Thursday, 16 September 2010

Had a terrible night, very rolly and lots of mosquitos. At about 4:00 we had had enough and decided to get an early start and try and get to Burnett Heads in one hop, about 75 miles and I estimated we would be there by 19:00. Unfortunately, we didn’t look like making that; what with dodging around cargo ships leaving their anchorage to go into Gladstone and virtually no wind it was seeming very likely that we wouldn’t get to Burnett Heads before about midnight and with no auto pilot that was just too long. We were opposite the entrance to Pancake Creek about midday and we decided to go in there, though I had been under the impression that it was difficult to get in. However it proved to be very easy once we found the right channel. It is a beautiful spot, very smooth waters and well sheltered. Lots of other boats in here as well.

After a bit of a rest tried out some fishing, but I have never been patient enough to be a fisherman. The next boat to us said he had caught several mackerel, but I never got a bite. However about 15:30, Lance, from the next boat brought us over a lovely mackerel and also invited us over to his boat for sundowner’s.

We spent a very pleasant couple of hours on Lance and Roz’s boat, they have lived on it for a few years and she is a beauty, even though she is made of ferro. Professionally built about 40 years ago, 40 feet long and very roomy. We both fell in love with her and she is also for sale at $49500; if we could raise the money we would consider it.

We had run out of fuel going over in the dinghy, so had to row back in the dark and slightly tipsy, couldn’t see paragon, Lance was yelling directions from the back of his boat until we were safely on board.

Had our green Thai curried prawns for tea that we were supposed to have had last night at Conner’s Bluff but too rolly to cook.