Story - Tales from Tiata 1

Off to a very early start at 3AM Sunday May 29 2005. All of my worries about night sailing, huge seas, running into something/anything, falling overboard, but mostly I worried silently about crossing the Wide Bay Bar. All went well and we had smooth sailing with no hiccups and fortunately the bar crossing was calm. Although seeing waves breaking on either side of me was not a fun feeling or something I want to do regularly. Dolphins danced and turtles poked their heads up as if to welcome us to their Great Sandy Straits. We spent our first night at Gary’s Anchorage. Later the following morning we headed up to Kingfisher Bay Resort where we spent a few days anchored near the resort, enjoying the day-visitor facilities. The hot shower there is like a waterfall and sooooo good. A few of us had three very long showers. It was here that we invited another couple Doug and Isabelle from Emma B for drinks and nibbles before sunset. Our first cruising visitors and so good to have some other adult company.

Home schooling is very challenging but we are stumbling through the many grumbles from both parties and are hoping that it will smooth out soon. Mojo sleeps all day, only visiting the cockpit midmorning/late afternoon and in the evening where she sits on the rubber duckie watching the birds. As soon as she hears a motor being put down, she’s off inside into a cupboard which is her favourite place to be.

The weather hasn’t been kind to us lately but we are heading north so it can only get better from here. We did actually have some sunshine today. Its now time for cocktails.

Harrison (our son) had a close encounter with an inquisitive dingo and rowed faster than speedy Gonzales back to Tiata where he decided that fishing of the back step was a far better choice of activities for a while. Here we gathered oysters, which were battered for lunch. Harrison even succumbs to the taste saying “these are now my favourite food mummy, even better than ice-cream”. Well they were delicious, but I wouldn’t go that far. Michaela and I will have ice cream and chocolate before battered oysters any day.
Our next port of call was Bundaberg where we met the Coey’s, a lovely cruising family (Mum, Dad, Boy 10, Girl 9, actually the kids who sniffed each other out first. We shared some lovely cocktails in our cockpit and even Pussy paid us a visit, much to our Mojos’ disgust who’s ears went flat against her head. Bundaberg was our first ‘livaboard-shopping-trip’. Mickey J (daughter) and I were so excited about hitting the shopping centre, Mickey even armed with a list of Beany Bears she wanted to buy to add to her collection. We caught the courtesy bus from the Marina, which conveniently 11 month old and Pussy the cat). They were afloat a Schoinning Cat same size as ours called ‘Slow Rush’. It was drops you off in town. We had also arranged to catch up with some long time family friends who now live in Bundaberg. Then it was off to IGA, yes that right IGA for the groceries, how truly exciting. We actually paid to have our groceries delivered as we had to catch public transport back to the Marina (Had to wait hours for the bus too).

The delivery of our groceries finally arrived at the Marina with our mobile phone number written on the top. It sat in the warm office until we finally found it, now hot and sweaty – goodness knows for how long now. The Marina was a monthly market which just so happened to be held while we were there, very small but a great atmosphere. A band played, free wine tasting, fresh produce and even green grass to sit on.

It was then off to 1770 in a two-meter swell and we all felt a little funny in the stomach, not a pleasant sail at all. Here we were joined by the Coey’s and decided to go to Fitzroy Lagoon (north west island). At Fitzroy Lagoon, their company comforted me as the winds hit 30 knots and it was very rough. There is little shelter here, only a reef with a lagoon inside so one feels very vulnerable to the elements. Harrison went for his first dive with his new spear gun however, made a quick retreat and stayed glued to Dads side when they spotted a huge shark only meters away. That night it was Coral Trout on the menu which was delicious. The lagoon is the most beautiful shade of turquoise even in disgusting weather, very pretty.

North West Island was the next on the list where we had a great sail averaging around 8 knots (which is a very comfortable cruising speed ). After all of the times we camped on this island it felt so good to know that Ray’s dream to be anchored out front in our catamaran had come true. The boys went for a dive and the rest of us went to shore. My friend met another boatie lady who invited us all for drinks and nibbles at sunset on their powercat. Our eyes nearly popped out of our heads as it was a 5million dollar luxury first class charter boat costing $2000.00 per night and here we’re sitting on board drinking Tasmanian champagne living the high life. Oh, must add that Fredrick and Mary (Prince and Princess of Denmark ) stayed on the boat when they visited Australia. We had a ball but that’s not all. My friend and I and the children were taxied home (The ride of our lives ) by one of their inflatales which very comfortably seated nine of us plus the driver on rows of padded seats with head rests included. It was lowered off a hydraulic ramp into the water. What an experience…I didn’t want to leave.

Back to reality now, we had a great sail to the Great Keppel Islands. Again the dolphins danced in the bow wave and we even saw a few flying fish too. The beaches here are beautiful. This morning we went to a secluded bay called Monkey Beach where we had a picnic and the children went snorkelling. Our friends from ‘Slow Rush’ met us in the Resort for happy hour and Pizza. The children were kept occupied for a long time swinging from the huge vines growing on a Morton Bay Fig tree. ‘Slow Rush’ sadly departed the following morning.

Took a two-hour hike to the lookout and homestead. The view from the first lookout was amazing. We could see Tiata in the bay. Along the way we visited an old shearing shed, then proceeded with caution to the old homestead. Many had warned us about the wild geese that lived there. A friendly Rooster was first to say hello then a flock of Guinea Fowl ran to meet us, then to our amazement can about a dozen Peacocks and hens. What a surprise. They were all standing around us clucking, squawking and carrying on. It was now that the two geese showed up and chased the kids atop a fence. After confidence set in we all strolled around the homestead with our new found feathered friends, even the geese were in tow. Later on while about to take a bite out of his muesli bar, Ray ended up with the rooster on his lap. A quick knee up the roosters bum soon put him back in his place. We all definitely had a great time here.