Due to a family illness back home in Sydney, Monica and I have decided to put our voyage onhold for an indefinite period of time.

Glenerik is still up North, currently in Townsville, and I we will endeavour to get back to her ASAP.

Will update this blog once we know where we stand.

Bye for now, Frank.

After a great 11 days, the Beaks departed Airlie Beach on the 2nd of August.

We spent a great time together, snorkelling around Butterfly Bay, Luncheons Bay and Manta Ray Bay.

The wind was up a little, so the open ocean was a little rough. We headed to Border Island after our adventures at Manta Ray Bay.

Border Island was a little uncomfortable (actually, due to the sea conditions, this was probably one of the most swelly mooring locations yet!!). The snorkelling was very good, with many caves tucked into the coral beds.

After Border Island we sea course for Whitehaven Beach. The first day was patchy sun, but the next day we ventured to Hill Inlet and the sun was shining. We saw many sting rays throughout the inlet.

After Whitehaven we travelled to Hamilton Island for a few days on land. Dinner, cocktails at One Tree Hill, go-karts, site seeing and shopping.... Had a great few days.... it was a great rest stop on the island.

Next we kept an eye on the weather and we were lucky enough to have calm conditions after all the SE winds that were blowing for many days. So we decided to head off to Knuckle Reef.

The trip out was very calm, and we made it to Knuckle Reef. I managed to talk to one of the captains of a charter boat and he gave me the waypoints to approaching Knuckle Reef. Sadly, it was very much overstated... the coral and fish life was far in superior to Hardies Reef. So on the way back from Knuckle Reef we stopped off at Hardies Reef. I radioed the Reef World pontoon and lucky enough they had a swing mooring available!

We made contact with the caretaker on the pontoon, (Chris) and he was extremely friendly and helpful. We went snorkeling within the Reefworld area (not as good as the outside area away from reefworld.... Anyway, it was good to do that as well.
That night we went back to the pontoon and had a few drinks with the guys on the pontoon and had a chat. It was great. The next morning they invited us to take a sub ride over the reef and to feed the very large Queensland Cod that lives under the pontoon.

The sub was great, a very different view of the reef.... Looks more like a large picture of the reef, rather that the view you get through your face mask when snorkeling.

Everyone had a great time snorkeling around Hardies Reef, probably the best snorkeling we have done. Next it was off to Butterfly Bay, and then back to Airlie Beach.

The Beaks departed on Thursday the 2nd of August, and how we plan to head off to Bowen and further north. Our next update will be when we arrive in Bowen (Monday the 6th)
Frank out...

The weather is still fine, the sun is still shining and Marg and Eddie arrived at Hamilton Island on Saturday the 14th of July.

Before Marg and Eddie arrived we had a little drama with the oven door. The outside glass on the door just exploded!!! NO OVEN! So I ordered a new piece of glass andit arrived at Abel Point Marina. I attempted to install it 2 days ago and the bloody thing is the wrong size. Seems that someone at the manufacturer looked up the wrong part number.... Anyway, it's under control now and the correct piece of glass is on the way.

So, Marg and Eddie arrived at Hamilton, and we spent a few days on the island. Site seeing, eating out and Erik and Glen also played in the Hamilton Island Touch Footy day. They had lots of fun playing footy all day....

Monday morning we departed Hamilton and cruised over to Whitehaven Beach. I have been a little under the weather as I have caught a cold. Still trying to get over it!!!!

Marg and Monica went for a long walk on the beach at Whitehaven all the way to Hill Inlet. We plan to spend sometime at Hill Inlet next week.

After Whitehaven we moved further north back to the secret BIG SNAPPER HOLE!!!! where Helen caught her average sized snapper.

We drifted over the area again a few times but only came up with a spangled emperor (Glen caught it).

After are quick attempt at fishing we headed off to Abel Point Marina. Getting into Able Point in the dark is interesting.... not too difficult but I am glad I had been there in the daytime before entering at night!

Next day we needed to shop and stock up on food and grog, so we called for a maxi taxis to take us to Cannonvale shopping center. We have managed to get the same cabbie each time we have arrived at Abel Point. Nice guy, helps with the bags.... knows the drill!!

So we purchased half of Coles and made our way back to the boat.

Oh, also picked up the oven glass from the marina office (the incorrect one!!) and also picked up a new Ericsson 3G internet box with marine antenna (thanks to Angus from Salthouse that mentioned this box). Installed this and it works great. Now I have better 3G reception as I have a large antenna on top of the boat... also the Ericsson box supports wireless and ethernet...so now we are fully connected.... (this was an unpaid add for the Ericsson W25 3G Internet Box.....not sure if Cisco has one???)

Departed Abel Point Marina on Monday afternoon, destination, Stonehaven anchorage. Spent the night there (West side of Hook Island, just south of Hayman Island).

Next morning we headed off past Hayman (for a sticky beak...) and then onto Butterfly Bay.

At Butterfly Bay Marg, Ed and the boys went off to the beach while I tried to install the oven glass (unsuccessfully!!).

Eddie, the kids and I then installed the Ericsson box, and all the connections etc for the antenna while Marg and Monica went snorkelling. Marg needed a push from Erik to get her into the water...

The girls had a great time, although as the sun set, they had visions of a great white approaching.... the the calls came out, loud and clear, Come and pick us up, now!.... Glen went out on the tender and picked them up and saved them from the non-existent great white....

Had a nice night playing cards, watched a movie....

Next day we headed off to Manta Ray bay to feed the fish. Manta Ray bay is great for snorkelling, but it was a little windy that morning, so we decided to just feed the fish and look out for Fat Albert (a very large Maori Wrasse).

We then headed south towards Nara Inlet, as the wind had picked up. On our way down the west side of Hook Island (wind against tide) the waves were very choppy and peaky... about 1 to 2 metres... this was the first time we had any resemblance of poor conditions.... it was not that bad, just uncomfortable....

We made our way into Nara Inlet, which was a little more protected.... although with the SE wind blowing, it's not as calm as you would expect....

Check out the photo gallery for updates...

Frank, out