Windana

Topped up our fuel tanks and headed to pancake Creek to hide from predicted heavy rain and strong winds due in the next couple of days. It was a pleasant trip, even though we had to motor. We took plenty of photos while passing 1770 - one of our favourite anchorages. It was quite mesmerising watching the ever changing herringbone clouds as we travelled. There were plenty of boats already anchored in Pancake Creek when we arrived in the afternoon around 1600. The beautiful sky

Early start this morning, with an 0500 departure from Fraser Island, waving goodbye to Helene as she was writing and the only one crazy enough to be up at this hour. A sloppy run to Bundaberg, with some attempt at motor-sailing with the main up for a while. Along the way, I made a couple of curries and let them cook in the thermal cooker. We arrived at Bundaberg Port Marina after lunch and caught up with Tony’s cousin Wayne (who is a yacht broker at the marina). He kindly dro

After exploring Awinya Creek yesterday, the rain couldn't keep us away from discovering what the ocean beach had to offer. It seemed to stretch on endlessly, its landscape carved and scoured by the wind, waves and freshwater runoff. After our paddling adventure, we emerged from the creek to find our good friends on Perfection arriving at the anchorage. It was becoming more social by the minute! So lovely to see Paul and Nicole, Kyle and Joel again. After a quick visit, we ret

We have now had a major clean up of the workshop – by accident! While the desalinator was running, the brine hose came loose from where it was clipped onto the foredeck net. It could have flipped anywhere, but it chose the worst possible option and popped into the forward hatch, being Tony’s workshop, and proceeded to fill it full of salt water!! With a few expletives and shouts of despair, we began the process of pulling absolutely everything out onto the deck. There were a

We decided to move further north along Fraser Island, so we motored up the Straits at a tide-assisted rate of 6.5 knots. RooBinEsque (Graham and Helene) were anchored at Arch Cliffs, so we headed up that way to join them, as we hadn’t seen them since Manly. Anchored in time to join them for well-timed sundowners. Spent a few lovely days walking the long stretches of beach, climbing sand hills, paddling, yabbying, fishing and taking plenty of photos. There was an abundance of

Awoke early this morning feeling fully refreshed and was met by this view: Although it was cold and crisp, the morning just kept getting better: To top off the beautiful day, I decided to experiment with my thermal cooker (Thermos Shuttle Chef) and cook up some silverside. It was too big for one pot so did half in the Shuttle Chef and the other half the traditional way on the stove – a true test. In the end, both were tender and delicious!!

Yesterday we finally departed the marina in Manly around midday. The strong winds had eased and we headed out into a moderate westerly breeze. We left Moreton Bay through the East Channel to get a bit more wind - and boy, did we get more wind!! The Venus Banks were standing up and the channel itself had quite a big swell running. While flying along at ten knots sounds like good progress, we actually spent our time trying to slow down. It involved reefing down the mainsail and

As we were about to spend the next month or so in the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club in Manly, we tried to embrace all the advantages that staying in one place allowed. I found a walking/talking buddy in Wendy (from Temptress), together enjoying the scenery along the Wynnum Waterfront. Tony, Nathan and I also joined the gym and got into a routine of mid-morning gym sessions at Fitness@Manly followed by a coffee from the Manly Cafe. There were many trips to chandleries, Bunning