Pioneer Bay & Airlie Beach

Despite the stiff breeze still happening, we cast off the mooring mid-morning and sailed through ‘unsafe’ passage between the Molle islands and across Molle passage. It was quite a lumpy & vigorous ride but much better after  rounding into Pioneer Bay.  Stopped for a couple of hours in Muddy Bay before motoring around to the main anchorage in front of the village.
We now start earnest preparations for the journey south. So once again this will be the last blog entry for a while.  Not sure when we can re-start, so stand-by to stand-by.

Remained in Bauer Bay

It’s been blowing like stink now for a few days, so a day on a mooring seemed a good idea and very  welcome.   Stayed in Bauer Bay at South Molle Island, a sunny day and warm but the strong wind kept things vigorous aboard.  Went ashore in the dinghy mid-morning and H became a resort rat and sat beside the pool  while I did some bush walking on this lovely national park island.  First was the walk up to the highest peak, Spion Kop, which is 176M elevation. A fairly easy trail through dry rainforest initially then higher up through a windswept grassland, with large numbers of grass trees ranging from small to over 2M tall.  The views from the top were magnificent and well worth the effort.  After a pool swim, I took the trail to the other peak, Lamond Hill, 133M, which despite the lower elevation was mildly more challenging, but not so spectacular.  However in the later afternoon sun it provided a better view of the bay from the west.  For me, that now completes the Ngaro peoples sea trail, having walked all the trails in the island group, and all were excellent.  Remaining overnight on this mooring and a big pot of spag bol is already bubbling away.

 Pictures above are Bauer Bay from Lamond Hill in the west, two of the resort rat, and Bauer Bay again from Spion Kop, with GD safely tucked in.

South Molle Island

A night of wind and shearing about, but all OK otherwise.  Quite windy still, but after breakfast up-anchored and sailed back across the back passage and into lovely Bauer Bay on South Molle island.  Problems with anchoring, but all secured at second attempt.  A windy place, with lots of wind bullets finding their way through the hills, leading to an uncomfortable afternoon.  Checked out the resort briefly, which is rather quiet, but otherwise, the usual quiet time.  Another big roast dinner - aren’t freezers wonderful?

Islands again

After a quiet night, we had a big breakfast and departed Airlie Beach on a square run.  The forecast 15-20 was the usual lies – I don’t know why we even still look at weather forecasts – and we had 25-30 with gusts to 35, and of course, very quickly the wind shifted around to be right on the nose.  We stuck with it though and made some distance across Molle Passage and Whitsunday passage ( now beginning to think of it as back passage).  More beach exploration this afternoon, and excited some turtles in the bay but seems my dinghy is incapable of a good chase.  Have just watched a lovely sunset from this anchorage on the western side of Whitsunday island, and settled into another evening of H’s special Corned Beef with spuds, brussell sprouts (yes Paul, they're definately allowed on this vessel..!), cabbage and carrots.  Lots of boats in this evening which reflects the conditions ‘out there’.  Here is GD at sunset, and passing North Molle Island