poor weather continues

Friday’s weather here definitely less than ideal, in fact absolute crud.  Heavy leaden overcast, showers and rain periods, cool and wind squalls past 30 knts; shearing about on the anchor chain. Definitely a day to stay in.  So we had an eat-athon.   Lost track of meals cooked, but I remember porridge, pancakes, mid-morning scones, BBQ spare ribs (originally intended for a beach BBQ), lots of good coffee and then chilli.  Good thing we have lots of good music.  Almost need the heater on…!
Meanwhile the weather outside is ripping past, wind moaning in the rigging, we even have white caps in the anchorage.  Looks lumpy and bleak further out; good decision to remain.  Di completed her Turks head.

Overnight it was worse, squalls past 40 Knts, rain and cold; difficult to achieve anything like sleep, especially with anchor checks, although it did not move at all.  Forecast is to continue, but today we made a difficult decision to sail back to the marina so that Di, our visitor, could meet her transport home home as arranged before.  It was an “interesting” 16 miles of sailing, wet and rather lumpy, all rugged up as if we were in Bass Strait, but GD took it all in stride and we were tied up before long, dried out and waved Di off home.  Re-stocked at the supermarket

Meanwhile Back in Melbourne

Its finally stopped raining!

May's Bay

A lovely start and a little more breezy today.  A good breakfast to start off, then a long & sail hard to windward through the Whitsunday passage, across Nara entrance  and onto Whitsunday island.  A brisk sail, in choppy conditions because of wind against tide.  Afternoon spent playing again, warm sun and breezy but nicely sheltered in a quiet anchorage.  Another roast dinner, with a good red. 

Pictures are a sunny breakfast in the cockpit, and under way approaching Whitsunday Island

Lovely Langford Reef

Today dawned to a lovely day, mid-20’s, with a light breeze and sunny with only patches of cloud.  Raised the anchor early and sailed around false Nara and along the western side of Hook Is to pick up a mooring at Langford Reef, only 9 miles and two hours later.  Spent a couple of hours walking the sand cay and reef, snorkeling the coral and enjoying a pizza lunch, before going over to Stonehaven and exploring some remote beaches with waterfalls behind, all running after the recent rain, and snorkeling the coral in the anchorage there too.   A great day in nice weather, a spectacular sunset, followed by a lovely evening with Honey Mustard chicken , followed by Blueberry Strudel.

Couple of the coral, visiting Langford reef, and sunset

Lovely Nara

Discussions led to a group decision to sail over to Nara, so although overcast, it was a warm and pleasant sail in 5-10 k nts of W-WNW wind during late morning.  A play-afternoon followed, with swims, reading, visits to the Cave paintings and sitting under the now fast -running waterfall, and some minor maintenance to attempt to control drips/leaks 

More rain

Continued rain: stayed in the anchorage.  Couple of swims and an exploration of the nearby beach, where there was a 1 M long lizard looking for some sun.  Located and fixed the glitch in the TV, so now we have  entertainment, DVD’s and 1.5 TB disc, full of movies.  So we’re entertained well.

The lizard, and those dam birds... they're still gathering in increasing numbers.....

Poor Weather

The overcast day yesterday deteriorated overnight into drizzle then rain, despite all the forecasts for continued good stuff.  We made an early departure however, to make use of favourable tidal flow and headed to windward along the western side of Hook island.  Initially an easy run in the lee of the island, but it all became very choppy around False Nara leading to some queasy feelings below; that was short-lived moving into more open water, but it was nevertheless good sailing despite rain and grey skies.  Late morning we were anchored in Sawmill Bay at Cid Harbour and settled into a day of relaxing, reading and more cooking (chocolate chip muffins), puzzles and board games, thinking of how much worse it is in Melbourne.  Devious thinking and alternative arrangements soon had all the rain water flowing into storage instead of overboard into the ocean, and long hot showers were soon the order of late afternoon: simple but very enjoyable.
Time this evening for a full roast chicken with all the spuds, potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, cauli (with cheese sauce), onion & gravy.  Life can be difficult and so hard to take, even in the rain.
 Here's the muffins, the passing rain squalls, and the crew all sheltered away from the rain, leaving the skipper at the wheel in the rain.