Nice times (Lady Musgrave Island)

A mere 10 hours after leaving Bundaberg, we arrive into the turquoise waters of the anchorage at Lady Musgrave Island. It’s all but empty - just us and one other monohull. We take a mooring buoy at the first attempt, a cause for celebration - well, a good excuse for me to have one of those Wayfarer tropical pale ales I’ve previously mentioned.

The wind is sufficiently strong to keep the tripper boat away from the island. This gives us the place to ourselves for for our first explore. Very reminiscent of the Tuomotos. Lots of birds - and an underlying whiff of guano hangs around the interior. We wander through the undergrowth to the beach on the other side where a large group of black tipped reef sharks are gliding around in the shallows - a great sight… at least from the beach it is!

Spent another day there, joined by the tripper boats. We ventured ashore again after they left mid afternoon and walked around the whole island - seeing lots of turtles sculling along the shoreline. The wind is due to pick up over the coming days, so staying there isn’t an option. After a night spent listening to the wind howling through our bedroom hatch, neither of us are in the mood to depart as the sun rises the next morning - but we must.. and writing this some 6 hours later, I’m glad we did. We’ve had a great sail in large following seas, wind either behind or on our port beam, pushing us along at over 6 knots all day. Made it to a suitable overnight bolt hole sat Cape Capricorn. It’s a rolly night, but we’re both tired enough that it doesn’t trouble us too much. Next morning, up and upped anchor and headed across to Great Keppel Island - another quick run in following seas with just the main out. Arrived into the busiest anchorage yet - 10 boats or so - well spaced out with the cats hogging all the good spots near the beach. We’ve got forecast 30+ winds for the next few nights, so we’re hunkered down here for now. The shore (which we haven’t ventured to yet) looks good; rugged rocks and sandy beaches with high sloping backdrop.

A torturous week followed, the wind, and swell was sufficient to keep us both awake at night and in the main boat bound during the day. Did manage a couple of shore trips, picking up a few coconuts to husk on one jaunt, and seeing a rather spectacular sea eagle (Osprey) catching a fish in its talons on another. It’s a nice spot, but the roll meant that this morning when it was time to head off - I was glad to see the back of it.

Our departure was delayed for a few minutes - we snagged a mystery anchor chain as we raised ours - having watched numerous charterers back in the Med fumbling with this situation, (and doing it ourselves a few times), this was easily rectified with a line round the offending chain and dropping ours back down.

Off to Emu Park - a small town some 2 hours motor away. Dropped some way off the beach then took the tender to shore to do a major provision at a new Aussie supermarket (for us at least): Drakes. Well stocked and happy with our purchases we returned to the tender to find it half way up the flat wet sand - the tide having gone down considerably in our absence. We, then I, spent ten minutes dragging it back to its natural habitat while Chez returned the two trolleys - a good workout for both of us. We’re a sweaty pair by the time we’re back on board and all the shopping is stowed away. Up anchor once again - without issue - and motor sail over to Slope island where we take a buoy, kindly vacated as we approach by a kayak and it’s two snorkelling swimmers.

Today marks the first anniversary of my mum’s passing - RIP ma. X