Return to Whitehaven

It's not that I'm too lazy to blog, but am finding it difficult to get the internet. Not sure if it's the computer as well as out of the way places.

After leaving Long Island Resort, we headed to Airlie to attend the "Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club" barby and join up. We are now flying the Burgee of this social club and have already been recognised by others flying the blue and yellow.
Ironically I have actually kyaked onto this islet when up at Gloucester passage without knowing about it. Good for one who doesn't even own a kyak yet.

The next day the weather started to turn so we made a quick getaway without dumping the rubbish or buying one single item at the shops! Now we are really emptying out the cupboards.
We followed "Phlat Chat" over to Marcona Inlet. They introduced us to "Shiraz" from South Australia.

We did have a strange stroke of luck while at Marcona Inlet. A small mackeral jumped up onto the trampoline and we ate it. As well friends on Lady Diane treated us to freshly caught mud crab. Very nice.

We made new friends and learned to play "Sequence" a fun card game. Even Capt M enjoyed it.

After leaving here we went to Tongue Bay and spent the night there. In the morning we went for the walk to the lookout to gain magnificent views over Hill Inlet towards Whitehaven. One of the best beaches in the world and plenty of international visitors there to enjoy it.
Lucky I got this update in as it doesn't want to upload any photos. Maybe next time.

Wildlife on Long Island

There a about 10 culews that just wander about the resort staring you out and pretending to be statues. Unfortunately I think they are begging for food. They make strange mournful noises.

Of course they have lorrikeet feeding time like on the Gold Coast.

The pademelons come out on dusk. They're a big hit with the tourists.

Saw lots of brush turkeys in the bush where they should be.

Happy Bay

I love this name "Happy Bay" and after hearing in over the radio many times, we are moored here for the night. We had a rough sail from Butterfly Bay in the north down to Long Island to meet up with fellow Lightwave friends on "Phlat Chat".
Started the day with a snorkel in the warm waters of Butterfly Bay and seeing whales for the first time up here. Finished at this nice resort with a buffet dinner catching up with friends.
Saw some big fish in Butterfly Bay and heard lots of fish jumping out of the water during the windy night. Lots of "bullets" here.

Winds are up again!

Went for some beautiful dives to see the colourful reefs and fish under the water here in Stonehaven. The weather was good and we enjoyed a fun lunch with new friends on "Riannon" a Leopard 46.

As the afternoon wore on the wind built up to between 20 and 25 knots and kept on all night.

No television reception so we distracted ourselves with an old DVD. Have become a Richard Widmark fan!

Wind still up and we are holding on to a mooring. Still OK for cooking as "Riannon" will be coming over for lunch. Spag Bol and will try to cook a loaf of crusty white. (That's what the label says.)

Lazy Life

Well I am well and truly adapting to this lazy lifestyle. Can bearly bring myself to even blog.

After bumping into friends from "Chieftann" and "Lady Diane" on the bus to Prossy, we decided to follow them up the coast to Cape Gloucester. The first night we spent at the secluded Jonah Bay. Another magical place and swam in the refreshing mainland beach. Others have liked it so much they have left fully equiped campsites to return to. They are so trusting, or sure of it's isolation that they have even left fishing rods ready to go next time.

From here we traveled up past "Montes" to the "Gloucester Echo Resort" and grabbed a mooring for $25 a night. This gave us full use of resort facilities and I enjoyed the use of the kayak the most. Weather hovered in the high 20's with a northerly.

Night life was great fun as well, with beautiful food, wine and company. Capt M was so relaxed, he forgot to bring a torch for the dinghy ride back at night! I couldn't stop laughing as we stumbled along the beach in the pitch black (moon hadn't risen yet), remembering reading about the presence of death adders up this way.

After 2 nights there we are now back at Stonehaven ready to look at the coral reefs again. Hot enough to jump right in at high tide.

Back in Airlie

Ahh, am now back in Airlie after my trip back to Ballina. This time last week I was driving, (first time in 3 months) back from Eureka after a beautiful day at the Thompsons.

It really was fun to catch up with family and friends face to face and so easy in this modern world.

The flight from Hamilton Island to Brisbane takes only one and a half hours, and yet it took 12 hrs from boat to Ballina! Anyway well worth it, but cold at first. Thanks to Bianca for driving to Byron at 10:30 pm. Then again on Wed at 5:40am.This certainly reverses the tables. And Thanks to Heidi for coming from the Goldy. I enjoyed every minute.

Timed it perfectly to see Mum, Marie, Lucia and Michael.

Caught up with workmates (coincidentally). Inspected the new/old worksite. Had Indian with friends and even did yoga and gym classes. Sorry to those I missed, next time in Sept.

Next trip is to Sydney in August for my sister's birthday.. fun,fun,fun.

Views from Gulnare

Here are some views to be seen on an overcast day from the boat in Gulnare Inlet.