GALLEY CAT

GALLEY CAT
LIFE BEGINS !

Wednesday 19 August 2015

BIRTHDAY RIBBONZ !

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Hello All,
                Galleycat haz returned to internet coverage after 3 dayz of  electronic Isolation (wkoa)!
The birthday period is done for this year with Big Ash celebrating 2day.
Itz Ok Ash, I'll catch your Mackeral 4U !
We have been parked out on Ribbon Reef No 3 for the last few dayz, soaking in the scenery and harvesting a feed of fresh phish.
We R still 20 miles from the inner reef area and about to cross a series of Coral Bommies that rise from 33 meterz to just  5 meters. Finga's crossed for some increased surface activity with only a couple of Maxx and a Northern Mack Tuna so far.
The bottom fishing made up for 4 the slight lapse in pelagics with some gr8 emperor coming aboard over the last 3 days.
The squid activity while sparse, was over compensated by volume with this monster being turned in2 a Creole Hotpot with chorizo and the last of my Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning from the USA.
Heaps of bell pepperz and chickpea's then diced roma tomato just at the end. Absolutely Delicious!
The Spaniard haz seen itz fair share of the grill plate as well with a sampling of Hanni's Lebanese fish spice mix plus the traditional lemon pepper and meniere offeringz as well.
The stunning reef on the opening fotoz waz our home 4 the last few dayz with crystal water down to 20 meters deep.
The diving and snorkelling would have 2B some of the best in the world!, with everything within easy snorkel range of the Yot
True 2 form, the food haz been the biggest focus of my attentions over the past few days and sure the scenery hasn't been terrible either!
The Company!
Well, what can I say that hasn't been said B4. Itz definitely the crew that is the biggest factor in any trip.
I was able to ward off the usual birthday downward spiral with a few quite dayz of total relaxing and gr8 company.
Honey haz taken 2 cruising slowly with some trepidation (wkoa) regarding her toilet habits but despite our best efforts 4 her to use the grass area out the backyard she haz chozen the aluminium gr8ing out the front. This is gr8 for me as the cleaning is virtually negligible
Anna as you can see haz taken 2 the ocean lifestyle as if itz her natural environment. I've even heard the word perfect uttered several thymez.
She managed, between making faces with phish's to fill lot of pages in her journal.
Anna is a sort of calming influence between myself and Duncan as raging alcoholics. Which is a good thing!, but I still managed to spend 3 days with a Felixxer in my hand.
Duncan is learning the ropes aboard with the return trip 2 Cooktown under hiz navigation (wkoa) and guidance "Lord help us!"
But throughout the last few days it haz 2B the food that will be remembered the most, I found this very surprising with "The Ribbons" long  being a major to do on my list.
I think I'm still kind of numb to scenery and diving to sum extent.
To anything involving feeling really.
I've finally heard from Andy and Jemma aboard Paws, they left Dunk Island Today on the catch up trail.
While Conner and Maybe Mabi aboard Dolfin Queen arrived in Cooktown yesterday.

Update Thyme!
                         
Cooktown is a windy place!
Even within the confines of the harbour the wind is a steady 15-20  knotz pretty much constantly. This makes running the still a near impossibility however with some exploration (wkoa) of the harbour area we now have 6 nice mudcrabz 4 lunch and a place to shift the Yot 2.
This was all 2 much 4 Honey who has decided a program of sleep, run, eat and crap is all thatz required within the daylite hourz.
The weather godz have intervened and sent sum more perfect weather my way, so while we wait for the spinnaker 2 arrive we are heading out 2 Swingers Reef for a respite from the land.
My veiwz of Cooktown have been altered by a few days spent here.
This is a Gr8 plaice ( Big flat fish)
with really friendly people and "Unbelievable " property prices.
There is none of the officialdom associated with Port Douglas either.
Still I would prefer coral trout for dinner than mudcrab!
So we'll head East for a few hourz until we find Swingers Reef and itz Sand cay.
The remoteness of the yot is starting 2 reveal itself with some of the necessary supplies that keep this operation moving forward running in2 short supply.
This was sorted today when I went looking for a new machete and found a homebrew supply inside the camping store.
The sugar is in the drum and the next batch of Fellixer is underway.
It seemz a shame 2 leave this anchorage but with the postal system giving me a small window I'm going to grab this opportunity!

Captain Felix