Wednesday 14 July Happy Bastille Day folks! Australia’s tardiest blogger has become inspired to add a note or two. Since we last wrote up the blog we have been touring with Tom and Nancy, been to Great Keppel Island and are now en route to Pearl Bay (north of GKI). So, Sunday we went for a drive to Byfield and enjoyed a few hours in the hinterland with Tom and Nancy. It was a good drive and the Marina lent us a car for a few hours – what a great service. On Monday we vacillated about leaving the Marina for GKI as it was drizzling from time to time and I did not want to get wet! Anyway we decided to leave for GKI about 11 and anchored up at Svendens Beach about 1330 and it fined up to a beautiful, sunny, warm afternoon. We went for a long walk up the now dry creek bed and along the beach. We had drinks on Schools Out, a big catamaran, we had met Brian and Rowena last year (both ex teachers, hence the name) so it was fun to catch up and meet a few other cruisers. On Tuesday we went for a HUGE walk along Leeke’s Beach and also went up the creek at high tide in the dinghy – it was fabulous. Very narrow in places and clear as crystal. Go Back(Tom and Nancy) arrived out mid afternoon. So we went walking and yabbying with them – not very successful but fun. A few drinks on Phlat Chat last night and an early night as up at 0600 this morning to head north. Trolling now but not much luck so far! Hope to get to Peal Bay today but might only make Freshwater Bay – but no worries both look good anchorages.

Sunday 11 July. We did sail to Rosslyn Bay Marina (Yeppoon) on Saturday. It was a bit blowy with up to 19 knots but certainly not the 30 predicted offshore – they did say it would be quieter inshore and so we steamed into the Marina about midday. Glad we left when we did, Pacific Creek while an excellent anchorage in midge (sandfly) heaven and they will come 100kms to bite Chris. Went shopping yesterday in the marina’s courtesy car – great service thanks guys. It is a nice marina and we had dinner at the marina restaurant last night with Tom and Nancy, with a few quiet ones before at the Capricornia Yacht Club – a little one room building with a bar and a veranda. One bloke in there in bare feet so pretty salubrious really. We ended up with 8 yachties chatting about boats there before tea – all good fun. Today we are going for a drive to see the hinterland for a couple of hours with Tom and Nancy, that should be fun. Maybe tomorrow we will head for Great Keppel Island for a couple of days before heading north again.

Friday 9 July What a difference a day makes. Today was bright and sunny with little breeze (so much for the predicted 20 going to 30 knots). We were up at 0615 and underway by about 0640 to cross the Narrows. It is so shallow that parts of it are used as a cattle crossing at low tide as it is dry! We had to get our timing right. It was not a problem but it got pretty shallow once or twice. We had an extra bonus on the way, a family of dolphins saw past – a little one in tow. We are now in Pacific Creek at the entrance to Keppel Bay and Great Keppel Island. It is supposed to be blowing “dogs off chains” today and tomorrow but it has been pretty quiet – lets see what the evening brings. If it is quiet we will sail to Yeppoon to catch up with Tom and Nancy tomorrow. Today we had a lovely day, we walked along Sea Hill beach for, I reckon, about 3 km in the sun and looked for shells. It is such a pretty spot. Met a cruising family and chatted to them. Tonight, mud crab for entrée and pork stir fry for main course - how good. Tomorrow – well we’ll see.

Thursday 8 July Well we are in the Narrows, at Black Swan Island, it is raining steadily and it is damn cold, and we are 10NM from the Tropic of Capricorn. IT IS NOT RIGHT. We are sitting in the cabin with jumpers, long pants, and a blanket over our knees. This morning in full wet weather gear Andrew went to retrieve the crab pots. Only got one the other was on the wrong side of a mudbank until the next high tide. But it was a good pot, three mud crabs. One was a young lady so she went back in the water but the other two are lunch, fresh mud crab for lunch yum yum. Tomorrow we will get up early to cross the shallowest part of the Narrows at high tide (0700) – if we don’t freeze solid before then! We will then wait in Pacific Creek until the breeze drops.

Makes for difficult navigation!

Wednesday 7 July. We are now in Gladstone, having left Bundaberg on Monday morning at 0445 – how early is that. It is a long trip to Pancake Creek and we wanted to arrive there in daylight. It is easier to leave Bundaberg in the dark as it is well lit. The trip to Pancake was good we had a nice following breeze and we cracked 12 knots once. Andrew was chasing boat speed rather than a course so we did sail an extra few miles – but we had a good sail and didn’t have to use the engines much at all – how good. We sneaked past the rocks on the way into Pancake Creek (too close really) and dropped anchor just before 4 pm. Pancake Creek is a lovely spot, and it was a shame we only overnighted there. Tuesday morning we left at the very civilised time of 0845 to cruise to Gladstone. We managed to fly the new spinnaker but naturally the wind dropped to 2-3 knots – no good. We motored into Gladstone and tied up at the Marina about 1400. Off to do some shopping to restock and to get some food for our dinner that night. We caught up with Rob and Jo, it was great to have them on board for dinner with their friend Cheryl. Rob is an old school mate of Andrew’s. Today we plan to head up the narrows for a couple of days, do some crabbing and look to get to Great Keppel on the weekend some time. Hopefully to catch up with Tom and Nancy in their new boat.

Sunday 4 July 2010 We are now in Bundaberg at the Port Marina with plans to set off tomorrow at 0500 for Pancake Creek, which is a long trek but the wind and weather look to be favourable. As to how we got here……. Well after arriving at the Gold Coast a week ago now, we left the next morning to sail (motor as there was no wind) to Tangalooma as it is an ideal jumping off point for Mooloolaba. We arrived at Tangalooma and bedded down for the night. It was great until about 0115 when it started to roll, while it was not conducive to good sleep it was harmless. We left for Mooloolaba early and had a good fast trip arriving at about 1430 across the bar into the river. We tied up at the marina and managed to catch up with Libby and Bob, cruising friends from last year. We had dinner at their place and they were so helpful. Thanks Libby and Bob (and Rafffy the dog) you were great! The next day Bob chauffeured us around to do our shopping etc. That morning Mark, our son-in-law joined us for a few days ( a leave pass from Lisa and the two kids – lucky boy). We set off at 2200 that night out of Mooloolaba and overnighted to Wide Bay Bar a very tricky and treacherous bar, the gate to the Great Sandy Straits. We arrived at the bar at exactly the right time to cross (great navigation skills!!) . I am sure because we were so well prepared the bar rewarded us by being as flat as a pancake. Thursday we spent at Garry’s Anchorage and did a spot of fishing with yabbies we caught on the beach. Not too successful. Next day we motor sailed to Big Woody Island (stop sniggering, Mark!) where we overnighted and fished again with great results – see picture. Saturday was a windy day but from the right direction we shot up to Bundaberg averaging over 7 knots and Mark was able to fly home that night to a very grateful Lisa. Today we have been shopping at the farmers market and generally catching up on jobs.

Sunday 27 June 2010 You think a week is a long time in politics, well it is ages for cruising. A week in Coffs to fix the steering cable – it arrived on Tuesday and I managed to fit it that day. How good FIG JAM! It even worked like it was meant to. Chris flew up on Wed night – it was good to have her on board. We left Coffs at 0500 Friday to get to Yamba, which meant we had to cross the bar into the Clarence river. We arrived about 1500h and the bar was OK with a few rollers and some white water in places but we made it in with no worries (except the Admiral wasn’t impressed). We invited Rob Howie down to spend the weekend with us to explore the Clarence River. However Rob was railroaded into an overnight trip of 90 NM to the Gold Coast. Chris drove Rob’s car to the Gold Coast and Rob and I did 2 hours on 2 hours off leaving Yamba at 1500 and arriving at the Gold Coast Seaway at 1000 on Sunday. I am sure we will sleep well tonight. Both Chris and I are VERY grateful to Rob for helping us out like that - we are lucky to have such good mates. Thanks also to Steph in whose house Chris was able to stay. Some neat whale action this morning – a big lad doing barrel rolls at sunrise. Tomorrow up at sparrow’s to start the trip to Mooloolaba. PS we will try to start with some pictures soon!

A fellow I met this evening in Coffs Harbour Yacht Club described cruising as “fixing your boat in exotic locations”. Well, he is mostly right. Yes, Phlat Chat is tied up in Coffs Harbour marina. Thursday 10.30 Andrew at the helm when a loud crack is heard and then a hump. I knew immediately what is was – the damn steering cable had parted, snapped in two. No helm, no steerage nothing, Until we got sorted. Lucky for u sit was in the day time and only 23 NM from Coffs. We were able to rig the emergency tiller which worked well, also the auto pilot worked as it is directly connected to the rudder bar, lucky, It was blowing about 20 knots. We radioed Coffs VMR and let them know we were coming in and arrived about 1600. John was on the emergency tiller and I was calling, “starboard”, “midships”, “port” etc and working the throttles. We tested it all at sea and just as we were coming in a ruddy great whale swam in front of us – great timing. But it was all fine and we made the harbour with no worries. I was pretty nervous about getting into the Marina it is a tight spot at Coffs. Should not have worried with John on the helm and Scott pointing out trawlers coming out we had by the throat. We tied up and sorted the boat, nicely done lads! After a few beers it seemed things were OK. The boys flew home on the 0630 flight. They were a great crew welcome any time – but no damn pistachios next time, god they make a mess. Friday was spent cleaning Phlat Chat and trying to source a new steering cable. It is being made in the Gold Coast and is in transit as I write this blog entry (or I HOPE so!).