Gypsy Cruising

10 September

Hamilton Island to Cid Harbour

John flew home yesterday.  He was with me for a week, and it was a very satisfying and enjoyable leg of the cruise.  We sailed 170 miles together, including three great days from Townsville down to the Whitsundays, and then a couple of very pleasant, relaxing days with other Alfreds boats sitting at anchor.

Only about a month now before I’m due home.  The last three and a half months seem to have gone by so quickly, and yet when I think through all the places we’ve visited, the people we’ve met and the experiences we’ve had, I realise how much I've made of the time I've had.

I went for a 2.3km run this morning, around the Hammo harbour foreshore then up and over the hill overlooking the bay and around near the airport.  This recent burst of activity, including my rowing jaunts, could best be described as being out of character.  They’re certainly not a walk in the park, but the physical exertion, followed by a swim/shower and some quality food is feeling pretty good.  I hope this doesn’t prove to be transitory, although I realise that living on a boat can be rather limiting when it comes to decent physical activity.

When David and Anne sailed with me from Mackay to Airlie Beach two months ago we hatched the idea for David’s father and sister, Mike and Susan, to join me this week.  I’ve known them all since my school days, and will always owe Mike my very deepest thanks for reintroducing me to sailing years ago when he took me out on his Flying 11.  It was that experience as a teenager that prompted me a few weeks later to begin crewing on a Tasar down at Northbridge Sailing Club, the first leg on a voyage that has led to a lifetime in this wonderful sport and, ultimately, to this cruise.

I met Mike and Susan at the Hammo airport in one of the island's ubiquitous golf buggies.  By useful coincidence, gale force winds gusting up to 38 knots hit today while I was safely ensconced in the marina.  More manageable winds were forecast for later this afternoon, so I used the available time to give my crew a tour around the island and then do the shopping.  We were out of the harbour by 4pm and into Cid Harbour before dark for a very calm night.  

Mike and Sue on Catseye Beach

One Tree Hill, with The Whitsunday Passage as a backdrop