24th Oct

Unsafe passage

The Narrows/Long Is
turtle @ Neck bay

We left Cid harbour today. Sailed across the Whitsunday Passage through the Unsafe passage between South & North Molle Island.

Decided we would have a look at this side with a stop at Long Island in Happy Bay. Didn’t really like the look of Happy Bay. Sits off a resort and the resort had most of the anchorage covered with mooring buoys, which you have to pay for if your going to stay. Decided we would go on through and across the passage to Shaw Island. Winds still blowing 15/ 20 ESE. We went through the Narrows with wind against tide, which makes for some rough water.

Once through the passage the conditions were pretty rough as the winds have been ripping for a week now. Couldn’t sail as we had the wind on the nose, so we just made our way through the waves to the other side of the passage. Had a look at Seaforth Island not a marked anchorage in the guidebooks, but we thought we would be adventurist and put the pick out here. Really nice spot, but couldn’t get the anchor to catch as the bottom was slimy grassy bottom. We moved on in the passage between Lindeman Island & Seaforth. Across to Shaw Island to anchor in Neck Bay. We’ve been here to Shaw, but at Burning point. Neck Bay is a much nicer anchorage. Once settled we walked the beach and across the to the ocean side. Had the anchorage to ourselves until about 5 when one other boat joined us. We saw a turtle saw as we sat on the beach. See photo.

Once back at the boat we had our showers, and I had a bit of a drum before dinner. Don could you scan and send us a copy of the rhythms? Thanks

Well enough for now. We are officially on our way South!

Cid Harbor

As we know we will be leaving this beauty behind in a few days time we just spent the day here at Cid Harbour drinking in the sights. It is so beautiful here. I took some photos from different view- points to share. The camera doesn’t really capture it all, but here is a taste.  Had a look at the weather forecast, and some North Easters are due in on Monday, so we will make our way then.

22nd Oct

 We left the marina just before 7 this morning. We wanted to make some time before the stronger winds set in. We decided to go across the passage to Cid Harbour. We had a nice shower of rain this morning! Wet the boat but not enough to wash off the dust accumulated in one day! A quick hose off and we’re ready. I did make 1 last rubbish run, and while there collected a couple of flowers to take with me. I’m enjoying the scents and the colours! Here are some photos from this morning. This is our main saloon, and in the back- ground notice all the bananas yet to store. I have been peeling wrapping and freezing them for our morning smoothies!

21st of Oct

I'm sitting here catching up on emails, and playing my facebook games. With the lovely scent of gardenia! One of my favorite flowers. Saw one on the bush last night and had to bring it home with us. I do miss the smell of the flowers and plants.

We accomplished all that we wanted to accomplish here. Boat's fueled up, cleaned up & stocked up!

Last night on our way home from tea we walked by a boat we were with in the rally. 'Wanderlust' Bill & Inaka. They are going to be here in the Whitsunday's for a couple of months, just returning  from Yorkie's Knob. Looks like we will have to hang around the Whitsundays a bit longer! Half our luck! The SE winds are still blowing and aren't expected to ease until next week. We will leave here in the morning and head over to Makona Inlet to sit it out. Maybe we will see Wanderlust there! 

Thats all for now. I will update again tomorrow if I can.

Cheers xx 

Oct. 19th Monday

We are still anchored off the coast of Airlie Beach. The winds are starting to subside now down to 15/20 knots. They have been blowing 25/30 knots constant. We went ashore today for a couple of hours. Had a walk around town, a burger at Hogsbreath, an ICE CREAM @ Baskin & Robbins YUM! It was good to be able to walk around for a bit. We've been on the boat for 2 days with non stop howling winds and some very choppy water conditions! I was starting to get cabin fever. We are booked in tomorrow at the fuel wharf i Abel Point at 8:30 am, so we will be moving from the anchorage early tomorrow. The plan is to fuel up, move her around to her berth and start the cleaning process. She is so salty and dusty and the two together make her very grouty! We decided tonight we will stay 2 nights in the marina. That way we won't be busting our butts to get everything done in a day. W also would like to have a meal out for a couple of nights, and it is much more relaxing knowing the boat is tied safely to the dock while we are dining.

Oct 16th

Well I just spent 30 minutes writing this detailed day and I lost it when the internet disconnected. Instead I will just post some pics from yesterday! FOUND the missing post see below!

Oct 16th

We left Gulnare inlet for Airlie Beach. We are going to restock the boat for our trip south. Not much wind today and what we had was on the nose. We motored in and on the way I decided to clean the fridges to make them ready for more food!

Once Tropical Soul was settled in the anchorage we got in the dingy for a ride to shore. We are in a bit of a hurry as the tide is dropping. We caught a taxi to the hardware store to buy a few things, couldn't find some of what we were looking for. We walked from there to the Cole's shops.

Did a few errands and our shop. Shopping isn't as easy as you may think. Well for me as I'm not much of a shopper (okay depends on what we're shopping for!) anyway imagine having to supply yourself with food to last you for 5 to 6 weeks. Today was mostly buying pantry food, as I'm ordering tomorrow from the organic shop near Mackay (they deliver to us). We will stay one night at Abel point marina on Tuesday. Thats a delivery day for the Organic Shed, and we have some mail coming as well. A chance also to give the boat a wash (she is sososososo salty), a vacumm, some laundry, ect.

We got a taxi back to the sailing club and guess what??????? Yep LOW tide! NO water under the dingy. Bruce had to pull our line from under the dock as it had the line trapped under it. Then he had to walk the dingy through the mud till it was just floating in inches of water, and could move it to the boat ramp.(my HERO) I wish I had my camera as he had mud up to his knees and at times looked like he was that deep in mud.We then walked the groceries down the ramp to the dingy. Once I got on very carefully as it was very slippery we slowly made our way out of the harbour in to the high seas ( no kidding here it really was the high seas!) at least a metre swell/chop running through. Back to the boat a bit muddy we unloaded the groceries, now to store all this food! Where's my list as if I don't write down where I put everything I will never be able to find it as the groceries stay under the seats not in a pantry.I will remember these days once we are landlubbers again shopping the simple way!! :O)