From Moreton Bay we went up to Manly boat harbour for a few days to book into the RQYS marina for the summer. We rented a storage shed and off-loaded the bikes and a few things we hope we won't need in the next few months. We sailed up to Mooloolaba and stayed there for a four or five days. This was a great stop, we caught with my Mum and Dad again and met a few cruising families there.An overnight sail in a 15-20 knots sou-westerly took us to Wide Bay. Crossing the Wide Bay bar was trouble free as the conditions were good and we crossed into the Great Sandy Straits in between Fraser Island and the mainland.
At Fraser we anchored at place called Garry's Anchorage. This was really nice with a nice beach and we stayed for 3 nights. We went bush walking on Fraser Island n search of Lake Garry and after a morning's walk couldn't find it - this was the same result from others we spoke to. 
After an excellent stop there we moved on to Hervey Bay after an overnight stop at off Kingfisher Bay Resort - a very classy looking resort built in the forest of Fraser Island.. From Hervey Bay (Urangan) we went out in a howling rainy southerly for a bit of whale-watching. Yeah, sure. No whales could be seen in amongst the whitecaps everywhere. So we turned north and headed towards the Keppel's.This was a rough overnighter which delivered us to Pancake Creek. Liz and I both got sea-sick. The seas were confused and while the boat was racing along at 8knots it was lolled and rocked about all night. Pancake Creek is a nice sheltered spot in behind Bustard Head
We then settled down to a few nice hops through Cape Capricorn and then on to Great Keppel Island. Cape Capricorn, as the name implies is close to the Tropic of Capricorn. So now we are in the tropics.
Great Keppel made us feel like we had really arrived in the tropics. Clear aqua water and picturesque islands.
Of course while all this cruising lifestyle the usual family things go on, like the kids laying round reading, dressing up for school projects and helping Mum cook.
From Keppel we went into Rosslyn Bay for the usual three to four days to get the washing done, top up with water, fix or break a few things (depending on how the day goes) and get more food.
From there we had a great sail in up to Port Clinton. This was the first stop of three places that are in the Shoalwater Bay area that the military control. This means we can't go ashore above the high water mark but get the opportunity to see a vast, largely untouched section of land.
In Port Clinton we met up with Adam and Adrienne on Anhinga. Over the next two weeks we really enjoyed their company. After two nights in Port Clinton we went on to Pearl Bay, and while their was no Bob Jelly, Boatshed or Sigrid Thorton, it was a piece of paradise. It was a beautiful bay with a nice bit of coral to snokel on, a long beach for Liz to walk and watch for surfacing turtles.
From Pearl Bay we moved after the swell built and I thought we would all be sea sick on anchor! The next stop was Island Head Creek, This is a large waterway that was made special by being able to see lot's of dugongs up close. Here I showed my complete incompetence as a fisherman by driving a hook deep into my thumb. After some minor personal surgery (good taste dictates I don't elaborate) I healed up just fine.
From Island Head creek we had a nice day to sail to the Percy Isles. These are about 30 km off the coast. First night we anchored off South Percy but with winds turning to the north we moved over to Middle Percy we offered good shelter in Whites Bay. We moved over with Capricorn Dancer, a yacht from Lake Macquarie which was skippered by Mick and appeared to be a bit of a backpacker tour. They were having a great time and we joined them on the beach for a chat/drink round the fire on the beach. Still, eight people on a 34 footer would be a bit cramped. The sand hills at the beach gave the girls a chance to try a new sport - sand surfing down a perfect sand slope.
On Middle Percy there is a homestead and boats often stop there for supplies as the people there make yachts welcome. Adam from Anhinga and Liz set off for a hike across the island to the homestead.. They were a bit light on supplies but well worth the visit. This island, as with many islands across the world, were populated with goats by visiting sailors so that sailors after them would have fresh meat to hunt for.
When in Rome... Liz and Adam came back with a leg of goat that they bought at the homestead. Adam marinated it and we had an excellent meal of barbecued kebabs washed down by a Hunter red. It's definitely a sailor's life.
After a week there and water getting low we headed for Mackay. We broke the trip up by stopping at Digby Island. We had two beautiful sunny days with generally just enough wind to make the trip very enjoyable.
After a week in Mackay we are re-supplied and ready to get back out there.
