Toketie back in Airlie Beach

We had our Canberra friends, John & Masumi, on board for a week of cruising around the Whitsunday Islands!  Fortunately the weather gods were kind and we managed beach time at the famous Whitehaven, found some decent coral to snorkel, saw whales, dugongs, turtles, stingrays, lots of birds, big goannas (monitor lizards), made several good hikes...the last of which was back to the top of Whitsunday peak giving us all a good workout.  We even got some good sailing in!

Back in Airlie now to refill water, fuel, provisions and service the new engine after its initial breaking in period.

sunken boat in Airlie Beach!

Woke up the other morning and looked out the cockpit to see two sticks showing above the waterline!  Does not seem to have been anyone on board the vessel, no idea who it belongs to.  Seems to be sitting comfortably in about 10 ft of water.....the water police went around and put the float on it!

hiking Whitsunday Peak!

...an hour and a half up....good cardio workout....lunch at the top with a view...and an hour down to stretch the leg muscles....who says we sit around drinking beer!

oysters!

...had a good feed of fresh oysters off the rocks in Nara Inlet....marinated in lemon juice with a dash of tabasco....yummmmm

Whitehaven Beach viewed from Tongue Bay lookout!

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a good view of Whitehaven Beach in the background....taken a short hike from Tongue Bay!

Chance Bay!

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We got into the water for the first time in Aus! Whitehaven Beach is one of the famous stops in the Whitsundays....not as crowded as expected either. This is Chance Bay, a 2 hour hike over the hill from Whitehaven and we had it to ourselves!

Cockatoo perch and Canada Day eh!

Well, the cockatoos were beginning to perch in our rigging....not that we mind them but they don't seem to be housetrained and although we love their raucous language, we have no idea what they are saying....undoubtedly they just saw the Canadian flag and were visiting to remind us of the special day!

But when the birds start thinking you are part of the landscape, it is a subtle hint that it is time to move on....so move on we did...after coffee of course and yoghurt!

Exiting the inlet was interesting, if only to remind us how sheltered we were while hiding in it....the seas were running on the beam...that's the side of the boat for you laypersons....and big enough that every now and then one would break all over us!  Fortunately we were sheltering in our canvas covered cockpit and just had to hang on!  Anyone without sealegs would likely have been 'tossing their cookies'!!

But we smashed our way back to Airlie Beach, civilization of sorts, and enjoyed a long walk down tourist strip, filled our jerry cans with water and picked up 2 liters of drinkable wine!

Conclusion:  Toketie needs an autopilot (to steer the boat when there is no wind or too much from the wrong direction) and we have to make reefing a simpler and safer exercise.....

Happy Canada Day eh!