Mooloolaba at Last

After waiting 7 days in Tin Can Bay, the weather report looked good enough to take a chance at crossing the bar on Sunday. We moved up early had a look and listened to a report from "Kool Sid" who said waves were breaking over the bar. The tide was too low so we decided to wait a couple of hours. After hearing another report of the bar being "comfortable" we decided to go.
We were wondering why we were the last to leave, about 6 boats went before us.
Definitely not for the faint hearted. At one stage two huges waves broke over the bow and we braced ourselves as we saw them coming. Water came right over and sprayed us as we sat at the helm. Everything went flying inside and that's a first.
I thought it couldn't get worse but it didn't get much better all the way to Mooloolba.
Finally anchored in the river around 7:30 pm.
Beautiful sunny day today. Have booked a car for Saturday to drive to Noosa to pick up the car, getting close now.

Still Waiting

This is a lesson in patience. We have been out here in Tin Can Bay for 4 days now waiting for a break in the weather.
Movies, books, music, crosswords, internet, food. Lots to keep us entertained.
Would be nice to go for a big walk.

Tin Can Bay

We enjoyed a good motor sail down the Sandy Straits and stopped at Kingfisher Bay for one night, having pizza at the restaurant. Geoff and Ellen joined us but were exhausted after battling with a huge tuna for 2 hours, only to have it snap the line and lose the lure! They have the photos.

Set off down to Tin Can Bay with the tide, but the weather is closing in. No room for us at the marina so we are outside with all the other boats waiting for the weather to clear.

Geoff helped us set up our new mini TV/ computer thinga majig. Lots of movies and music.

Bundaberg Again

Made it to Bundaberg marina and had a couple of days to rest and provision. Had fun in Lifeline and the Salvos. Dined at the Lighthouse Hotel in Burnett Heads with Bluglass and their friend Trevor "Been a Long" who had just returned from Indonesia. It sounds like a lot of hard work to sail up there.

Had a pleasant motor sail to Rooney Point at the northern end of Fraser Island. A very beautiful isolated beach. Enjoyed perfect conditions to swim, kayak and beachcomb. Fresh mackeral courtesy of Bluglass.

Pancake Creek

Spent 4 days at Pancake Creek, recovering and waiting for the right wind. Managed to fit in 3 good walks, a swim and tea with the lighthouse keepers among our usual drinks and dinners with friends. Ahh.. it's a hard life, but someone's gotta do it.

Constant monitoring of the weather reports and endless discussion would think we could get it right to leave this morning. I was looking forward to a nice sail day, but alas no. Twelve hours of up and down again.

I was happy to relieve Capt M at the helm as my stomach likes it much better up there.

Not much to see out here but it is turtle mating season. Turtle couples locked in lengthy, tight embraces at the surface...

Gladstone to Pancake Creek

We had a great time in Gladstone having bbqs with friends and even attending a free evening of music under the stars. It was mild and sunny, so I took the opportunity to go for an early morning walk through the gardens, parks and town to the lookout. The photos show it is not a pretty place with all the industry but it is such a tidy town everywhere else.

Feeling great and the sun shining, we said farewell to "Phlat Chat" who are leaving their boat in Gladstone Marina and flying back to Sydney. A couple of others are doing the same. (I wonder why?)

"Bluglass" lead the way through the port and we set the sails. At the half way mark we gave up and seeing the look on my face Capt M. went full throttle straight to Pancake Creek. Lots of up, up,up and down through heavyseas and showers of rain. It's just so good when you stop.

Now it's calm and glassy!

Gladstone Marina

Left Kepple Bay for a short trip to Maria Inlet to overnight. Because of the heavy rain the water was brown and murky and it was like we anchored in the middle of a stream all alone. Except for the mozzies.

Next morning we set off at the right time to go through "the Narrows", a small stream that runs between Curtis Island and the mainland. Capt M had been doing a lot of swatting about this passage and we had lost our guides due to the weather setback.

Just as we neared the tricky part another cat "Escape" came up behind us and we let it go in front to show us the way.

I don't know what all the fuss was about, it reminded us of some of the waterways north of the Gold Coast.

We were met at Gladstone marina by 5 friends who helped us tie up. That is a first, we are usually on our own."Warp Drive' and "Shiraz" are also here as well as "Phlat Chat" and "Bluglass".

A beautiful sunny day, cheap marina and the cheapest washing $2.20!

Return to Kepple Bay Marina

It was looking good for a short 'screacher' sail over to Kepple Bay Marina the next morning. However the wind changed and I had to raise the main.... something popped out and so it came down and we ended up motoring again. Earliest marina arrival 8:30 am with "Bluglass" following, coincidentally with a broken reef in their main.

Beautiful, sunny weather had us doing washing and then taking off on the local bus to stock up at Woolies. It was very quiet at Yeppoon central due to Melbourne Cup fever. Ellen and I were in the bottle shop when two people were listening to a horse race on the radio. Hang on it was only just after 2pm! Of course it's Queensland, my first Melbourne Cup in Qld and I missed it. My first year of retirement and no special celebration. Must make an effort next year. Other cruising friends attended a function at Hamiliton Island!

We did have good timing the next night when we attended a complimentary bbq put on by the marina. A great night meeting more new and interesting sailors.

Woke early the next morning to leave, but the weather had changed again. Rain, rain, rain.

Yepoon

Have fallen into a pattern of bashing against the wind to travel south during the day and then relaxing with friends in the evenings and comparing sailing stories.

As I remember from heading north there are pockets of no internet, TV or phone reception and we are in the military zone. Just sitting ducks I suppose. It's a beautiful place on the minland called Blue Pearl Bay. We enjoyed the beach with walks, bbqs and boules and got out of there before we became target practice.

Made it to North Kepple Island and did a big group walk around it, led by Greg from "Outahia". Nice clear water to swim in after and finally introduced "Bluglass" to the card game Sequence.