MAGIC WHITSUNDAYS - We are here

It was good to escape from Mackay Marina after 4 days sheltering from 33knts, but a very nice, well equipped and serviced marina it was.  We re-fuelled and set off for Brampton Island about 18 miles north.  Had a comfortable night just off the main jetty of the now closed down beautiful resort of Brampton Island. It seems unbelievable that such a fantastic tourist  destination is now defunct due we believe to the usual high cost of Australian accommodation and tourism.  So many people, ourselves included we have to admit, often consider overseas holidays a cheaper and better alternative for our dollar.  Brampton was a sad and lonely looking Island. Maybe someone will come along in the future and get it all up and running again.


Set off around 7am in a nice breeze for a 20 mile sail towards Thomas Island but moved onto Shaw Island to a more secure anchorage.  Lovely to at last see the first Whitsunday Pine Trees on Thomas and just like magic the water turned brilliant aqua and our first turtle popped it's head up for a sticky beak as we dropped our anchor at Shaw.    Nice roast pork cooking in the oven and an unbelievable Whitsunday sunset to finish off the day.  All good.
Late departure from Shaw Island, passing Lindeman and spotting Hamilton Island also on the left  and we made a straight path for 8 miles and into and through the notorious & famous Solway Passage. Famous because my grandfather's name was Charles Solway Fowler.  Hmmm, maybe named after him.  Straight away we were at the World's best and most famous beach, the fabulous Whitehaven Beach and it didn't disappoint.  Crystal turqoise water, white sandy bottom to see underneath as we anchored in about 2metres not far off the beach.  Took it all in as we had a beer in the beer garden on the back deck enjoying the sunshine and the magnificent views all around us.  Went to shore for a few hours, took lots of photos, then we went back and moved the boat closer into the southern corner where we stayed all night with just a very gentle movement to rock us off to sleep.  

Finally we arrive on Whitehaven Beach - Whitsundays

There we are in the middle

Yes SR, my dinghy awaits just off shore

THIS IS DEFINITELY THE LIFE......To wake up in the morning and sit up in bed with a morning coffee and toast and look out the window and realise where we were was a bit mind boggling, especially after the marathon journey we've had, but I must say, very satisfying and exciting to finally be here in the beautiful Whitsundays.  We spent a few hours watching the various boats and planes arrive at the beach, when we decided to have a little move and exploration over to Windy Bay.  This is a spot we've had a few stops at on previous trips but this time it was coming on low tide so we were able to guage just how far we could get into the beach.  Windy Bay is not too windy when in close and we decided we would stay for the night. There was not a person or boat in sight and the sun was out so we could see the reef and work out our plan of attack to get in close and we could also see the path and the way into the beach with the dinghy.  What a lovely little beach and sand spit we had all to ourselves.  We took in our soap and fresh water solar shower, hung it from a tree and Bob's your Uncle... all done and we saved on our boat water supply.  Col decided to check out his "new" knees having his first proper little run in about two years along the beach.  I could have been heard singing Chariots of Fire.  After a few hours we mosied about in the dinghy back along the edge of the reef to the boat and heated up some yummy  sausage rolls straight from the good old (but new) trusty Waeco.  Back to healthy salads tomorrow.  Had a really good quiet night.

SILVER AFFAIR anchored in Windy Bay

BLISS

Chariots of Fire

Had a fairly wild ride north to get to Hook Passage (28knts from behind) and made our way to Nara Inlet and Refuge Bay to have a lovely catch up with long-time TAFE teacher friend, who with her husband are on their first big sailing trip on their beautiful boat that Ian spent many years building.   We are meeting up again in a couple of days to do a joint snorkelling expedition and will also be joined by our new onboard guest from Germany.  We are booked into Hamilton Island Marina on Wednesday to collect Grant's father-in-law who is flying in.


For the next week at least we will be incognito, incommunicado and  doing some beach exploring around the islands with lots of reef snorkelling and lazing back to boot as well as plenty of sauerkraut I"d say.  Auf Wiedersehen