03 December 2010 | reality bites!
31 December 2009 | Mooloolaba to Tangalooma
11 December 2009 | brisvegas
08 December 2009 | bookar island, garry's anchorage
04 December 2009 | Urangan
01 December 2009 | Bundaberg - Burnett River
29 November 2009 | Bundaberg
27 November 2009 | southbound
25 November 2009 | Great Keppel island
23 November 2009 | Yeppoon
21 November 2009 | Great Keppel Island
20 November 2009 | Port Clinton
20 November 2009 | Pearl Bay
19 November 2009 | Pearl Bay
18 November 2009 | Middle Percy
18 November 2009 | White's Bay, Middle PErcy
18 November 2009 | Middle Percy Island
17 November 2009 | Curlew Island
15 November 2009 | enroute
helpful things to know
03 December 2010 | reality bites!
windy, monsoonal
We are now so entrenched in the humdrum of routine, that we are looking for escape once again, so I finally decided to revisit this blog and add the bits I think may be useful.
I intend to give some tips and ratings for marinas and their accessibility, the best shopping, laundry, transport and costs. Where to find the best butchers, their meat quality, and cryovac effectiveness. Where to find reasonalble fruit and veg, where to access free stuff, and the best stopovers, welcoming resorts (or otherwise) and things to do and see.
This will take me some time, but I would happily respond to any requests to get a move on and finish this, if anyone reads or wants to contact me via email at the following address:-
shelleyof@bigpond.com
And no matter how good your lashings, pegs or knots, you will lose things overboard:-
We lost-
1 pair navy silky ladies undies
1 size 9 black and white starfish ladies thong (flip-flops for those who are thinking more undies!)
1 plastic/rubber ball
1 pair orange ladies undies
1 magic LED torch (that is tragic)
and in Cairns
1 white and yellow gold and diamond thumb ring! YIKES
Grey Steel Iron and Lead
31 December 2009 | Mooloolaba to Tangalooma
what weather?
Monday 14/12 Day 179
This morning at 7.30 am has begun in fitting style for our return to Moreton Bay - steel frey skies reflecting the molten lead of a smoothly oily sea not broken by breze nor swell. This matches my mood so I am resigned to a day of motoring all the way to Tangalooma.
The Brisbane Port has had a busy day as 6 or 8 or more ships have passed us in either direction.
We anchored south of the Resort in line with the leads at Tangalooma Point at 3.30 pm,.
My spirits have been lifted by a wonderous display of dolphin behaviour that may have been playful courting or mating. A group of about 8 have frolicked for hours between here and the jetty. Book reading was suspended for the duration.
We have secured a new home for Shell de Mer thanks to the connections of Grant ("Volare"). She will reside at RAby Bay for a while in similar fashion to her experience at the residence of our kind former hosts Geoff and Kerry who have gone to live and work in Saudi for 2 years. Many thanks and god luck over there!
Tuesday Day 180
Now Dave is procrastinating about our return with talk of staying out here for Christmas - or at least spending "Just a few more days..." but I am resigned and just want to get home as I consider the cruising over and being here only signifies the reality all too well. It is just like being on a weekend or holiday trip down the Bay but without the sense of reprieve from the work reoutine. We also have a gentleman at Cleveland expecting us to berth today and I really want to see my lovely Stacey, Daniel and my garden what no doubt will need tons of work!
back in the land of blah blah
11 December 2009 | brisvegas
shell
Now we are somewhat adjusted to life back on land, I thought I'd better end this tale properly. So sorry it has been so long, but it certainly has taken a while to get back in the swing of things here.
Day 176
While doing laundry my new hat blew overboard, and the most uncanny catch of all by the trailing fishing lure saved it for me! We were tickled with hilarity giggling for some time afterwards.
Well, it turned out to be an uneventful sail to Mooloolaba and an equally unspectacular entry at 4.05 pm into the Moolalabah Harbour, unlike our northbound leg six months ago.
Along the way we had a wonderful encounter with more of the playful Pacific bottlenose dolphins, twisting and spinning about our bows for about an hour, delighting us with their inquisitive and competetive play. We came to the Sunny coast in order to spend some time with Dave's family as our Christmas as we did with my sister in Hervey Bay. After 6 months on board a vessel, I was not really fancying driving about on Christmas Day with all the other manic drivers on the Bruce Highway.
Dave's lovely brother Murray John came out to our boat in his fishing boat, saving us the hassle of launching the dinghy and then finding a place to secure her for a couple of days.
It was a truly relaxing and intimate time the family who could be there, as we were afforded opportunities to really converse with Murray and Vicki. This was unlike anything we've had for a very long time, with most family gatherings very busy and hectic with the large numbers that we make when we get together.
Dave's great nephew was spending some more time with his grandparents and we got to enjoy his company and to know him a little better. He joined Murray for our return trip back to Shell de Mer and showed all the curiousity one would expect from a 3 year old boy. He will make a cute little pirate in a few more years.
clean the house kids!
08 December 2009 | bookar island, garry's anchorage
ne/nw 15 knots
Tuesday 8th December (day 173)
Leaving this morning to head through the Sandy Straits. Had a wardrobe malfunction while fending off the cat-houseboat in the berth beside us, and provided a good laugh for the family members who had come to wave us off, as well as a couple of neighbours who caught the action.
Once we passed the fairway beacon and made our way towards Big Woody Island, sails hoisted, and we had a good NNW breeze that varied from 5 to 15 knots throughout the day, averaging 5.5 knots speed all the way to Ungowa. There is very deep water here at the old forestry station, and with the breeze freshening up to 20 knots very similar to our northward experience, we motor sailed over to Bookar Island once again to anchor for the arvo.
Dave, ever optimistic about the potential in these supposedly great fishing spots, put out crab pots and tried to fish, but the only things biting (apart from the sand flies) were the plethora of bronze whaler sharks 1 to 1.5 metres in lenght - big enough to take your hand or foot. He wonders why I don't fancy waters like these fishing sopts - Sandy Straits, Hinchinbrook, Mourilyn etc - murky waters, no coral, no beaches and favourite haunts for muggers, noahs and blood suckers. Can't go ashore, can't swim and he didn't catch a thing in these places. Even Island Head Creek which was beautiful and did have lovely sandy beaches with the promise of swimming opportunities, did not yield any fishing bounty for us.
Here bloody marsh and sand flies are attracted by the cabin lights, so insect screens and citronella candles are employed to reduce the risk of bites.
Wednesday 9th December (day 174)
Today 15 knots from the NE will present some great assistance as we head down to Garry's Anchorage with the tide this arvo. We only have to go 12 miles so it is a leisurely start to the day. Crabpots collected - empty again!
Dave has picked his way through the shallow channels passing Stewart Island and the local residences there, and Dream Island, and now about to anchor at Garry's. He has learned from past experience and I am sure he will not allow the dingoes to get his crab pots again.
Over the last couple of nights, more of our meat provisions have been a tad suspect, but when it is lamb steaks and Tbones I was very surprised. Dave and Lindsey ate their Tbones but I am too suspicious of anything that smells of anything other than bloody meat. Tonight the rump strips and couscous is ok.
This evening there are 12 boat anchored in this tiny haven including one houseboat.
Getting closer
04 December 2009 | Urangan
Sad Shell
Friday 4th December (day 169)
Dave tapped my foot at 5.30 am as blue clear skies and light south easterly with a swing to the east and the promise of afternoon north easter means that we can head out now. A number of boats are already outside the port leads and a couple have followed after us - everyone keen to make the break.
I am at the helm, Dave and Lindsey are below as I trim mainsail due to the breeze shifting more onto our nose, I have fed out the fishing line and lure and hope to catch a mackie for my sister as she has mentioned on numerous phone calls that we must bring in a fish for her - I am really trying to Deb - even trolling through schools chopping up the water. It seems we never catch the ones you see doing this - only lone pelagics that you never even knew were there, with the exception of the massive boiling of the water at Pearl Bay where it was like shooting fish in a barrel.
Dave is not so well this morning - might have a little something to do with a red spirit that invaded his intestinal tract late yesterday. Wonder how Steve is today??? LOL!
At 7.15 am. got a call from Lesley and Grant ("Volare") - they are on their balcony waving to us as we pass Bargara. Bye Lovelies - see you in Brissy! Unfortunately, with the breeze dead south easterly now, it is too tight to carry the jib so we continue to motor sail with main only.
Throughout the day, we are beleaguered with light winds on the nose, until about 3 pm, when it finally shifted easterly and we had all the cloth up the poles. We managed to get up to 5 to 5.5 knots but then with the mizzen luffing it had to taken in as we changed course to manoevre through the sand banks towards Fraser Island.
Anchored at Sandy Point near Mooan, a lovely spot and calm anchorage with the exception of the voacious blood sucking insects that attacked feet and legs in the cockpit.
Saturday 6th December to Monday 8th December
Hervey Bay
This has been a time for family reunion, celebrating Christmas at the Hervey Bay Aero Club for which my brother-in-law is President. So much seafood was consumed. Sunday I spent with my sister for her birthday, with a trip to the movies to see "The Invention of Lying" - great laugh.
Monday was shopping day including scoping out granite and tapware for Deb's refurbishment of her kitchen etc. I love doing this stuff.
Lindsey had fun with Jayden and Hollie's cat and now doesn't want to leave.
On the pick
01 December 2009 | Bundaberg - Burnett River
squalls
Tuesday 1st December (day 166)
There is a south-easterly change due today, so after getting bread and ice, we are scheduled to go "on teh pick" after our German neighbours do the same. With our dinghy now safely tied to the dock and out of the way "Galatea" glided with ease out of their berth and motored to their chosen anchorage. When we made to do the same, although some kind Americans offered to help we felt confident that assistaqnce was not needed - the breeze had lightened ahead of the change and an ebb tide should have kept us clear of all obstacles - SHOULD HAVE!
Dave had the Shell de Mer nicely astern but shifted to foreward a little too soon, and so when going again in reverse, steerage is very minimal and the breeze pushed us sideways towards the sterns of two neighbouring vessels. We managed to fend off without causing any damage, but once again a manouvre of excitement within Bundaberg Port Marina.
Anchored in the river - no dramas, but the south easterly change arrived as predicted with occasional squalls - scudding clouds and showers of rain. Managed laundry despite all that weather.
Wednesday 2nd December (day 167)
Dismal Day. did nothing and getting a numb arse from sitting around. Returned a missed call from Lesley and Alan ("Aleena") at Coff's Harbour heading home to Tassie. Fantastic to hear from this delightful couple who are still living the life in their 'mature' years.
Thursday 3rd December (day 168)
I am determined to get ashore today as we intend to leave tomorrow - I need ice for my gin! We also need to get in a bit of walking - gotta keep things moving. A man in a dinghy is waving to me so I return the greeting, but it is only when I see his partner on the boardwalk that I realise that it is Madonna and Steve from "Graffitti"! YAY!
Arrangements made for a rendez-vous and many drinks later we managed to catch up on all the news and excitement of our respective journeys. Steve and Madonna sure have covered some miles as Steve is a yacht delivery skipper and he has delivered two boats to New South Wales since we last saw them at Gloucester Island.
Bloody marvellous to run into great people we have met and promises made to stay in touch. I really hope and believe that we all will do so, as the friendships that have been made along the journey have become real treasures that I dearly want to keep.