Everything since last time

And suddenly, we find ourselves back in Moreton Bay. A combination of bad internet connection and apathy in the blog-posting department means we have a lot to catch up on. 

First we stopped in for hot showers at the marina at Burnett Heads. This required 5 hours of punching into the wind for an overnight anchorage in Bustard Bay and then a 10 hour sail with wind, no wind, rain, thunder, whales and not one but two fish (unfortunately mac tuna, so not keepers) caught on our otherwise untested trolling lines. 

Cameron then spent three days investigating the leak in our engine water pump, which involved a lot of swearing at nuts that wouldn't loosen and belts that wouldn't tighten. Plus numerous calls to our chief engineer (Cameron's dad) for advice.

Then another 10 hour sail in light winds to get to K'gari (Fraser Island).  

We spent a couple of weeks at various spots in Platypus Bay, depending on which way the wind blew.

As well as a visit to Sandy Cape in the north.

Cameron got into the tailor and squid.

By then we'd run out of food and beer and fuel, so did some shopping at Urangan.

Back into the Sandy Straits as we continued our run south by whatever means available.

A long 14 hour sail from Double Island Point,

keeping a sharp look out for passing boat traffic.

Ending back in Moreton Bay for one last fishing adventure.

THE END.

Back for more Pancake

The trick from here is choosing moments when the wind turns northerly to steal a little territory back towards Brisbane - in between the usual bouts of beach and boat paradise. We've just stolen second base and have been enjoying a pleasant few days in Pancake Creek under somewhat less cyclonic conditions than last time.

We had an overnight stopover and beers at Hummocky Island before and leaving the Keppels with a crack of dawn departure.

Farewelled the tropics as we rounded Cape Capricorn.

Phone connectivity has been very come and go but we do try to keep up with world events. In deference to the passing of the Queen (and my Mum's cumquat marmalade) Jean has started dressing up as Paddington Bear.

Perfect conditions for laundry day.

And wildlife encounters! (We snorkeled at the little patch of reef at the mouth of Pancake Creek.)

Dinghy trips to explore the creek and Rodds Peninsula.

Still pushing the limits on how small a fish can be caught on a relatively big lure 

Fish

There are national parks mooring buoys scattered around the Keppels that make it easy to step out your back door to go dive a nearby reef.

We've spent the last few days at Secret Beach and Shelving Beach (with an intervening trip back to Leeke's Beach to get away from one of those mooring buoys that was banging on the side of our boat at 9 o'clock at night). Secret Beach is not a secret to anyone witth a boat or the local tour operators but it does have some nice coral.

Change of plan... back to Leeke's.

For some of the other type of fish research...

And on to Shelving Beach.

And back home.