Thursday 4 October 2012

Heading South (good bye Airlie Beach)

Spent 10 days in Arlie, in total we have spent 23 days between Airlie and Able Point, felt like a local, running into people we have met along the way. Goodbye Airlie Beach. Friday 21/9/2012 morning  we motored to South Mole Island, with the intentions of spending the day with Seabird,  no wind,  the sea was like a milk pond, and I would say the hottest day we have had. We anchored about midday in Sandy Bay, Seabird did likewise. John didn’t like the anchorage so decided to carry on south to Lindeman about 3 hours away. We said good bye to Seabird as they planning to head south in a couple of weeks. Anchored overnight at Lindeman in Gap Beach. Left 6.30am and motored 30 miles to Brampton Island. Brampton is the southern most of the Whitsundays resorts (this resort is now closed what a waste, it would have been a great spot to relax, only having room for about 200 guests) I took the walking track to turtle bay leaving from the jetty and walk to the closed resort, they do have a care taker there supposedly looking after the grounds. In all took me about 2 hours. About 11am we motor sailed 13 miles to Keswick Island. Real estate has taken place on Keswick, there are some great looking houses jutting out on different levels on the southern side where we anchored. There is also an airstrip on the Island. We didn’t get a chance to go ashore. We met up with Kerry here (ex  North Haven SA) and had him over for dinner. At 1am Monday we up anchored and left for Middle Percy 65 miles south. Arrived at Middle Percy at 4.30pm and anchored in West Bay. Middle Percy is the largest of the Percy Isles and are part of the Northumberland Islands and lie 40 miles north-north-west of Island Creek on the mainland midway between Yeppon and Mackay. Middle Percy has achieved fame over the years  as scores of yacht skippers and crew have visited the telephone hut, now with an added aframe and left some souvenir, usually a plaque with the boats name. We found the plaque for Gypsy Lover left on a visit from the previous owner dated 1991. John was a bit emotional as the owner has now passed away. The Island is inhabited and was used for sheep farming. I walk the 3.6kl to the homestead and met the current owner, I didn't see any sheep, plenty of goats. On west beach there is a tree house that is occupied by a couple who maintain the beach area, barbecue and aframe. We spent 3enjoyable days. Friday morning we left at 3.30am and motor sailed all but about 2-3 hours to Island Head, arrived at 4.30pm.
Middle Percy

Middle Percy

Middle Percy

Aframe Middle Percy


Gypsy Lover - in aframe
Great Keppel

Great Keppel

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