To Whitsunday Islands Queensland Australia Part 1

As our boat is sitting on the hard in Mobile, awaiting our return in February to continue our loop, here is a little on one of our trips up the coast of Queensland Australia.

This was our Second trip North in our 36ft Fairways Fly bridge Cruiser Blue Mist. Powered by a
 single 240Hp Perkins Diesel, it was an economical engine using 11 litres Per hour (3 gallons) at 9 knots but capable of 16 Knots if needed. She would make a perfect Great Loop boat as it had good fuel and water capacity and only a draft of 3ft 3inchs. We started from our Marina at Hope Island on the Gold Coast, took the inland waterway to North Stradbroke Island to spend the night and wait for the weather to clear. We had been waiting 10 days for a break in the weather, as it is about 100 Nautical mile open water trip to Double Island point where we anchored overnight for an early morning trip over the notorious Wide Bay Bar at Inskip point. Enough chatting will let the photos tell most of the story.

After waiting out 20+ knots of wind
this is what we awoke to

Glassy sea , no wind.

Put the hammer down and on our way

Not great for sailboats

Anchorage for the night

Through the Mangroves of the Great Sandy Strait

Sunset Rosslyn Bay Marina

Maiden voyage of a self built cruiser, elderly owner
spent 7 years building this.

This is one special Grand Banks,38ft, one of 5 built to order
by the CIA, as spy boats in south America, the present owner
found it in New Zealand, restored it and motored across the Tasman
Sea to Australia, Her apt name, Shadow Trader.

Perfect Ocean cruising

Met the self built
boat at one of the outer
islands at a dive spot.

Our first dive here, beautiful clear water.

Ran into a coral spawn slick on way to Percy Islands

Then a sea fog descended, visibility down to 30 ft, great to
have Radar and Chart Plotter

As fog lifted slightly could see what the Radar showed,
over 40 huge bulk carriers anchored offshore.

Ships as far as the eye could see

Made it to MacKay Marina, how about 6 metre (20ft) tides.


I will continue next week.

New Zealand, My Home,

Frosty Morning

Looking over the back paddocks of Dawns sisters
Farm.

Lonely Tree

Our Hotel at
Tauranga

Rolling Farmland, Bay of Plenty, Bowen town Heads.

Papamoa Beach, Mayor Island under cloud in centre.
Was, and still is a great Game fishing area.
This is the Pacific Ocean.

One of my secret Surfing spots

The walkway around base of Mt Maunganui



Us and a Quiet Friend in Katikati.

Look at these and never complain about
your Marina ever again

Mower optional

English Pubs via Canals

All these Pubs were within a few hundred yards walk

At end of road on right you can just see the lift bridge
that we dropped barrier arms on to stop traffic, then
used electric lift for bridge then motored canal boat
under.

Then had a beer in the beer garden, you can just see our
Blue canal boat tied up alongside. Great October Weather.

Had a great meal here.

A beautiful Pub. Good meal except for the fly in
Dawns Salad.

Right in the middle of town

Some English friends who gave us a great time
in Hungerford.

Didn't try this one.

Had two nights here instead, only minutes from our
free tie up. All tie ups we used were free of charge.

Yes we came up and back thru this canal.

Just great scenery.
Wishing all our Friends a very Happy Christmas
and a fruitful New Year.

High and dry, and another canal trip.part 1

Movin on, on the hard in Mobile, Thanks Chuck
and Vicky of Patriot.



On another Canal Trip, England 2012, our Boat with
the Admiral ready to go.



Swing bridge

All Locks and Bridges were
manually operated by ourselves

English Beauty everywhere

Canals could be quite narrow, with rail,
and car bridges, would be tricky during
the peak season, we were there in
September, less crowds, better weather.

Thru Towns,

Port to Port Buddy, Move over,
Found the canal boats easy to
operate, however a lot of renters
had no idea, just bump and grind
their way along.

My Favourite Photo

Capt Ahab at the Tiller

If you thought the Canadian locks were tight, try this.

And This

English Pirates, Great fun,3 garbage bags of empty cans,
and only day one.

I could live here.

We plan to return to the US in March to complete our loop, continue to the Bahamas, then back
to St Petersburg to sell the boat. I will post the other part of our canal boat trip in England next, then
post some photos of our trips around Australia by sea and Four Wheel Drive.
Remember, you can enlarge these photos by a single click on them.