Pittwater to Jibbon

Back on the boat after a week and a half at home. And a few boat repairs.

The Basin is so pretty...

...especially if you're the only boat there

The Boatshed, the nicest cafe in Sydney,
looking pretty ordinary from this angle.

One of the catamarans we saw in Port Macquarie.
All three were sailing up the coast.

Giraffes?

We took up a mooring at Jibbon Beach and spent a couple of days there waiting for a weather window. 

Walking along the coast from Jibbon Beach

It ends up to be such a slow walk because
 you stop every few minutes to admire the rocks

Morning Melissa

Making our way through the Crookhaven

MR Crookhaven and the leads

On a courtesy mooring up the Crookhaven at Greenwell Point

Gladstone to Sydney

The Gladstone to Pittwater run was quick but we had some good stops along the way.

Leaving Gladstone

The painterly side of a cargo ship

Seeing in the dawn on the approach to Fraser

Fraser is littered with wrecks.
Actually the Australian coastline is littered with wrecks.
Sobering.

Post modern breakwater blocks at Coffs 

These remarkable timber catamarans, powered by wind (a generator was used only for the cooking and comms)  from the Cook Islands & Samoa sailed their way into the anchorage at Port Macquarie.They were part of the international parks and wildlife convention about to make their way to Sydney.

We spent a great day with Jeremy's uncle Tony and aunt Mary
at Port Macquarie

We had drinks on board Manutai with Jeremy's cousins 
Tony and Carol at Port Macquarie 
and thank you for the fresh picked Ricardoe's Tomatoes.

Fresh oysters and the best oyster knife, hand made,
from the Saturday harbourside markets

From this...

...to this

Rosslyn Bay to Lady Musgrave

Jeremy's sister Penny joined us for a few days sailing. We picked her up at Rosslyn Bay.

 

Rosslyn Bay

The most photographed turtle in Australia,
hanging around Keppel Bay Marina

Visiting Great Keppel Island

Can't understand why this resort didn't make it

Great Keppel Island,
another in the long list of defunct island resorts

We stopped at Hummocky Island for lunch and walk
before our night sail to Lady Musgrave. 

The view from half way up the hill on Hummocky Island.
The goat track dwindled to a rabbit track so that was as far as we got.

Penny on the bow in the morning light
on our way to Lady Musgrave

Boat made bread for morning tea

Anchored amongst the other visiting boats

Lady Musgrave Island from our anchorage

We walked around the island at Lady Musgrave which is home to hundreds (thousands?) of birds.

Brampton Island

We left Airlie into southerlies, so we did some short hops to get some miles covered, stopping at Lindeman, Goldsmith and Brampton Islands. 

Brampton Island

Brampton Island has a deserted resort. There's a caretaker (we didn't see him/her) the rooms are locked and curtains drawn, but you're free to wander around. It had that look about it that everyone just got up and left one day. 

ex-resort

Check out the fire hydrant Pauline

The first hole

We had the place to ourselves

This little train took guests to the island wharf
for reef day trips

The view from the restaurant

The gym. 

Pelican Island, joined by a sand spit to Brampton Island

Back on the boat we had lunch..

...and a turtle came to visit

 A perfect place to spend 
our 30th wedding anniversary.