Wednesday 4 August Yesterday we climbed Whitsunday Peak. The sign said a 4 hour steep climb and that you had to be fit! Well six of us tackled it and we made it but boy it was a serious effort – lucky we are so fit (??) It was really worth it. The view was nothing short of spectacular – really worth the aching legs and crook knees today. That night we caught up with CCC members, Kathy and George on Mee Too who came over to Cid Harbour. We had a lovely meal on board Mee Too and thoroughly enjoyed our evening, thanks George and Kathy. Tonight its drinkies with the “Shaggers” (members of that august group, the Shag Islet Yacht Club , where everyone is a Vice Commodore).

Woops – forgot to say on the way to Cid Harbour yesterday we saw two whales quite close to us – we had to stop our engines to wait for them. Apparently the whales have not read the government’s directive about staying 100m from boats. They really should pay more attention to govt directions!

The two days at Whitehaven were beautiful. We walked to Chance Bay one day (7.2km return!) which was great but again the SE winds had blown coral spawn onto the beach – it was bright green and stank (some people were camping there too – it would have been horrid!). Last night we sailed to Cid Harbour to hide from a 25 knot wind which is now blowing and bouncing us around a bit. But at least we have coverage, so I can update the blog.

Tuesday 3 August Beach BBQ was great and the next day, Friday we dinghyed to each of the three beaches at Thomas and walked each one. Pretty lazy day. We also walked to the other side of the island along a track marked out with old thongs. It was along an old creek bed thick with melaleucas. We emerged into a little cove which while pretty stank of rotting coral spores. That night we had drinks on the beach wit the usual crowd, plus the crews of two of the ARC round the world rally boats, one Poms the other Norwegian. Saturday we set off for Whitehaven Beach in think fog, which fortunately cleared by the time we were at the northern end of Shaw Island. We stopped at Maher Island for lunch and explored the “Phantom Cave”.

Thursday 29 July We left Mackay on Wednesday about 11.00 the halyard having been completed about 0900 that morning. The price was not quite as we expected but the Rigger, Tim was a good chap and unusually for the boat guy he kept us very well informed and came when he said he would – most unusual! It has not been stress tested yet and the invoice for the parts is yet to come so stay tuned for Andrew’s dummy spit. But the sail to Brampton was pleasant and we caught up with some the Mackay mob for drinks on Eureka. The fine crew from: Eureka, Shiraz, Chasseur and us all enjoyed the quiet of the evening, and few drinks to go with it! This morning we awoke to hundreds, literally hundreds or blue and black butterflies flying hither and yon over the water and on the island. A little later Steven, Sharon (Shiraz) and Chris and I walked into the resort at Brampton for a coffee before we headed off to Thomas Island (much more important to us now with our grandson, Thomas). We are now at Thomas Island about to go ashore for a beach BBQ !!