{"id":6290,"date":"2022-01-07T22:33:27","date_gmt":"2022-01-08T05:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.seismicwave.ca\/?p=6290"},"modified":"2022-12-31T16:48:12","modified_gmt":"2022-12-31T23:48:12","slug":"finally-off-sailing-again-in-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.seismicwave.ca\/?p=6290","title":{"rendered":"Finally off sailing again in 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This world pandemic has definitely put a damper on catching up with friends and family and making any travel plans. In Queensland life had been pretty normal ie. until the Delta variant arrived and borders started to close again in July. Our new batteries from China finally arrived in early August so it was time to go cruising and get away from the dreaded Covid news.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We headed north through the Gold Coast water ways and up to\u00a0Mooloolaba<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0where we cycled the foreshore enjoying the views and the great weather.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looking back along the bay at Mooloolaba<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was onward north up the coast to Double Island Point<\/span> <\/strong>where we found a beautiful anchorage behind a sand spit. It was a weekend so the locals were driving the beaches in their trucks having fun; fishing and camping. Rainbow Beach definitely was a beautiful spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beautiful protected anchorage behind a sand spit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The weather was calm with light winds and less than a 1m swell perfect for passing through the Wide Bay Bar notorious for being dangerous if you don\u2019t plan to cross at the right time. It\u2019s at the bottom of Fraser Island; the longest sand island in the world apparently. We decided to head south once through the bar and go down and visit the humpback dolphins at Tin Can Bay<\/span><\/strong>. The community have a QLD govt. program to educate people on these beautiful intelligent creatures. 5 of one pod had come into town to meet a crowd of people who were gathered on the foreshore. For $A10 you can feed them and get up close. They eat 15kg\/ day and the program will give them 3kgs so they still need to find their own fish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Auss and Luna humpback dolphins. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was then on to travel up the West side of Fraser Island<\/span><\/strong> to Garrys anchorage for a walk ashore. It was so calm here that we kayaked ashore and walked 10km along a sand trail where we came across our first wild snake; a spotted python, which was a decent size. No dingoes spotted, which apparently frequent the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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the spotted python which some people have as pets!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are a lot of anchorages along the Fraser coastline sheltered from E-SE winds, which we had, including the exclusive Kingfisher Resort. Around the corner from Moon Point are long white sand beaches. Just stunning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was on to Bundaberg<\/span><\/strong> to catch up with my sister and family, catch up with U.S. sailing friends, visit the famous Bundaberg Rum distillery and The Bundaberg Barrel for a tasting. The fold up bikes definitely came in handy once again to get around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sugar cane everywhere <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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    Catching up with my nephews at The Bundaberg Barrel<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
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    Grocery shopping cruiser style<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    After a 4am departure to Lady Musgrave Island<\/span><\/strong> in the Capricornia Cays on the Southern end of the Great Barrier Reef we arrived at low tide to enter the man made pass. We were surprised with the number of boats here; 26. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Aerial view with the pass for entry middle on right side of pic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    We enjoyed getting back in the water for some snorkeling inside the lagoon, thru the pass and along the western shelf outside the lagoon spotting lots of turtles and plenty of different healthy coral and fish life. Even watched a group of whales jump and perform outside the lagoon from the boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Glassy conditions perfect for kayaking<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      After a week we decided to continue North and found a deserted island within the Capricornia Group. On the way a pod of whales passed by coming up to let us know they were around.\u00a0Mast Head island<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0had lovely white sand beaches and was perfect for going ashore on the kayaks. The island was bigger than Lady Musgrave\u2019s island and with no one about we enjoyed the 4km walk around the island spotting lots of sting rays, fish life and baby black tip sharks cruising along the shore line.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n