Very leisurely morning as we were going to be here for 2 nights, so for a change there was no packing up to do !!!
Jamie and Susie came over at about lunch time, and we just had sandwiches and some wine sitting in the camp site. We only carry two of everything in Troopie, so as we only had 2 chairs, the girls got those, and I sat on the ground, while Jamie got the throne of honour - The Porta Potti !! This is a very important part of travelling, especially at about 3 am on a cold morning when the camp site loos are a looooooong way away !!
That evening we went to a good little Thai restaurant in Yeppoon, and decided that as the weather forecast for the next few days was good, we would venture out on Solitaire the next morning, leaving Troopie parked in the marina car park. So after meal and wine etc, we went back to the van and slept like logs, preparing ourselves for a life on the ocean waves for a few days.
Friday 9th August
Next morning, after a visit to the liquor store to get some supplies, as well as some milk, we headed down to the marina to board Solitaire. By the time we had got everything sorted out and stowed away below decks (note my use of nautical jargon here, please. Jamie has been teaching me all the port and starboard stuff !!) it was time to head out on the tide, so we motored out of the marina before getting our headsail and main sail all hoisted and trimmed, and set off to Great Keppel Island. It was just idyllic, and the water is so very clear, you can see fishes and turtles and anything else that is down there. We anchored off Leekes Beach on the NW side of the Island, and then Jamie, Janet and myself got the dinghy out of the davits and got the motor on, and went in for a walk along the beach to inspect the oyster beds (NOT my idea of gastronomic fun, but everyone else seems to like the bloody things !!).
Jamie's little dinghy is quite heavy, and as the tides here are so big, if the dinghy got left high on the beach as the tide went out, it would be a lot of work to get it back down to the water's edge. So we devised a system of rope and anchors etc that would enable us to get out of the dinghy on the beach, then pull on a rope that would in turn pull the dinghy back out to sea a little way so it didn't get beached. On returning to the dinghy in due course, we would just pull on the other rope and the dinghy would (supposedly) come into the beach, and then we could all get in without getting wet feet (hey, the water is not THAT warm at this time of year !!) To cut a long story short, I am told it took Jamie and I over half an hour of tying knots, setting anchors, and pulling on ropes, over and over again, before we finally managed to get it working properly !! But it did work, and we are now planning n patenting the system and marketing to any others who might have a similarly heavy dinghy !! Hey, it made for a fun afternoon, and gave everyone a good laugh !!
After that, it was back to Solitaire for cocktails, followed by the most DELICIOUS raw local scallops straight off the fishing boat, just with a dash of ginger, a smidgin of wasabi, and dipped lightly in soy sauce - Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
As sunset approached, we did a spot of fishing, and within about 3 minutes I had two - but they were of a kind that is apparently not brilliant eating, so after a bit more supper, and a movie below decks, we turned in.
I have to say that this sea air is VERY soporific!!! I could drop asleep any time on the boat !!
Dawn was just spectacular. I do not claim for one second to be a sailor, but a morning like this, with a clear blue sky, water so clear you can see the anchor chain on the sand below the yacht, and a white sanding beach just 50 metres away - Takes a bit of beating. I think the photos speak for themselves !!
Sunday 11th August
Many years ago (30 ???) Janet and I had come out to Keppel Island for a weekend and stayed in the great resort. We had also brought my sister Margaret out here during one of her trips to Australia, and had fun. However, times had changed, and several years ago the resort went bankrupt, and had closed. So we really wanted to get round to see what remained of it, just out of interest.It was therefore agreed that we would sail round to Fisherman's Beach, and take the dinghy in to have a quick look at what was left of the resort, before heading back to Yeppoon where, due to tides, we needed to be in before about 3.30 pm.
One going ashore, it was so sad to see everything closed off behind wire fencing. It had been such a vibrant resort, and it is hard to believe that they could not make a go of it financially. As can be seen from the photos, the beaches around Keppel are very popular with the locals, as it is only a couple of hours sailing out of Yeppoon (far less in a stink boat),and there are lots of people there. Further down the beach, we found that they are in fact trying to start a resort up again there - In fact it is due to open shortly. I hope they make a go of it, because it is such a great location. Anyway, nice to see there is life out there yet !!
After that, we went back aboard Solitaire, and set sail in the early afternoon sun to Yeppoon. Once in and moored and everything ship shape, Jamie and I had a few beers with Bob his neighbour, while the girls went shopping for supper.
Shortly afterwards, another neighbour had caught a Threadfin Salmon off the stern of his boat, so Jamie and I had a go too - And I caught a salmon !!!!! It was ENORMOUS. However, Jamie went to recover it on the dock as I brought it carefully in to shore, fighting I every inch of the way, and then just as he grasped it, and held it up for all to see - it slipped out of his hands and back into the water.......................I think there is a photo of it somewhere !! Ah well - A source of great mirth for a while, anyway !! Then it was time for supper.
No salmon ?? Never mind, we had something else !! Mmmmmmmm More scallops! Its becoming a bit of a Yeppoon thing !! And that is just FINE by me !! We also had some very yummy tiger prawns, as well as some great mackerel on the bbq.
After supper, we were able to have showers up on the marina, and after 3 days on the boat, they were MOST welcome !! We then watched a movie on the boat before turning in for the night. Tomorrow Janet and I leave to head back to the Gold Coast.
Pics here :- https://picasaweb.google.com/117739775480775657932/0049Yeppoon?authkey=Gv1sRgCNas89G-8rmZiQE#
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