"CYCLONE" THYME!

G'day All,
                There can B only one term to describe the current weather, and that is "UGLY".
The arrival of Cyclone Stan, although not severe! still cre8s strong windz and big C's.
This has also shown how unprepared Galleyat iz to deal with these large tropical stormz . Many maintenance issuez have reared their head during preparationz for Stanz arrival.
Without a generator (that works) on board I'm unable to re-weld the rudder arms that have broken on both sidez of the Yot, replacement bilge pumpz are on order but have not arrived yet. While the constant downpours leave everything saturated to the point that the bedding is now going mouldy.
Still one cannot complain when oysterz such as these are just lying around waiting to be "killed by Patrick".
Christmas haz come and gone and with the island in near total shutdown supplyz must be sauced from anywhere they can.
The New Year findz us once again near the very top of Groote in search of phish!
With Pinny and Kane joining Chris and myself for a 4 day trip .
Andrew followed a couple of dayz later.
The stormy conditions have once again given way 2 oppressive heat and humidity so even fishing is limited to early morns and late afternoonz. With the searingly warm portions of the day spent in the water at any number of crystal bays that surround the Eylandt.
We headed North in search of fresh fish for Pinny to take back to Perth, and we certainly managed that task.
Emporer, Coral Trout, Nannygai,  Cobia, Mulloway(black jews) and Spanish Mackerel all filling the icebox B4 we returned to town.
Kane managed to spear a cray as well so seafood was pretty much the main food source with leftover Xmas ham being the other.
Now Galleycat is back at Alyangula (town) in preparation (wkoa) for Mum and Dadz arrival.
Pinny leaves today with his esky full of quality fillets and the whole process beginz again with the task of sending fish back to Perth for Brother Mark and others.
 The post office is still closed which leaves the Yot in a kind of maintenance limbo with the new bilge pumps required sooner rather than later.
My power invertor has now also died  leaving the Yot without a 240 volt power supply, this hampers a few maintenance tasks with power tools and vacumns no longer working. Not that I use a vacumn much but itz a typical human trait to desire what is not available then not use it once it is!
With the weekend upon us again and perfect weather conditions it seems as though we'll use this period to sort some of the major maintenance issues such as rudders instead of seeking more fish.
We managed to fill the freezers enuf that even once Pinny took hiz fillets, we are still holding plenty 2 sent back 2 Perth.
This iz a significant thyme 4 the Family with Dad and Hayley (Andrewz daughter) both having Birthdays as well as Mum and Dadz anniversary all falling within a few dayz of each other.
 This is all overshadowed by Mumz medical prognosis leaving a strange mix in the air.
As usual my thorts turn to Cameron at this thyme also with so much of the family present itz constantly on my mind that he is not!
The wheelz are in motion to change this fact, alas I have zero faith or belief in "the system" just a huge void that needz to be filled!

Captain Felix

A VOYAGE 2 A "REALISTIC" KNOWHERE!

 G'day world,
While the rest toil away at whatever it iz U do!, Galleycat iz on a voyage 2 the very end of knowhere!
I've left Groote Eylandt this morn in search of sum peace and tranquillity.
This envolvz leaving the "system"  behind again, and setting sail 4 other less chaotic pasturez .
 North East Island iz the goal, with Groote now just a distant memory at 30nm away.
I've had a full spread (5) of lurez in the water since I left, with zero result. Amazing!, I'm passing lotz of  islandz and reefz that all look fishy, but yield lotz of  nothing.
Even here it seemz you must travel big distances to get good fish.
Andrew and Chris are due in the morning and we're off chasing "Reds".
-----------------------------------
As you can Cee from the attached fotoz the "reds" trip was a suxcess.
We boated plenty of Red Emporor and Large Mouth Nannygai.
Andrew managed a huge red followed almost immediately by Chris then myself so it waz a true red letter day!
We tried several of Andrews secret spotz and all produced good numbers of quality table fish.
Then it was back to the Yot for a seafood buffet that included Mudcrab, oysters kilpatrick and crumbed mackerel gujons with fresh tartare and wedges with sourcream and chilli sce.
Then after just a few drinx to wash it all down it was thyme 4 sum much needed sleep B4 we hit the fishing spotz again.
Chris and Andrew have now left 4 civilization (wkoa) again, while I'm left with a kitchen full of dishes. Typical!
The trip was declared a suxcess with the total falling just short of our bag limitz.
This meanz plenty of fresh fillets for Andrews work mates and friends.
B4 they left Andrew waz put on croc watch while Chris and I used the powerdive to give the Yot  hull a clean and scrape.
Unbelievable quantities of barnacles and oysters were removed in an effort to get the yot back into shape.
I'll now use the next week to complete several maintenance tasks on the yot and try to get some form of purpose and balance back in my life.
Thatz a task that only I can achieve! but one that needz some serious work as I find myself slipping further and further down an ever present "rabbit hole"






DAWN DAY 2

 Itz nearly the end of my week of solitude and I'm just beginning to feel any kind of normality.
Lotz of sleep, no alcohol and even no fishing has given me lotz of thyme to thunk!
With that thunking came the obvious answer to my many issues.
So I fired off an email to the NT Police to file a missing person report regarding Cameron. (My Son) who has been out of my life for a little over 10 years now.
I figure the situation regarding Cam can't get any worse so what do I have to lose (town in France).
Until I receive word I'm biding my thyme in one of the many bays and Islands up here.
 I left the shelter of NE Island in and effort to explore the many crisp white sand beaches that make up this area. I'm still faced with the basic fact that I'm not permitted to set foot on these beaches so I stay with my feet always in the water.(more officialdom crap)
Honey on the other hand loves to run up and down the sand.
The oppressive heat has now finally given way to "THE WET" Torrential downpours and massive storm cells are now a daily occurrence .

Long nosed emporor

The dinghy is the first item of interest!, with no battery or bilge pump systems left, itz doing itz best to become a submarine. With only daily pump outz keeping it afloat. I need to keep it aboard the Yot with the bung removed.
I also need to order several new pumps and get the dinghy back to itz former glory (pre Turtle) or it will be know more.
Galleycat iz now back at Groote for the next week or 2 while I await some medicationz and supplyz.

Captain Felix (the saturated)

ITZ THYME 2 UNMUTE FROM GROOTE

Left front yard!

Right front yard!

4 metre croc in backyard!

 G'day All,
                  As many have noted there'z been another rather large gap in updates!
As xpected I had a visit from my demon again, this waz anticipated and allowed 4.  The illness and lack of pharmacy on the island saw me upsetting my tablet routine and this is not a good place 2B. The local wildlife is now paying a daily visit  A 4 metre lizard is now a more common sight than is comfortable.
So leave here I must and locate a better spot 2 park for at least the next few weex.
I'm heading away from the harbour in favour of a tropical sheltered bay of the bottom corner of North East Island.
This should provide ample shelter, fishing, diving and swimming opportunities. While keeping me close enuf to have internet service.
Being only 30 miles from town I can return for supplies easily or return for Cyclone protection.
The added bonus of having other boats leave town and join me when they're not working.
Andrew and Chris will follow on Friday nite or Saturday, weather permitting.
I'll finish the home brewing by Wednesday giving both the Yot and Andrew's place a decent supply of whisky both American and Irish. the product is barely drinkable at 3 days old but getting smoother each day it ages on the charcoal woodchipz
So far Groote haz not lived up 2 itz fishing reputation but the trip North should change that. That said I did get a visit from this large Tarpon which leapt aboard the other night.
He was presented the following morning to the local lizard as a peace offering.
Tis not just myself feeling the mental strain the whole township is in the gripz of "Mango Madness" with daythyme temps in the 40's and a constant 90% humidity life without air conditioning is enuf to send anybody slightly bonkers.
I'm constantly reminded of officialdom (even here) and itz always in my nature to "push back"! This can have far reaching reproccusionz for those around me, so itz a far wiser decision to distance myself even further although I'm now on the border between white and black Australia and I'm simply not allowed to go ashore on "their" land.
This in itself is an authoritarian decree I simply don't understand or feel is binding however Brother Andrew is a Guru on the subject so I will follow hiz lead on this.
So as of 2day my new address is some non descript bay on the bottom end of North East Island which is just north of butt fukk nowhere!
I'm waiting 4 the isolation (wkoa) and solitude it can only be an improvement on my current mind sense.
Galleycat out!

FINAL ROUTE TO GROOTE!

Galleycat haz finally left Weipa and is now on the final leg of this journey.
This stage is 320 nm straight across the Gulf of Carpentaria, no reef or islands to shelter behind so the right weather forecast was needed. That forecast is now with 10 - 15 knot SE winds for the next week.
2pm  Thursday I pointed the nose out of Weipa Harbour raised WFT no1 and WFT 3, set the autopilot on a course of 258 degree's and thatz where it'll stay for the next 3 days minimum.
So B4 I lose internet I'm filing this update.
Now itz thyme to set a spread of lures and see if the fishing is as good as it was three weex ago.
Until Sunday or later
Ciao
Update Thyme!
Itz always a gr8 day for a "sail"!
Although trying to handle a multiple hook up by yourself is "interesting"!, Jake and Honey were no help at all! I managed to land this beauty but his mate got away with my last red and white halco.
Galleycat has now made it to the top end of Groote Eylandt no thanks to the wind, which has been non existent for the entire crossing.
Itz now thyme 2 reconfigure the Yot as a floating "mothership"!
Itz the annual billfish competition this week and Galleycat is 30 miles South on the bottom end of Groote in South Point Bay. Here the boats return to the Yot so everyone can compare Bills and clean up with showers and cooked dinners. And just one or two cold beverages
So far the biggest bills have been the fuel and alcohol bills.
We did manage to raise and hook a few marlin but no conversion to a capture.
Still out they all go each day and use more fuel and gear to try and hook a fish that you release anyway? Itz all kind of pointless really, especially when I've caught more sails and marlin from the yot than all the "fancy" boats have managed this week.
Update: Finally sum rewardz!
Andrew managed his first black marlin today while Brett landed a nice sailfish so finally team "catfish" are on the tally board.
now itz back to town and reset the yot to "normal".

IT ALL GOES HORRIBLY WRONG!

 G'day All,
                 A few of you have noticed a big gap since the last update! At the end of the last post I mentioned I needed a few dayz of recovery thyme, well this turned out 2B a serious understatement!
I had a collision with a turtle while driving the tinny at high speed near Roko Island which unfortun8ly resulted in the death of yet another tender and the turtle.  The locals ate the now deceased turtle but the outboard is lost forever and the tender transom needs serious repairs.I had a few cuts and lotz of bruises.These I tended 2 with tea tree oil and bandages B4 leaving Bamaga.
However half way to Weipa I began 2 get seriously crook.
With 45 miles still 2 go the wind died while my health went downhill rapidly. To cut a very long story short I ended up being Medi-vac'd from the Yot by VMR Weipa and spending a week + in Weipa Hospital with blood poisoning.
But the fishing was bloody good B4 I was rescued!, with 15 mack's, 4 cobia and 2 sharks keeping me busy until the rescue guy's arrived. The entire town then rallied to care for Honey and the Yot while the medical type people battled with my maladies. 2 weekz later I'm on the mend and back on the Yot but still having visitz 2 the hospital to treat some very nasty holes in my feet and legs. Apparently I was one sick person while all types of antibiotics and medicines pumped into me to try and fight the infection.
Mum dropped everything in Perth and flew to Weipa ending up in the hospital with me as she recovered from her latest round of surgery.
I cannot thank the medical staff, the rescue guy's and the local houseboat company plus the port operationz people who all lent a hand to care for me, honey and the Yot enuf.

I'm on the mend but still require regular visits to the hospital for blood tests and 2 change dressingz so my departure to Groote is some what delayed.

Captain felix

P.S. A very special birthday greeting to the missing part of my life!
ITZ THYME...

ITZ A THURSDAY KIND OF FRIDAY!!!

G'day All,
                 Thursday Island Is where I'm updating from but this will be short lived, in that we move 2 Friday Island this arvo which is apparently Wednesday. It can all get very confusing especially when everyday is Friday aboard Galleycat.
We spent thyme with a couple of locals and learned a few of the basic cultural differencez
ie we got a bit merry.
They led us to a footpath with the history and info about the Islands themselves.
Itz strange to walk the main street of a town and hear so much singing and island type music but it was Sunday apparently!, and this place haz more religious houses than Adelaide  "thatz no lie" we counted 12 or 15 different places of worship depending if you include pubs in that list.
The constant wind is both a blessing and curse. I  need the wind to keep blowing until I reach Groote but when your looking for a quiet bay to fish and shelter it getz a little tough.
Still who could complain when itz a steady 30 degrees and there are tropical islandz in every direction. The change is in the air though with peaking humidity and misty conditions heralding the on coming change.
A few guys swapped a big muddie we had for a fresh cray so we got our first taste of the tropical lobsters. It had to be garlic and lemon butter.
We are also making batches of "nummus" daily. (pickled fresh fish). this is a gr8 way to use our fresh Spanish macks.
So as you can tell the menu is suffering drastically.
We are also experiencing our first real taste of the massive currents that really control this entire area.
At anchor we have 7 or 8 knots of flow rushing past the yot.
The Full Moon iz 2nite so the tides are about as full as they get.

another magic sunset

 Destiny is exactly the crew member kneaded 4 this section of the journey.
We are from such radically different genre's that the mix can be both confrontational and enlightening to down rite Fantastic.
My black and white existence v's Destiny's  more spiritual life.
The kitchen is the main battleground with my inner chef doing cartwheelz at some of the recipe additions.
I'm learning to be more relaxed and open while Destiny is learning to toler8 my frustrationz.
When we get the mix right the combination (wkoa) can produce some amazing meals.
 I'm getting a first hand view of her truly relaxed view of the world around us., then when needed, her inner strength comes to the surface.
A gr8 balance and also what makes her unique.
This is an experience that'll change several facets of my future journey. Jake iz defin8ly enjoying having Dest around with hiz eye's popping out of his head when she ate a mouthful of clove spice to stop a toothache. All aboard were giggling uncontrollably when her tongue stopped working for around 5 minutes. One bush remedy she won't repeat 2 soon.
Destiny has spent the better part of the week tanning and sewing a fish leather skirt to wear as she trexx Southward from the Cape.
We now leave the Islands for mainland Australia once again.
We've been told of a pearl operation on Roko Island so we are heading their so Dest can get that "pearl necklace" she's been looking for.
We already have one pearl aboard but we are hoping they have secondz or unsaleable onez.
Then landfall somewhere near Bamaga/ Sashia 2C if Gus iz still at the pub.
Every thyme you think you've found paradise, this part of the country shocks you back to reality
This place is simply amazing with a secluded harbour shelter from nearly every wind and gr8 people.
We met up with our cray barter local again who was proud to welcome us to "His Home".
Not a bad place to drop anchor and my crew member.
Destiny haz set off for who know'z wear by foot.

Even the locals were amazed by her ensemble with the fish skin skirt a major scene of giggles and questionz. The boys got a shock when they lifted the skirt to realise Destiny doesn't do underwear.
More laughs and giggles
Then they all sung a good bye chorus as she wandered out of my life to continue her journey.
I'll now take a day or 3 to recover from my latest battle wounds B4 I set sail 4 Weipa just 120 miles away.
Captain Felix

CAPE YORK FINALLY INSIGHT!

+

PARADIZE FOUND!

 G'day All,
                  We have emerged from our second large technology void area and can now C Cape York infront of the Yot!
There are "SO" many tales and fotoz of the past 10 days that it wood take several blog entries to show them all. 
Just Simply Amazing!
But first and foremost to Mum, I hope your recovering well and a heartfelt  thank you!
This trip would simply not of happened, if not for your support and love.
Speedy recovery and I hope 2C you once we arrive at Groote in the next week or so.
We will arrive at Cape York (very top of Oz) around lunch thyme 2day. I'm thinking Bourbon o'clock might be just a little early today!
Years of work and sweat have gone into this journey and I'm finally within sight of a major goal.
I'm blessed to have a gr8 crew for this important section of the trip, not 2 mention the hundreds of crew along the way! some good, some not so much. But everyone haz contributed in their own way. Even Honey is now a true "salty seadog".
This truly iz  paradise, we left Escape River an hour ago after catching a 12kg yellowfin tuna in the river. (sashimi 4 lunch).
My life is changed fore-eva with a journey that began years earlier.
We will take the obligatory fotoz on Cape York today, B4 sailing the final 20 nm to Thursday Island, half way between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Once there I should have fone and better internet 2B able to contact friends and family.
The strange sitez we've been privliged 2C along the way have made for sum great future stories and tales. Such things as "The Blue Mile" and "Outrigger Island" are just a couple of an ever building collection.
As usual itz the food thatz taken centre stage with our resident vegetarian sending our usual meals in a slightly different direction.
I swear if I never see another coconut it'll be 2 soon. But a diet of fresh oysterz, tuna and mackerel has been supplemented with the occasional fillet steak or roast.
We have no LP Gas left (thanx to a leak) so most of the meals for the last week have been cooked over open fire on absolutely stunning beaches.
Still we are all looking 4ward to this weekends landfall on TI.
Gus has run out of beer and smokes while Destiny is out of sago and Quinoa and my bourbon stockz are at a dismal level.
Our crab traps have more holes than trap with the local lizzards (crocs) liking a feed of crab more than us.
This delightful "Temple" opposite was found at the end of an amazing mile of bush track marked by only blue itemz such as floats, ropes and thongs. Many yachtz have been here B4 us and we left our own special offering before departure.
The obvious item not mentioned yet is the  FISHING!
Our lives have been ruled by Green, Blue and Yellow zones with the fishing and diving controlled  by these Govt zones. As we turn the corner into Albany Passage all those regulations (wkoa) disappear.
Still we have caught so many trophy fish plus heaps of the food versions as well.
Tuna, Spanish Mackerel and even a couple of Blue Marlin have joined us as well as the standard bottom species of Coral Trout, Emporor and Cod. My lure stocks have dwindled to just a few halco's and a couple of chrome spoons and popperz. We normally run a full spread of deep divers, chrome spoons and poppers with different area's yielding different favourites.
This trip waz based of food fishing and friends and itz delivered on all fronts.
The amazing places we've discovered and visited has just been a bonus.
The yot has "bumped" into many coral bommes and reef edges along the way .Like this amazing reef channel. But thatz where we find these amazing fish. So gr8 is the supply that Destiny is producing a "fish leather" skirt. Only god knowz why as clothing is not her strongest attribute!
As you can C we have made it!
At 2pm on the 23rd of Oct we passed Cape York and anchored in the bay just to the West.
Then it waz a mad scramble to get drinks and camera's prepared for what has been a trip ashore thatz a long thyme in the making!
With flat calm conditions and a low tide on the beach, we took the dinghy right up to the base of the Cape.
After a round of cheerz and the standard foto'z we noticed that there waz actually a rock just North of the sign post, so Gus being Gus ventured out for a swim and foto op on the aforementioned rock, the true Northernmost tip of the Australian continent.
Gus decided to leave the Yot as being 15 miles from the Bamaga pub waz close enuf.
This left Destiny, Honey and Myself to head out 2 Thursday Island.
We arrived safely on Saturday morning with just enough thyme to do resupply run B4 the V8's started on the Gold Coast (It seems we all have our demons)
The supermarket here is "amazing" so much so that I'm sure the residents of Lockhart River should rise up in civil unrest until their situation (wkoa) improves.
What iz taking some getting used 2 is the prices one must pay for goods here. Even with the Gov't transport subsidies.
A 9 kg gas refill $80."wow"
A 250g pack of bacon $9.50
200ml of cream $6.30
and $65 for a 700ml bottle of beam.
Still essentials are essentials and money is cre8ed 2B spent.
"But Damn"
We will spent most of this week exploring and visiting the many Islandz that make up this group B4 setting off once again 2 find a much talked about "Gr8 Southern Land" that iz around here somewhere
The Yot has passed this major section of the journey with flying colors. Only minor maintenance tasks needing attention each day. As long as I stay on top of these issues rather than let them mount up. Simple items such as bilge pump repairs and rust staining from dodgy stainless steel now make up my daily routine.
The Gold Coast V8's are over and I can once more concentrate on the task of touring instead of touring cars.
Some gr8 news that Mum is out of hospital, came through on Friday which can only be a good thing.
I'll update again within the next few dayz but 4 now this is farewell from Thursday Island.

Captain Felix