I figured it was thyme 4 an update!
The Yot has currently taken up residence in Cid Harbour to escape the 25 - 30 knot winds that are pounding Airlie at the moment.
Not a bad spot to seek shelter !
I'll digress 4 a moment and tell you of the happenings aboard "Bella Jade" As you can see from the foto this power party boat is a beast with huge cabins and even a spa on the top deck.
A few nights have been spent aboard B4 we left Airlie.Very early the other morning I received a visit from "Pud" (skipper) . Tears in his eyes and very agitated. "I nearly died!" was his first statement.
He then asked me what was missing from his boat. I looked for a while, besides the flags I didn't notice the obvious.
No Motor on the Starboard Pod!
The motor is there, hanging on a rope under the boat. It had torn itself off during anchoring.
This resulted in a fire below as the wiring harness caught alight. Much mess and destruction!
I spent a day organising his insurance and lift out as he was a total wreck.
Once this was done I went over to the Lagoon to pick up Dan (England) for a short trip across to North Molle Island for that evenings anchorage.We arrived just on sundown and set about trying to catch some dinner. (no luck, Dan's a jinx)
He made up 4 it the next day though!
I did manage a couple of nice Bream in the early hours of the morning.
Once we were safely anchored inside Cid Harbour I put out a berley trail while Dan got the hang of fishing.
Several Blue Bone Groper came aboard, B4 a brilliant aerial display from a nice Queenfish made the afternoon news.
We set about building enough activity in the water to attract anything and everything.Dan decided he wanted to "catch a Shark"
Be careful what you wish 4 !
Just after dark I set up a balloon line and the trap was laid. That took a whole 10 minutes B4 the reel screamed.
I was just inebriated enuf to offer lots of useless advice. But after a Gr8 struggle we had his "shark" aboard.
A black tip reef shark about 4 foot long took a dislike to being out of the water, so after a few fotoz he was pushed back to his home.
It was thyme for a celebration dinner!
We had collected a few dozen oysters at low tide so that was the obvious starter.
Once we'd opened enuf we set about a feed of oysters natural, followed closely by a bigger feed of oysters Kilpatrick.
This was accompanied by a serve of herb and garlic bread then a whole baked Blue Bone Groper.
Not a bad start but something was still missing!
Dessert !!
Poached pears and pineapple chunks in butterscotch sauce served with frozen vanilla yoghurt. Now that's a meal!
4 courses of the freshest seafood and a truly decedent final dish to cap it off.
We have managed a few other meals this trip with warm egg, cheese and salad wrap for lunch yesterday and a dinner of Thai fish cakes with dipping sauce. Followed by more frozen yoghurt only this thyme it was mango and passionfruit served over sliced banana's.
Today I'm planning a chicken Caesar salad lunch after we move the Yot over to May's Bay.Three days later and Queenslands' Weather, once again has had us running 4 cover.
Itz 44 knots outside the safety of the Islands.
Thank the Maker for hideaways such as May's Bay and Nara Inlet.
What was a tropical low for the last few days haz now been classified as Tropical Cyclone Hadi!
We spent the last few days sheltering in May's B4 getting restless with the constant wind and drizzle so on a whim we headed for Nara Inlet.
May's would have to be another of those hidden treasures that only Yachties visit.
Even in a severe depression (the weather not mine) we found a true slice of paradise and even put the fishing aside just to go 4 a walk.
We both took more than a few photo's of our "own " little beach and rainforest canopy.The afternoon overtook us and we made our way back to the Yot.
Another spectacular feed this thyme a Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad straight out of the best cafe's. This lead us back to the fishing and ever present wind.
With a spectacular sunset and slow fishing we decided on a move up to Nara Inlet, a whole 4 nm trip, with the wind thankfully!
WE had a little trouble holding anchor in Refuge Bay on the first night but the squidding made up for the lack of sleep.We took heed of the weather gods advice and decided on a move around the corner to a small beach just inside the inlet.
Far better holding and hopefully better fishing, however with the weather worsening the Yot was in full lockdown with the dinghy up on the rear which made fishing unpleasant for anyone silly enuf to venture outside.
We still did catch a few squid before even the squid jig wouldn't stay in the water with the strong winds.Thyme for movies and comfort food such as a chicken, corn and parmasean soup with grilled croutons for dipping.
Enter the movie "TED" brilliant!
While the afternoon blew on! I still had half a chicken left so It was roasted in the oven over a bed of garlic cream sweet potato bake.
A side of cabbage and caraway had another meal done.
More movies and the ever present vanishing 747 over Vietnam on the internet news.
Still we watch the weather sites and glance outside at the horizontal rain.
The weather has cleared enough for a 10 hour window when the winds will?? drop to 20 knots instead of the ever present 40+.We had a morning visit from a couple of very hungry sea eagles. They were happy for anything we could give them, but alas we had no fish.
Just 1 squid that didn't float.
They had to make do with bacon rinds!
Our journey back to the mainland haz come and gone without a hitch.
The Yot is "dry" ,the sky is blue and itz thyme to head out again.I've taken a thyme to park Galleycat on the beach and spend a day sorting out issues above and below the waterline plus a bit of dinghy maintenance .
I'm setting off to .........?
Its now thyme 2 think of returning Northwards again.
I know I need to learn more about computers and
Having Dan and Chris aboard shows me just how far beyond the technological pace I am.
However I think the lifestyle out weighs the disadvantages.
After all we only have one life to live.....
Captain Felix
