After what seems like a few false starts, we feel like we are really on our way. After the haulout and boat show we went back to Southport where we had arranged to leave the boat (again) on our last trip to Canberra before the end of the year.
Lewis had his first birthday and we wanted to be there and we also went to Glenn's 50th birthday as well so we stayed in Canberra for just over a week. Crazy as it seems we have worked out that it is cheaper to get a hire car from the Canberra airport for 24 hours instead of a one way trip in a taxi. Not by a little bit either, taxi = $68 (+ 10% if you pay with a card), hire car (Yaris = $42 for 24 hrs and it took $3.12 in petrol)
Anyway, we arrived back on the Gold Coast and Roger picked us up from the airport again (definitely cheaper than a taxi :)) and we stayed overnight before going back to the boat on the 9th, after dragging Roger to the supermarket to re-stock.
Finally left the mooring on the 10th and filled with water and fuel up before heading up to the bottom of Short Island. About a 20nm run where we anchored for two nights due to strong wind warnings from the south.
Left Short Island and went up Canaipa Passage hugged the inside of North Stradbroke Island and stayed overnight in Lazaret Gutter at the top of Peel Island. Still sheltering from the dying southerly.
We wanted to catch up with Raelene and BJ and see the new house so next stop was Scarborough for the weekend. Got in mid afternoon on Saturday and stayed Saturday and Sunday nights. Weather was pretty miserable but we did get to see the house and helped a bit with the deck, also use and abuse their washing machine and dryer.
Monday morning (15th) was an 0800 start for Mooloolaba with the dying southerly by still a fair amount of easterly swell. Good thing was Moreton Island kept the worst of the swell away until we about level with Caloundra. Anyway, we stayed at the Mooloolaba Wharf until yesterday catching up with Belinda's aunt Angie and Bob. Lunch turned in to a long lunch followed by coffee on the boat. Good to catch up as we haven't seen them since the last time we sailed through in 2010.
Yesterday afternoon (Thursday 18th) we left the dock and anchored in Mooloolaba waiting until 7pm before leaving so that we would make the tide for crossing Wide Bay Bar. Notoriously bad and our last bar crossing for a long time. In fact it will be this bar that we cross next when we come back in November.
Right now, we're anchored in Garrys Anchorage in the Great Sandy Strait having traveled about 180nm in the last 9 days. Only had a couple of hours sleep in the last 24 so we'll probably have an afternoon nap. Weather is beautiful, cool breeze but the sun is out and we're in shorts and t-shirt again. If that wasn't good enough, we have dolphins swimming around us.
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