Time Flies

Wow the week has sort of flown by, here it is monday arvo and were anchored off Gloucester Island near Bowen. So ive been slow with blogging this week, heres an update:-
We bussed it to the Forts turnoff on Magnetic Island on thursday to do the walking trail there and back. A great  chance to see some of the island not visible from the yacht. We both made it to the top and back and had some great views from up there. Spose thats why they put guns there during the war.

Cape Cleveland from the top, we sailed past there yesterday on the way south.

Not sure what Isy is pointing at but hopefully it wont land on me. The history of the place is mostly gone except for the gun emplacements and control bunkers. The path through what was the camp behind shows little of the bustle the place would have had years ago.

A pic of Horseshoe bay from the lookout, were anchored behind the trees on the right.

Part of the track on the way back.
So recovering from that on friday we decided to walk the length of the bay, why not its good exercise.
 Bloody longer than it looks and we were both very relieved to have lunch afterwards at a great eatery on the esplenade.
As we had decided to leave on sunday it being the day with the least wind forecast for the week we had a bit of a tidy up and provisioning on saturday. Talking to another sailing couple they mentioned there was a do planned at the rotunda on the beachfront that night, pirate theme but not mandatory to dress up. A great way to meet fellow cruisers and about 25 people turned up. Barbied some steak and talked our heads off till late.

Some of the revellers before sunset.

Sunday at 6am we up anchor and left Horseshoe Bay. The trip was not too bad, though a little lumpy with us heading into about 20 knots of wind. No chance to put sails up so it was cast iron sailing all the way. Past Cape Bowling Green where the Yongala was lost near and into Upstart Bay to shelter for the night. We did see our first whales off in the distance tail slapping but not able to get pics at that range.
Monday we left Upstart to get down to Gloucester Island off Bowen, where we are currently anchored. Lovely place with the promise of more to come.

Tuesday we will motor through the channel between Gloucester Island and the mainland to realy enter the Whitsundays!!!