FIVE DAYZ OF PERFECTION...

TURTLE BAY TRANQUILITY

 G'day All,
                  Cairns is now a distant memory and we have left The Reef for Port Douglas.
I could not leave Cairns without one last visit to Turtle Bay.
I needed within myself to re-write the memories of my last visit.
So despite the 25 knot windz,we left town late on Friday afternoon. The lightz of Cairns were soon behind us as we sailed then powered our way round the point and in2 Turtle.
A ruff nite gave way 2 a near perfect morning.
After a cooked breakfast we lowered the tinny and set off for a discovery walk along the beach.
Then it was a quik trip back to the Yot 2 re-supply with everything we needed for a bonfire and campfire cooked dinner.
The rest of the day waz spent visiting the freshwater spring and preparing camp.
Roast Lamb with all the trimmings and fresh damper was our reward.
Then an evening under the stars until the tide rose just enough to extinguish our fire and my thyme in Cairns.
 Itz thyme to introduce our "Motley Crew".
Along with myself ,Jake and Duncan we have Manuel and Laura from France
We are travelling in tandem with Conner and Mabinta (maybe mabi) from Holland.
The other yacht finally found us, out on The Reef at Uppalo Cay.
 By this thyme the weather was turning perfect and we had the Cay all to ourselves.
Everyone spent the day snorkelling and fotograffing the coral gardens below and all around us.
Galleycat is working out gr8 as a Mothership / Kitchen. We have no problems catering for bigger numbers and I now have a willing sauce of dishwasher peoplez.
We have an amazing dinner of fresh crumbed chicken snitzels with four or 5 vegetables plus a mushroom cream .

It turned it2 an early night for all with the journeys out here and the effort expended while diving, taking itz toll on everyone.I mean real early like the sun went down then so did everyone.
We are not permitted to fish at Uppalo so we made a late start after breakfast and headed for Vlassof Cay.
The trip wasn't underway 4 more than 20 mins B4 two of the 3 rods screamed. " Double Strike!"
We soon had a couple of large Trevally aboard.
With us only needing 1 for some fresh sashimi the other was released after the mandatory fotoz.
The unlucky one was bled and put in the sink. We got underway again and it wasn't long B4 the Trevally made a break for freedom,  leapt out of the sink on2 the grass then into the water.
What looked like being a total waste of a phish turned out not bad as the trevally flapped on the surface behind the Yot.

I jumped aboard the tinny and left the still sailing yot in the crewz hands while I went back to retrieve our lunch, he was consumed upon arrival at Vlassof.
Then it was once again thyme for everyone to hit the water.
While I chose a "nanna nap".
After a full day of diving we moved the Yot out into deeper waters for an evening of fishing.
Several Emporer and shark kept everyone merry for the evening.
Many felixxers and wines were also partially responsible for the merriment.

While this all loox gr8 on the surface the demon  still lurkz and it takes days like these just to keep him at bay.
I'm going ahead with the staffy once I reach Port Douglas.
I'm kind of hoping this will help with my inner battle.
Update:
We have arrived in Port Douglas for a short lay over to resupply and meet "Honey".
Honey is a staffy x ?? she was scheduled to be put to sleep if no one came 4ward, so I've decided she can live out her remaining years as my sidekick and travelling partner.

The next couple of days will give her a chance to get acclimatized to life aboard the Yot B4 we head away from Port Douglas.
While she has the staffy build she is longer in the legs and has taken to the yot well so far how she'll go once we hit the open water is another question.
I've got some plastic mesh to run between the safety railz as a little extra security until she has her sea legs.
This is a huge step for me as I swore after "Cassie" I wouldn't put myself through the pain of losing another friend!
Still I think this is a positive step.
We will set off tomorrow morning for Low Isles a short 8 mile run here we will meet up with Conner aboard the other yacht. We'll spend a day here before heading out to one of the outer reefs.

Captain Felix
more to follow