassy, we bid it farewell and set off north to Magnetic Island. Breaking the trip at Bowling Green meant an easy six hour trip to Magnetic instead of the usual gruelling 14 hours from Cape Upstart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">While we wouldn't like to be stuck out at Bowling Green in anything over 15 knots, we now have the confidence to stopover on any future journeys and spend three easier days travelling to the Whitsundays instead of two hard ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After a beaut sail from Double Bay the previous day, we left Gloucester Island early last Wednesday and were rewarded with a couple of pods of pilot whales frolicking near the boat for a while. Most of the bigger humpback whales are already well south so it was an unexpected treat to see these little gems. After an easy day's sail, we overnighted at the lower end of Cape Upstart where the dugongs and turtles play.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQsHvuYArOg5Z_YH4M-OnmilQBi5bGzGxaqdhpzMc0d9rY-8Pa7EHZw4KuNRs_78x_xFTziWJPDdAhpTD_oI3eY3NLVlNKf8vkjNSWXnIUQBhg_R2dAZiYOX18y-LGVuMDD97T4LXIkqA/s1600/2509+off+Abbott+Pt+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQsHvuYArOg5Z_YH4M-OnmilQBi5bGzGxaqdhpzMc0d9rY-8Pa7EHZw4KuNRs_78x_xFTziWJPDdAhpTD_oI3eY3NLVlNKf8vkjNSWXnIUQBhg_R2dAZiYOX18y-LGVuMDD97T4LXIkqA/s1600/2509+off+Abbott+Pt+(1).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out where the big ships anchor off Abbott Point, north of Bowen.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We're now at Magnetic Island enjoying music and a busy foreshore market, which includes a sand sculpture competition.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Interestingly, the sculpture happening near our dinghy is a flying dragon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Very fitting I thought.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGlznKSgchPSyPYSu9KuXNWL3wkvQh64BU8VHyrKI02rERSnuR1Kz_X1vOyu0mwy0drVAdS4Z6k-lYRNyCJi45OWEzL_5awxzAJzqrvuf5_G6jgA6dNQpqFs_r9ATCmUV1-NJKP_6TyAT/s1600/2509+Upstart+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGlznKSgchPSyPYSu9KuXNWL3wkvQh64BU8VHyrKI02rERSnuR1Kz_X1vOyu0mwy0drVAdS4Z6k-lYRNyCJi45OWEzL_5awxzAJzqrvuf5_G6jgA6dNQpqFs_r9ATCmUV1-NJKP_6TyAT/s1600/2509+Upstart+(1).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calm seas and beautiful sunsets marked our journey north.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-28339960609832235902014-09-23T08:23:00.000+10:002014-09-23T08:23:30.452+10:00Gold - to share<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPaBYyOk_9_ySAnAcGgdEdOXKaY7J7N6r3hKHoy4fqSwbvw5hFLla9lBgevAcbCsNHfCvUxb5B93aCz3SLUqbui3QLZXk_ymmQ2PNno8fe3VSE4AwPES-SVkLUciBH0-w1PvnR2oJ5auS/s1600/2209+Gold+Trevally+DBay+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPaBYyOk_9_ySAnAcGgdEdOXKaY7J7N6r3hKHoy4fqSwbvw5hFLla9lBgevAcbCsNHfCvUxb5B93aCz3SLUqbui3QLZXk_ymmQ2PNno8fe3VSE4AwPES-SVkLUciBH0-w1PvnR2oJ5auS/s1600/2209+Gold+Trevally+DBay+(2).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Silver one minute - gold the next!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lucky neighbours enjoyed half the spoils from this fishing expedition yesterday at low tide. A beaut golden trevally - great eating fresh but not much good after freezing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Excellent for Nummus though (ie raw fish `cooked' by massaging through with vinegar, lemon and salt laced with oodles of garlic and chilli), which brings back great memories of the Wiligi mob and lots of good times in Arnhem Land. Also more recent good times gorging on Nummus in the Hinchinbrook Channel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Being a bit slow with the camera these days, I failed to capture the transformation of this fish from silvery white to rich gold - hence the name I guess.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We also managed to land several rock cod but each was too small and went back to the sea to grow bigger for next time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The predicted storm front came through last night giving the boat a good wash. For a while we thought the rain was going to miss us as we watched it sheeting across the water to the south. Then the wind changed .... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">More rain and strong winds are predicted for today so baking, reading and fishing are again on our agenda till the front passes and we head to another bay - perhaps tomorrow. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiUJDgcYHaOYNX7zf433BeBWwUF5kvFIttP412bTW1LDtbXcsi0o9hrQ0RXjB8yrqHLSpM_6alirGjJCn5KbTO1Qh6IEvoB7Lef09UddwmK4TUehpG5BoYfGQ7IHf1DAvSvl34JawqyHm/s1600/2209+Gold+Trevally+DBay+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiUJDgcYHaOYNX7zf433BeBWwUF5kvFIttP412bTW1LDtbXcsi0o9hrQ0RXjB8yrqHLSpM_6alirGjJCn5KbTO1Qh6IEvoB7Lef09UddwmK4TUehpG5BoYfGQ7IHf1DAvSvl34JawqyHm/s1600/2209+Gold+Trevally+DBay+(3).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Storm clouds brewing.</span></td></tr>
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Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-37786064324194930912014-09-22T08:33:00.000+10:002014-09-22T08:33:05.730+10:00Chilling out and whetting our taste buds<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw60g0XUdXBkD_mOWIi14WZcFvQdCI7-XcpjUt-T12a4ltEBy2opPqRhCA0uP6twUqR39LJKF9mPlVvf_BYAeRpolfQcVNP8AFDpZZ5mVC_CXSHcbzYU1ajaeTBsqN9Zqv3GsoAVSzQ4h4/s1600/1309+Double+Bay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw60g0XUdXBkD_mOWIi14WZcFvQdCI7-XcpjUt-T12a4ltEBy2opPqRhCA0uP6twUqR39LJKF9mPlVvf_BYAeRpolfQcVNP8AFDpZZ5mVC_CXSHcbzYU1ajaeTBsqN9Zqv3GsoAVSzQ4h4/s1600/1309+Double+Bay.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mmmmmm</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There could be worse places to be than sitting in a beautiful bay waiting for a strong weather front to pass - and baking a big fat loaf of sourdough that we can barely keep our hands off while it cools.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We spent a few days in and around Airlie, discovering it was peak season for charter boats with most popular anchorages proving over popular!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was great to see the Airlie region kicking some tourism goals again. Lots of people on the streets and not so many shop vacancies - assisted no doubt by the completion of the streetscape project which must have been the bane of business owners last year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">While the main Whitsunday Islands are indeed beautiful, our favourite places are proving to be to the north between Airlie and Gloucester Island. There's many beaut islands, bays and beaches to explore along here - so that's where we're hanging out. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwE9ck9seHGm2x6GkDU25YWalR8RFX1WtCZk1qa1b_vPR-tlOHmUnHj5V-F7qmSqy_Wjqal9kCGmVdkip_79ufpK0YYCBVQkP8DKFZ7zpuvyuiHgmxmbOHNWg3qt296S_feWF-Ncbq-SlI/s1600/2109+Double+Bay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwE9ck9seHGm2x6GkDU25YWalR8RFX1WtCZk1qa1b_vPR-tlOHmUnHj5V-F7qmSqy_Wjqal9kCGmVdkip_79ufpK0YYCBVQkP8DKFZ7zpuvyuiHgmxmbOHNWg3qt296S_feWF-Ncbq-SlI/s1600/2109+Double+Bay.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sailing north of Airlie</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqomfHATHas6DK4ASAQxDw_jerWf5HKBiUV5d0gkQRwRWQjFggLwJT6pRpm0C8Vn9DuVXRuvO5T_HR3GVbZD91MK6uskQN_PMDKpDhiwJYaIM0joRSZ2Yy5-nVoO_H6E5XXla3_hOenaI/s1600/1909+Airlie+dog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqomfHATHas6DK4ASAQxDw_jerWf5HKBiUV5d0gkQRwRWQjFggLwJT6pRpm0C8Vn9DuVXRuvO5T_HR3GVbZD91MK6uskQN_PMDKpDhiwJYaIM0joRSZ2Yy5-nVoO_H6E5XXla3_hOenaI/s1600/1909+Airlie+dog.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This cute little character joined us for a sail out of Airlie - with his owners.</span></td></tr>
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Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-42682419565317222932014-09-12T15:48:00.002+10:002014-09-12T15:48:34.812+10:00Anchorages new and old<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVwAjsXvr8EKZrjMq46dqet2L0pIZCYF0sFng-3JZMAETjdaBMUX1oFw2o3FyMF8S5dq3JnvEeuAdp-LuISwSnwTUG8zfBARMXoDVEDsT9xsZXevDmeeAuyCOlOXtoQ8dWdlUulPsbBNN/s1600/1209+Double+Bay+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVwAjsXvr8EKZrjMq46dqet2L0pIZCYF0sFng-3JZMAETjdaBMUX1oFw2o3FyMF8S5dq3JnvEeuAdp-LuISwSnwTUG8zfBARMXoDVEDsT9xsZXevDmeeAuyCOlOXtoQ8dWdlUulPsbBNN/s1600/1209+Double+Bay+(1).JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glassy morning in Double Bay today.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's incredible that we can be anchored in a secluded little bay with no access to phone or TV but, lo and behold, we have internet (albeit slow and intermittent) thanks to that thingy on the top of the mast that runs down and connects to our plug-in wireless that connects to our laptop.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Allelujah! How else would we keep up with the world?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Since the last blog, we have had an easy trip south through to a lovely (and new to us) anchorage off Gloucester Island. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bona Bay proved peaceful and calm - a great overnight stop and with a long sandy beach for a morning walk. The shady area beyond the beach, complete with pit toilets and picnic tables, is obviously popular with campers and we had a laugh at the big sign `No Fires" with camp fire debris all around it. I often think that National Parks campsites like this would fare better if there was one reasonably sized fireplace where people could have a fire on or near the beach rather than the litter of a dozen half-covered piles of burnt debris.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKFbkxpuuYJVcGeFz7Z6MUWLvmH3whGzkKTEhO9w6qe19pqH1ITyw7wiPANlAEXZX_U60YQQmJqSiH0GuEhhBTdWEemfWTdvpjWKZNuoxRtRhHvqLr_NU8Qu4nfiVWEsO3KqCHaLZFtyn/s1600/1009+Bona+Bay+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKFbkxpuuYJVcGeFz7Z6MUWLvmH3whGzkKTEhO9w6qe19pqH1ITyw7wiPANlAEXZX_U60YQQmJqSiH0GuEhhBTdWEemfWTdvpjWKZNuoxRtRhHvqLr_NU8Qu4nfiVWEsO3KqCHaLZFtyn/s1600/1009+Bona+Bay+(1).JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Backing onto the beach at Bona Bay</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYogc4DWqVheggFeBTbTftyWkO_G0xczidJ3sE9yBM5k0l-_UBjVoYQELlILvO3QxU1ZszxjhpKPm34hr7MFs7vQZQWVAwRBVBp8iTTC03rAZtlsdiwBqS6nShMqc8q0z2T8GYvCGa1RWt/s1600/1009+Bona+Bay+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYogc4DWqVheggFeBTbTftyWkO_G0xczidJ3sE9yBM5k0l-_UBjVoYQELlILvO3QxU1ZszxjhpKPm34hr7MFs7vQZQWVAwRBVBp8iTTC03rAZtlsdiwBqS6nShMqc8q0z2T8GYvCGa1RWt/s1600/1009+Bona+Bay+(4).JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking across the bay towards Bowen</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJd55hBfy5QPHfg5csOoAgNVc65XqqHMIgTcZhb6IFXa1NBngelfaBsTFYOPn_r5sHeIboXAFWc0fzs7zxIXGZ5HVrgYXk1I4HTEGsvLGHQwhuqc0quUu40SrSfBCPnZUmORmC7TzoUkT/s1600/1109+Bona+Bay+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJd55hBfy5QPHfg5csOoAgNVc65XqqHMIgTcZhb6IFXa1NBngelfaBsTFYOPn_r5sHeIboXAFWc0fzs7zxIXGZ5HVrgYXk1I4HTEGsvLGHQwhuqc0quUu40SrSfBCPnZUmORmC7TzoUkT/s1600/1109+Bona+Bay+(2).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bona Bay beach</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhTFr_hEjZ3oC9iSQolnnTQjpdPbQo6S840SfI9SlfO25TlMIeViNah-aFlwvHUwFrXSLhi3yfklD5tX4zU_2wwEaybm7FEAf6fs8n097-st5Exp6T2rGfTUIhKGshsbffPWRAuU4j9GU/s1600/1109+Bona+Bay+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhTFr_hEjZ3oC9iSQolnnTQjpdPbQo6S840SfI9SlfO25TlMIeViNah-aFlwvHUwFrXSLhi3yfklD5tX4zU_2wwEaybm7FEAf6fs8n097-st5Exp6T2rGfTUIhKGshsbffPWRAuU4j9GU/s1600/1109+Bona+Bay+(3).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sea Piper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yesterday, in glassy conditions, we caught the last of the incoming tide through the Gloucester Passage and stopped for lunch at Olden Island. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yay! We're officially in the Whitsundays.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After a lazy hour or so a freshening breeze enable us to sail around to Double Bay, one of our favourites and where we plan to spend the next couple of days before heading around to Airlie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The fishing is generally good here but I don't want to jinx us at this point. We caught a nice size (three meals) mackerel as we approached Bowen the other day so we're not short of fish. </span>Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-1908402877136381382014-09-12T15:19:00.003+10:002014-09-12T15:19:27.410+10:00Achtung!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEejn4Q4U4-4r6_DITskOVZ50Z0cInl9NJwHF9SxK3t2fS3cEA5J8qDgubR1wj2e0gBhv6jKknPium7k8MDOrRiVwuCthPD7n_1-xnZbuWkCBpirdhwkTjLEM7zu4sBWNJQQsbQi9-pai/s1600/2008+H'brook%2Bexit%2B(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEejn4Q4U4-4r6_DITskOVZ50Z0cInl9NJwHF9SxK3t2fS3cEA5J8qDgubR1wj2e0gBhv6jKknPium7k8MDOrRiVwuCthPD7n_1-xnZbuWkCBpirdhwkTjLEM7zu4sBWNJQQsbQi9-pai/s1600/2008+H'brook%2Bexit%2B(3).JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Back-tracking once again after downloading photos from my camera - I'd forgotten about the croc sightings in the Hinchinbrook Channel during Leigh and Rob's visit, so thought I'd plonk in a photo of one that hit the water as we ambled up the channel.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6jKJ6KzbOssoDwJsm3e8SLsaf4pxNGv35lotq_FJmrXVX17cyztKli5jk29fjqOaqA-DoW3UWPBC1J_g32Pf2OawJak1G8Jhyu-9-rypmBtEzkHHosR6tHPZ68eQGWBhYndrSsadslr4/s1600/2008+H'brook%2Bexit%2B(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6jKJ6KzbOssoDwJsm3e8SLsaf4pxNGv35lotq_FJmrXVX17cyztKli5jk29fjqOaqA-DoW3UWPBC1J_g32Pf2OawJak1G8Jhyu-9-rypmBtEzkHHosR6tHPZ68eQGWBhYndrSsadslr4/s1600/2008+H'brook%2Bexit%2B(5).JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The `No </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Swimming - Achtung' sign is everywhere in northern parts - does that mean German people are the preferred delicacy for crocs?</span><br />
Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-40842224369454912372014-09-09T16:15:00.000+10:002014-09-09T16:15:45.550+10:00Neglected - but not forgotten<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK, I accept this blog is suffering from a serious case of neglect which I am about to rectify - at least once for this year anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm inspired by our current anchorage at Cape Upstart, which is about half way between Townsville and the northern end of the Whitsundays. It's a good 13 to 14 hour sail from Townsville with not much chance of a comfy anchorage in between. After a 4am start (from Horseshoe Bay on Magnetic Island) yesterday we welcomed lowering the sails and our anchor hitting the sandy/mud at the lower end of the Cape, just as the sun dipped over the horizon. It was not much more than an hour later that our own eyelids dipped.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The weather forecast and sheer weariness led us to declare today a rest day. And what a great decision. We've just been watching dugongs feeding around us as the tide slips out for one of the year's lowest - 0.02 metres. The bird life is beautiful and we are protected by craggy mountains fringed with mangroves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We haven't anchored down this far into the Cape before, but it will be getting marked on our navigation system as a preferred spot.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOX3bvxwuFnzYNKuY3CnA4m_JWRbZ8vQZK00L6vET7eZbOQFsKiIPBYZSYkrioXI1F1Bumt_XFIuPV23YG_6KKqQPBXjtYifERYKXQfWxYFv_Vt07f7r7qoARXQrckqY1PMixiHCUSvHIX/s1600/0909+Upstart+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOX3bvxwuFnzYNKuY3CnA4m_JWRbZ8vQZK00L6vET7eZbOQFsKiIPBYZSYkrioXI1F1Bumt_XFIuPV23YG_6KKqQPBXjtYifERYKXQfWxYFv_Vt07f7r7qoARXQrckqY1PMixiHCUSvHIX/s1600/0909+Upstart+(1).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The southern end of Cape Upstart - and there's a dugong or two in there somewhere.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I suppose I'd better backtrack a bit to fill in Sea Piper's travels to date.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We didn't return to Townsville from Victoria until mid-May and then needed to do the usual season-starting odd jobs on the boat, which we interspersed with some trips out to Horseshoe Bay and fun music jam sessions, most memorably the marina Pirate Party and on the beach with a crackling fire at White Lady Bay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Luckily for us, Royden's next Melbourne meeting coincided with the start of school holidays so Zander and Sonny were able to fly back with him and spend about 10 days on the boat. Stu also joined us for a few days at the end and insisted on taking the boys back! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We had so much fun around Townsville and out on Magnetic Island. The only down side was catching no fish, in fact not even losing a bait.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXYqNCxDTjyzbZIZsQbpe7ZSIQRC1PLcfVB-pnAWE6cNEB9TfDbvIiFvchp_8o034NBJzypnT3hgziberxf-QMhv00tNz0Tbsy_Q6ko3gmnsRnEx0V-1GSlDqcOVC91pJRQn8pg3z6Rip/s1600/P6300121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXYqNCxDTjyzbZIZsQbpe7ZSIQRC1PLcfVB-pnAWE6cNEB9TfDbvIiFvchp_8o034NBJzypnT3hgziberxf-QMhv00tNz0Tbsy_Q6ko3gmnsRnEx0V-1GSlDqcOVC91pJRQn8pg3z6Rip/s1600/P6300121.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Studying marina marine life.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MlTWM0QlwV2mFrVp08IToXP65CLY0lKf8RL191ulK9gI4Ai9MQOk1AoajewwnweEUH9U_y6aKeGqDP8SL7HrWUkc2H2ffmV88c6OGM8061SOS9LlJX9yDJ3rJuv_nffuUFoVDPQn1waL/s1600/0107+Zander+&+Sonny+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MlTWM0QlwV2mFrVp08IToXP65CLY0lKf8RL191ulK9gI4Ai9MQOk1AoajewwnweEUH9U_y6aKeGqDP8SL7HrWUkc2H2ffmV88c6OGM8061SOS9LlJX9yDJ3rJuv_nffuUFoVDPQn1waL/s1600/0107+Zander+&+Sonny+(4).JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fun - but no fish.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David was our next visitor, joining us for two weeks around the Palm Islands and Hinchinbrook, which included a trip into Zoe Bay and the waterfall which we hadn't been to for over 20 years!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The fish had started biting by then and mackerel and bream were on the menu plenty of nights.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWE5Fyc3uEj3eZBmdTkcWwP8AoP7iwlTttS2Mw81vb09B-pncQw2pANMPOyypX9dj6yCXdn_t8IJXeJ7eqkdX51gAMo1DDj9WGo6Jq2Q_xYyBf422nxmOqx5_R5j9burfMfeAUrMEU00xr/s1600/2107+NthEast+Bay+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWE5Fyc3uEj3eZBmdTkcWwP8AoP7iwlTttS2Mw81vb09B-pncQw2pANMPOyypX9dj6yCXdn_t8IJXeJ7eqkdX51gAMo1DDj9WGo6Jq2Q_xYyBf422nxmOqx5_R5j9burfMfeAUrMEU00xr/s1600/2107+NthEast+Bay+(1).JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No prizes for guessing what's for dinner.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQT9aU77edAiWLSXGg0qiZqbkzxUwi8NApX2aGUVnH4IVLmuqDNHLr9ga8tO_FGnp8F489Vx1tyqm9YSo1oXq-fEvyyVPRxF133il6diKMvqy0uci5B1DjxsrPTCu2Jx-Y5mp0Ru-dwYL/s1600/2107+Whales+off+NE+Palm+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQT9aU77edAiWLSXGg0qiZqbkzxUwi8NApX2aGUVnH4IVLmuqDNHLr9ga8tO_FGnp8F489Vx1tyqm9YSo1oXq-fEvyyVPRxF133il6diKMvqy0uci5B1DjxsrPTCu2Jx-Y5mp0Ru-dwYL/s1600/2107+Whales+off+NE+Palm+(2).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We haven't spotted many whales this year but this pod came so close we couldn't help but see them.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5buoBFki-yjJn4GsD7ZH8CpX_k926rSLhZ76SdcyudS_Ss9Lq6kxq4cvP-YvvWUUwx-vdzNjiYhS26RckNt8HEWqVUw3YoAejb-PVKypoOFGn0yi3gTYhVaRk4kDmoskuiPdOu1U26KK/s1600/2107+NthEast+Bay+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5buoBFki-yjJn4GsD7ZH8CpX_k926rSLhZ76SdcyudS_Ss9Lq6kxq4cvP-YvvWUUwx-vdzNjiYhS26RckNt8HEWqVUw3YoAejb-PVKypoOFGn0yi3gTYhVaRk4kDmoskuiPdOu1U26KK/s1600/2107+NthEast+Bay+(4).JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shells and seeds</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52YZduCruERTBrJiEvxe6lLbHsZZsslkaZgSDaf-lLT8f28ZgN_HVoI5vnY0r_GIapzKAfFLWr_JVG4txycicdVpK11FqRtVIPnRsh87dUUKg9x_CquXZmxa5iHdoG4z_9Hw2XL0g6LwA/s1600/2307+Zoe+Bay+-+H'brook%2B(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52YZduCruERTBrJiEvxe6lLbHsZZsslkaZgSDaf-lLT8f28ZgN_HVoI5vnY0r_GIapzKAfFLWr_JVG4txycicdVpK11FqRtVIPnRsh87dUUKg9x_CquXZmxa5iHdoG4z_9Hw2XL0g6LwA/s1600/2307+Zoe+Bay+-+H'brook%2B(8).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The clear waters of Zoe Falls are also very cold as Royden found out.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG5F7IeOiPq-X-yL0WYG-zZdDI3wgFuJk_s3qw-yxB0PLeBiy4vQIsXUo9vtKe6jbsu6lkWM4NIFvUaljDGkTZZEy95pVbc_SOBQapZ39StYJGoTqUsL642urvo7CNsNZJdvpiKmoav7r/s1600/P8010175+Horseshoe+am+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG5F7IeOiPq-X-yL0WYG-zZdDI3wgFuJk_s3qw-yxB0PLeBiy4vQIsXUo9vtKe6jbsu6lkWM4NIFvUaljDGkTZZEy95pVbc_SOBQapZ39StYJGoTqUsL642urvo7CNsNZJdvpiKmoav7r/s1600/P8010175+Horseshoe+am+(1).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morning in Horseshoe Bay</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We made it back to Townsville with a few hours to spare before greeting Leigh and Rob for a three week Sea Piper adventure. Our plans to go to the Whitsundays went out the window with the strong south-easterlies so we again headed north to the Palms, Hinchinbrook, Gould and Garden Islands and Dunk Island.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dunk was a delight. After being wrecked by Cyclone Yasi in Feb 2011, work restoring the resort is underway and the public areas have been rebuilt by the local council. It sports a new jetty, campground, shower and toilet block (all in place when we came through in November last year) and the walking tracks are also cleared and open again. But more importantly, the café/bar and Sunday music sessions are in full swing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The locals are embracing the place and the water taxis and ferries were busy all day during our visit.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2A6gfC9qIe9nx5rxSXsCuQHLmrnmDZx-bdaBTShg8vJeTQX-312nO8-Oe6R05jp2i9BRaGzW6moOHwuPnb42EdnQAqAyHkTrkebnX6JRnb8mAaInka1FaYoL7Eea77dcFoqQi5TnohT-/s1600/1408+H'brook%2Bchannel%2B(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2A6gfC9qIe9nx5rxSXsCuQHLmrnmDZx-bdaBTShg8vJeTQX-312nO8-Oe6R05jp2i9BRaGzW6moOHwuPnb42EdnQAqAyHkTrkebnX6JRnb8mAaInka1FaYoL7Eea77dcFoqQi5TnohT-/s1600/1408+H'brook%2Bchannel%2B(1).JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early morning Hinchinbrook</span></td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpi2eAIW-h-SL4t7qlqB-YibJh9raNZTZVSW7AAf6cU0cd3anIdLmXJRwpuifmEB-lOeg9FNnnudqIH5Xwv22zDFXhNfnyX88kpP8jRa_bzzFlNiEM8KbtHA3zaT9kb-6sBv5ai-_Ilu23/s1600/1508+Anchorage+Point+H'brook%2B(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpi2eAIW-h-SL4t7qlqB-YibJh9raNZTZVSW7AAf6cU0cd3anIdLmXJRwpuifmEB-lOeg9FNnnudqIH5Xwv22zDFXhNfnyX88kpP8jRa_bzzFlNiEM8KbtHA3zaT9kb-6sBv5ai-_Ilu23/s1600/1508+Anchorage+Point+H'brook%2B(1).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bream ...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTB2RRXXKcBjOBKbnMCZnBXJriiJm41EJjQXJpAW9sgY7QRUkN4-H6OUcdUe2HDWmbaHZ01dMfKklQX0KeSlUVcvcd46t5h5rtP0-eXJX7TMx3t-XgXOeApTiYf6-D0YRs2Q2aChmEgk6/s1600/1508+Anchorage+Point+H'brook%2B(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTB2RRXXKcBjOBKbnMCZnBXJriiJm41EJjQXJpAW9sgY7QRUkN4-H6OUcdUe2HDWmbaHZ01dMfKklQX0KeSlUVcvcd46t5h5rtP0-eXJX7TMx3t-XgXOeApTiYf6-D0YRs2Q2aChmEgk6/s1600/1508+Anchorage+Point+H'brook%2B(2).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and more bream</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43cstrtaj_kd1p0-phIR5thTVHH-LvKkIHTflaTvqimBv4HNYnVe48F-EYhRw_pCYBxgb-08xZwinnBi1Sr55Ljof_Z8WB1OiJosIWiREQiVU2hlcprvS06pywD9Rbp0H-NMVKNotNEFj/s1600/1708+Dunk+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43cstrtaj_kd1p0-phIR5thTVHH-LvKkIHTflaTvqimBv4HNYnVe48F-EYhRw_pCYBxgb-08xZwinnBi1Sr55Ljof_Z8WB1OiJosIWiREQiVU2hlcprvS06pywD9Rbp0H-NMVKNotNEFj/s1600/1708+Dunk+(5).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunk's walking track is well worth the climb</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzZixZw6E3MiiX2dZ17oCXjmxXhyphenhyphenBJecmUndam0KMlC-5h2w8tw9gJ-Qlw3avl_tNE5da3pwIl1ES69z0gCOzTLPB9hrrC5BqmznVX0atX9hC1gE_j4_FXYsWn6fDf74icYEhv-y5Ph5T/s1600/1708+Dunk+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzZixZw6E3MiiX2dZ17oCXjmxXhyphenhyphenBJecmUndam0KMlC-5h2w8tw9gJ-Qlw3avl_tNE5da3pwIl1ES69z0gCOzTLPB9hrrC5BqmznVX0atX9hC1gE_j4_FXYsWn6fDf74icYEhv-y5Ph5T/s1600/1708+Dunk+(6).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drunk on Dunk? Now who coined that phrase?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2Ok9XCELLmQJfB160ScgwxuFwhFT7XWaadE4c4ZjSGKYtci4qu-hEP_2Podrsq0pcnogYNVbPrRL6-3UPWu-SuJhcGWlFiqsgWw_OJo99uBtiVRZxs06f6gjEQcER12iujw44Q2-uuZj/s1600/1708+Dunk+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2Ok9XCELLmQJfB160ScgwxuFwhFT7XWaadE4c4ZjSGKYtci4qu-hEP_2Podrsq0pcnogYNVbPrRL6-3UPWu-SuJhcGWlFiqsgWw_OJo99uBtiVRZxs06f6gjEQcER12iujw44Q2-uuZj/s1600/1708+Dunk+(7).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmm ...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2zWMPHD9Jx0V62sL03CFBy_j7WKjzs-MxKCSOEb1VO77z3AOzVL7IYIqRfS3fwPAR33Jne26J53gSHZBZ08zC9t_xuUNQguyIl6ZpM9iXD2MrcHWoaEuSkpm2VuCnQ9HNBmPaM7hya-N/s1600/1708+Dunk+(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2zWMPHD9Jx0V62sL03CFBy_j7WKjzs-MxKCSOEb1VO77z3AOzVL7IYIqRfS3fwPAR33Jne26J53gSHZBZ08zC9t_xuUNQguyIl6ZpM9iXD2MrcHWoaEuSkpm2VuCnQ9HNBmPaM7hya-N/s1600/1708+Dunk+(8).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great music, great location, great weather, great company, who could ask for more?</td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Another memorable moment came in the Hinchinbrook Channel where we caught up with two other boats from Townsville and had a jam session on Sea Piper. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our return journey included another visit to the former leper colony on Fantome Island and and overnight anchorage in Juno Bay. We must have been right over a reef as Royden's fishing catches were like a snorkelling bonanza - however they were also small and went back to their mates in moments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We arrived back in Townsville on the day we were all to fly out to Melbourne. Talk about cutting it fine! But then it was amazing how quickly four people could clean up a boat compared to two. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After a week seeing all our kids, partners and grandchildren, plus many of our friends, we headed back to Townsville and our current trip heading for the Whitsundays.</span>Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-30334809107794533642013-11-21T09:41:00.001+10:002013-11-21T09:41:25.284+10:00Party time - then pack up<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVnsr8PTzjBCjzQOh9jyfsa4r2GE7m4Ni9OA9HYu__gJVoahWjeF61XTvZPBINY90Y3LtMrtiZ_wScPeVy_pj1AiNhSrb7NZNtMmpPvpF3xS3NRMQBKdC-Q1D36uzvJbUUD9UckZxm-0G/s1600/1411+Maggie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVnsr8PTzjBCjzQOh9jyfsa4r2GE7m4Ni9OA9HYu__gJVoahWjeF61XTvZPBINY90Y3LtMrtiZ_wScPeVy_pj1AiNhSrb7NZNtMmpPvpF3xS3NRMQBKdC-Q1D36uzvJbUUD9UckZxm-0G/s320/1411+Maggie.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beautiful sunset for our last night in Horseshoe Bay.</span></td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It might be a bit hot and stuffy in Breakwater marina's protected waters but it is never dull.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We came across from Maggie late last week and for the next three nights it was party, party, party.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">First night kicked off with a surprise visit from David and Vikki who were out walking their dog Echo along the Esplanade, then it was off to the ``Table of Knowledge'', a weekly gathering of marina tenants sharing knowledge (some of it questionable but generally hilarious).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Night two beckoned us to the local Herbert Hotel with Ted and Carolynne to listen to the <em>Hillbilly Goats</em> who really got the crowd rocking with some Old Timey music (aka <em>Oh Brother Where Art Thou</em>) and kept us there till stumps.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And Night three was the marina barber's 50th birthday which included a massive feed of barbecued mackerel fillets and steak with a variety of savouries, salads and sweets to share. As the theme was mismatch, there were some very weird and colourful outfits from this salty crew. I reckon mismatch is a general state of dress out on the water at any time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was very quiet around the place on the fourth night after our arrival!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Tuesday we caught the train up to Cairns to retrieve our recently purchased car that we will drive back to Rochester this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The train trip was fantastic - so relaxing, plenty of leg room and with a personal screen for movies, music or whatever. Even the food was OK.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On the way back to Townsville (by car) yesterday we called into to Lucinda and Dungeness to see what tie up and/or land facilities were there. Dungeness was a real surprise with three resorts on the inlet across from the Hinchinbrook Channel. It was very neat and tidy with a number of new looking pylons and walkways with berthing facilities advertised for rent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's a very narrow but well marked channel into this inlet but might be worth exploring next year.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvU4PMXp5qjJYIn5VQ4OMWeQWMAQGIXHW6y2hY4j_EJ5g_t20CrlywNx4s6cNuv-7ECg3J1xLCyqCp6sx-rbvcdAARVhd6Z0a4dFwzCWDMhFEJQyqp22aZft8laBvs8Eee4wwDURKO2ir/s1600/2111+Breakwater+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvU4PMXp5qjJYIn5VQ4OMWeQWMAQGIXHW6y2hY4j_EJ5g_t20CrlywNx4s6cNuv-7ECg3J1xLCyqCp6sx-rbvcdAARVhd6Z0a4dFwzCWDMhFEJQyqp22aZft8laBvs8Eee4wwDURKO2ir/s320/2111+Breakwater+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking towards The Strand from our marina berth in Townsville. It's been typical build-up weather - hot and increasingly humid with the odd storm to douse us and bring the temperature down.</span></td></tr>
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Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128670724854124408.post-57423026852439519192013-11-13T13:51:00.001+10:002013-11-13T13:51:57.123+10:00Hello Maggie<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fair winds have blown us back across Halifax Bay to that yachtie favourite Horseshoe Bay off Magnetic Island.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Of course anchoring here, just off Townsville, also means that our sailing season is almost at an end. It's been our best year on the water with weather conditions favourable far more of the time than other years. We suspect we may also be getting smarter and better at sailing too but generous weather breaks certainly help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Horseshoe Bay is mildly swelly with the north-easterlies blowing but it's tolerable and we were keen to repeat some of our favourite island walks before we go across to Breakwater marina and start preparing the boat for the cyclone season.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We've just returned from a good leg-stretch around the northern bays - Radical, Florence and Arthur Bays - but couldn't access the Forts walk as it is closed off for asbestos removal. As we have seen in recent days, asbestos is a big problem on the islands as World War 2 era buildings deteriorate (or get wrecked by cyclones).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdSwgfLKsMUlMN-9r2W8ylCSEJqgOUrEMNNKpM8OgEAe7TV8p9JB_CldZzWFVtv9GLKm7QIstRd9jJy3fiKOc0L0sgtpWnI2sKTWwax72BrDUxtHWt6mpbdduu0oPqw8Q708pMm059rXF/s1600/1311+Magnetic+Is+bays+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdSwgfLKsMUlMN-9r2W8ylCSEJqgOUrEMNNKpM8OgEAe7TV8p9JB_CldZzWFVtv9GLKm7QIstRd9jJy3fiKOc0L0sgtpWnI2sKTWwax72BrDUxtHWt6mpbdduu0oPqw8Q708pMm059rXF/s320/1311+Magnetic+Is+bays+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Radical Bay</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh047LWgKhv_wUcbIVRjmGJZkRF5g4ZPOm9OFt5d0TH9wCAQu1ZK07svYqSfgmuPkQ6pfqFrk4f4xfuZ2qVE8qsBhDo5k-iDKzFY9HVC2lKqo5iKWGiK80nFXD5HE4yfJ3UHnaG2On43h_A/s1600/1311+Magnetic+Is+bays+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh047LWgKhv_wUcbIVRjmGJZkRF5g4ZPOm9OFt5d0TH9wCAQu1ZK07svYqSfgmuPkQ6pfqFrk4f4xfuZ2qVE8qsBhDo5k-iDKzFY9HVC2lKqo5iKWGiK80nFXD5HE4yfJ3UHnaG2On43h_A/s320/1311+Magnetic+Is+bays+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Radical Bay</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EgcIJDp-ZHN0EPYXhlKtVtCdx6gvLyL-3OpUzT3roQUvuGYvwWmLqc1WJcjTKqMbMqXQygIwYhWY3b8oNagDczUtzCLUsXiX4IzSfH3-v9hKwyI1fKAblxN-xy79doJed_aaxdk3shQV/s320/1311+Magnetic+Is+bays+(4).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arthur Bay</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDsOK1VqltC778a6q2Xa0xbMWEOCldrSbXcUHvyDSEvxM830t3_QisHm7c7xxApQ4_b1roXQj8sF0e_HVu-aEhftt_Lm6dBRAIxiYHuz1hxxDL9vaOIGacEBM71iktKYTqbKyEQsEa1lg/s1600/1311+Magnetic+Is+bays+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDsOK1VqltC778a6q2Xa0xbMWEOCldrSbXcUHvyDSEvxM830t3_QisHm7c7xxApQ4_b1roXQj8sF0e_HVu-aEhftt_Lm6dBRAIxiYHuz1hxxDL9vaOIGacEBM71iktKYTqbKyEQsEa1lg/s320/1311+Magnetic+Is+bays+(5).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bet the postie has no trouble locating this letterbox.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Another mackerel made it into the freezer on the sail across and will probably be donated to the 50th birthday party barbecue at the marina on Saturday night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ironically I had mackerel fillets defrosting for tea when the fish hooked up. If I'd had nothing defrosting we probably wouldn't have caught anything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Royden also managed to retain his <em>Steptoe</em> title (for finding treasures in dumped stuff) when he found a working speargun on a beach amongst a tangle of debris. Thankfully there wasn't a spearfisherman attached and we can only assume he/she speared something that was too big for them to hold and the fish has taken off with the spear and gun attached. Can't imagine it ended well for the speared fish as the line was sheared.</span>Jantyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141281624076630424noreply@blogger.com0