East Coast Cruising

Well we have finally made it to our intended destination - The Whitsundays - yahoo! There have been times when we didn't think we would make it as it is such a long way and a lot of miles to cover. In fact we have sailed approximately 1700 nautical miles, which is around 3000 kilometres. The interesting thing is that none of us (touch wood) have been sick at all since we left home. There hasn't even been a runny nose!
We travelled up through the southern islands from Gladstone passing through The Keppels, The Duke Islands, Goldsmith Islands, Scawfell Island and The Percy Islands. We have been out for just over two weeks and were down to biscuits and tinned ham on the last day and little fresh water! Hence our hasty sail from Scawfell Island straight to Lindeman Island over night and then to Airlie Beach to stock up.
Its been a great two weeks though in complete isolation from shops, traffic etc and no handling of money! in fact all we saw were other boaties. Its nice to meet other boaties and then meet them at other anchorages and catch up. We usually recognise at least one boat when pulling up.
Middle Percy Island is a great spot. It is stacked with natural beauty, white beaches and a mountainous backdrop. The beach is lined with coconut palms which we cracked open and drank the milk and chipped away at the coconut. It also has a very small natural harbour which dries at low tide. It is not a national park like almost all of the other islands and it is managed by a couple from the UK , Kate and John , who live in the Homestead a three mile walk up into the hills. This is the only building and they are the only people living permanently on the island. On the main anchorage beach there is an A frame where people have been putting up their boat names for 60 years. This A frame also has a fire place, hammock, table and chairs a bush shower, bush toilet and books and magazines, etc to swap. There is also a great tree house where you can sleep if you want.
The A frame definitely lends itself to a communal BBQ every night with all the yachts and it's a great place to have drinks and meet other people. The leasee comes down and joins in every now and then and brings fresh produce for sale such as honey and veg.
I spent one day doing the three mile hike up to the Homestead. It was a tough walk all up hill but I was rewarded with tea and chocolate cake at the top with Kate who leases the island. Karin and Darcy another couple we met came with me. Kate likes people to make the trek and is very welcoming.
The island is steeped in history with its past and present leases and how they have managed in isolation on the island. We loved it here and in some ways it is more beautiful that the Whitsunday Islands due to its isolation and lack of tourists. No ferry boats come out this far!
We stayed here a few days and then onto Scawfell and then our dash to the mainland to stock up.
We are now anchored off Airlie Beach after having spent two mad days, cleaning, stocking etc. Now we are ready for our attack on the Whitsunday Islands. We will probably leave here tomorrow and head to Nara Inlet on Hook Island for a few days.
It's a great life cruising up through the islands especially as there is little swell!