YEPPOON and more wind

Our plan is to be in Yeppoon on Friday 19th as Flynn and Kai have a flight to catch from Rockhampton on Saturday. We are in Island Head Creek at the moment after a great passage from Brampton Island on Tuesday 16th November. What a change to have an enjoyable passage, even punching into the seas, it was great.
On Sunday 14th we anchored in Muddy Bay…well named at Airlie Beach. After lunch we all went ashore and swam in the best swimming pool ever [according to Kai]. Dinner that evening ashore thanks to Flynn and Kai at a great seafood restaurant.
Monday morning we had coffee with Anita Carr [ nee Fiek] who came from Leongatha and went to school with Flynn. Her family enjoys the life style of Airlie and seems to have fitted in well. Back to the pool for Kai while Ian found a second hand book shop.
We left Airlie at lunch time after taking on 400 litres of diesel, all we need until Yeppoon as it is a lot cheaper there. After booking to refuel, we tied up, after finally finding the correct pump and then to be faced with a lady running down to us, saying, no not there as someone else was booked in. Then they gave us another pump to go to which meant going around the finger to get to, then the hose would not reach the other side so we had to turn Kiella around so it would ……what a disorganized place, no wonder Ian finds the females who seem to run this marina interesting to say the least……finally we headed to Brampton Island using the tide, again the radar was very useful as rain showers persisted and we anchored just before dark.
Another early start and with a couple of safe overnight anchorages on route available to us; depending on crew and weather.
Our second good run since Darwin and Island Head Creek was possible , it had only days before been reopened, as it is a military training area and they play along with the navy, lots of war games. We first anchored here in 1986 with White Rose and remember clearly Don climbing a coconut tree and getting them for the children. Unfortunately those trees have gone, but over the other side we notice lots more, so maybe the sprouting nuts we all found back then and planted have grown, well we like to think so. With the re opening and a slight wind direction change it has been rather busy in here with many boats coming in and leaving very early, as you can hear their anchor winches just on first light, that with the dingo calling out during the night, the call of a bird, that goes hoooop, hoooop, etc. plus the odd jet that is still in training flying over us it’s a lovely spot to stay for a few days.
A walk along the beach we discovered a very recent turtle’s nest, as the tracks up and back to it had her there last high tide.[ Boy after she had laid her eggs she must have been the flavor of the month as we have never seen so many around the boat; and yes one found her.] An array of jelly fish, some OK and some very poisonous, cuttel fish and very few shells. We were also privy to witness a sea eagle fly over the dingy while going ashore and drop its catch; just ahead of us was a half eaten cormorant . Kai has had a real nature study time here.
Just arrived at Yeppoon and the weather pattern looks like we are going to have a forced holiday here for quiet awhile which won’t be to bad…more latter


Flynns bit again.
Airlie was great and Kai spent sooo much time in the ‘best pool in the world’ with dutiful Dad sitting in the shallows trying not to get too burnt. Kai and I then took Mum and Dad out for dinner as a big thank you. Bit of a fill up of fuel with some drama and then off to Brampton. Spent a night there and then the big one, 126 nm to Island Head Creek where we are still at.
Fishing fishing fishing.
Lure count, have lost 5 and have bent/bust 3 x 56 lbs swivels. Then hooked the big one on Mums new big game rig, 10 mins of winding and then an engine warning inside. End result Dad had to have the Port engine running at x RPM forwards, thus all the line that I had won went back out. Interesting conversation that one. Fish got away.
Feel a bit like Leyton Hewitt at the moment, ‘come on’.
Night one in Island Head, bait out the back and 30 secs later 1 meter long shark. Equals 3 mins of fun. Unfortunately he had the biggest hook on the boat, thus operation dentist. Mindful of the nearest Dr being ohh so far away, we managed a successful extraction.
Still have to catch an edible fish on the new set up I brought all the way up here.
Well went for a dinghy ride today and Dad reminded me about the rod, coming back from the walk had Mums good lure out and hooked the big one, 2 mins of fighting the beast, a brief flash of the tail and another swivel lets me down. Gutted.
Mum kindly went straight back out with me and we got a 30 cm coral cod, but still waiting. The fish and wildlife in here is amazing, with something leaping out of the water or sticking its head up for a look all the time. Unfortunately only 2 nights to go, but looking forwards to seeing the wife and Piper.