As I sit here contemplating our next trip, due to commence within a week, this glorious sunset appeared over the Gold Coast Hinterland
Enough said about that as I took this shot just on night and therefore a good omen for the coming trip.
"What", who has been on Fete several times in the past, is taking a well earned rest from work for a week or so to come north with me and I look forward to having him on the 1st leg of this trip to Mooloolaba.
So before we head off I thought I would attach the video below of some reflections of the last couple of months here at the Hope Island Marina.
Every Picture tells a story so they say...
Now we are ready STS (Shaun The Sheep) says, so up anchor and off you go . . .
STS was lovingly given me by the Th(u)rd Finger crew in Port Macquarie and resides as you can see here at left and is consulted on all decisions pertaining to Fete's movements.
Straight after leaving Hope Is marina it just pissed down am I am lucky to have had my spray jacket and my Steeline broad brimmed hat (thx Sparra) to help.
The first night we stopped over at the usual anchorage under Macleay Island. The rain had cleared earlier and we settled down to Pizza, a couple of Buddies and an early night.
At 0800hrs the next day we set off early hopefully heading for Tangalooma Resort on Moreton Island and again the rain came down even though the seas were relatively calm as you can see.
1000hrs - Just received a call from Manly Coast Guard warning us of the pending storm and were advised to take shelter asap.
1100hrs - Coming up to Dunwich we spotted a bay just to the south of the car ferry terminal called Deanabilla Bay, so decided to stop there for the night to ride out the storm.
We got the pick down just in time before the storm hit.
Winds were around 20-30 knots and the seas a bit lumpy but we held firmly and bunkered down for the night.
0700hrs - we awoke to light gentle winds of around 5-10 knots and decided to make a run for Tangalooma before the winds got up again so we headed out to cross the northern side of Peel Island before swinging north thru the middle of Moreton Bay and a direct line to the resort.
The wind came around to the port beam so we raised the headsail for the 1st time this trip - this added another knot to our speed but prior to raising it we were only doing 3-4 knots.
1500hrs - Arrived at Tangalooma Resort and were surprised to find the P&O Cruise Liner, "Pacific Jewel" anchored off shore.
We soon squared Fete away and got into the tender and headed for the beach and a couple of beers and to see what was going on.
Even thought I have been here before, this was the 1st time I have been ashore to actually see what the facilities were like - not bad at all as you can tell from the video above.
Upon our return to the tender we found these Chinese Tourists, from the ship, had taken over the zodiac as their beachside cushion.
They were pretty good and soon moved when they realized that we were leaving.
They explained that the cruise was from Sydney to Tangalooma and back to Sydney overnight . . .
Fete top left where we were moored behind the wrecks at Tangalooma
1730hrs - arrived back on Fete after a few beers and a relaxing time onshore, looking forward to tomorrow's leg to Mooloolaba.
Next morning What raised the anchor & headed off towards Mooloolaba via the main shipping channel up passed Bribie Is and around Caloundra instead of the normal N/E channel.
Not long after entering the channel, we were passed by a couple of other cruisers out for a day on the bay. If my mate Speed was here, he would have been able to tell me all about these ships (RIP Mate).
1430hrs - Coming to the end of the Shipping Lanes we passed under Caloundra, as you can see above. I was amazed at the growth of the area - it certainly has changed since we used to holiday there as a kid. Anyhow we had to get a move on as we had advised Coast Guard Mooloolaba that our ETA in the Mooloolah River would be approx. 1600hrs and we were only doing 2.5-3.5knts due to pushing the current and tide.
Just after clearing Caloundra and on our approach to the safe water marker we encountered this Bulk Carrier heading into the shipping lanes.
As you can see from above, the wake that he was
putting out seemed unusual. Firstly I thought that we were passing thru a minor Bar but as we got closer we realized that it was the boat producing this 3-4m wake. My mate What commented on the size of the swell so we took action to lessen the effects. Once over the wake we headed for the safe water marker and Headed due North to Pt Cartwright.
16.30 hrs - crossed into the Mooloolah River and headed up the River to a familiar spot that we have been to a couple of times before just opposite the "Mooloolaba Wharf".
Had a shower, got the tender down and went ashore for dinner at the Surf Club. It was good to be on land and to watch a bit of football for a change.
"What" left the next day to help a mate with his boat up in Tin Can Bay and I settled in for a while. But that night the weather turned again and as you can see in the video below, the storm was more Electrical that rainy. The lightning was striking just behind those buildings there in the above pics.
Avery interesting night shall we say . . .
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