Good Bye - We Miss you Already!

Hill Inlet off Whitehaven Beach

Saturday, June 16, 2012 - Hamilton Island Marina

We've had so much fun with Garyn and Jessica onboard, it was really hard to say goodbye today.  We left them at the airport early this afternoon for their flight to Sydney and then back to America.  This morning we arose early and motored from Whitehaven Bay to Hamilton Island.  We arrived about 10:00 a.m. in the morning.  The kids had enough time to fish packing, take hot showers, and stop at the bakery before we walked them to the airport.  So let's back track a few days......

Tuesday, June 12, 2012 - Stonehaven Bay

We spend the night in Stonehaven Bay and head to Butterfly Bay the following morning.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - Butterfly Bay - Happy Birthday Abby

Today is cake day because it is Abby's birthday, but we also celebrate everyone's birthday since we are together. We have pancakes, eggs, and bacon for breakfast.  It is so cool and windy  when we arrive at Butterfly, that we are not too interested in venturing far from the boat. . Garyn and Jess do take the dinghy out to explore some of the beaches while I bake a chocolate cake.  So happy birthday to Abby, Neal,  Garyn, Roz, Jessica, and Russ for 2012. We spend the evening on the  same mooring, we had the week previous, playing Fiji Rummy, drinking Margaritas, and eating pizza and chocolate cake.  What a life!

Thursday, June 14, 2012 - Butterfly to Tongue Bay

It is an absolutely still this morning.

Oh what a beautiful morning!

There is no wind and the water is as smooth as glass in Butterfly Bay.  Since there is no wind, we motor to Tongue Bay.  We are foturnate to snag a buoy for the afternoon and evening.  This is a lovely bay and it is flat and calm.

We enjoy watching giant sea turtles and dugongs swim about.  At first, we are not sure what we are seeing when the dugongs surface and do a slow role and dive with a flaked tail down off the surface of the water. Is it a turtle? a dolphin? nope...must be a dugong.

Before the tide drops too low, we take the dinghy ashore and hike over the peninsula to Hill Inlet overlooking Whitehaven Bay.

Hill Inlet, Whitehaven Bay

Whoa!  What a spectacular view of  aqua blue waters layered over white silica sand.  It is truly one of the most picturesque  places we have seen.

Friday, June 15, 2012- Tongue Bay to Whitehaven Bay
We must vacate the buoy we are on by 9:00 a.m. in the morning.  It does not take us long to cast off the lines and be on our way.  All of us are in agreement, that Tongue Bay so far has been our favorite, warm weather, calm seas, dugongs, sea turtles, and spectacular views.  For what more could we ask?

By 11:00 a.m. we are dropping anchor in picturesque Whitehaven Beach.  This is a beautiful white silica sand arching beach with aqua, blue, green waters.  Once the anchor is set, we take a 6 km hike over the peninsula to Chance Bay and back.  We are fortunate enough to see a large lizard and butterflies along the way.

This is a mellow hike.  Russ and I head back to the boat while Garyn and Jess take a long hike down the white beach toward Hill Inlet.    While we are at the boat our neighbors, Gina and Paul from Solace come over to talk with us.  We have all seen one another on the sea, but have yet to be introduced.  Turns out, they are from New Zealand, but worked in Folsom as nurses before cruising.  They too are hanging out in the Whitsundays this season.  I am sure we will be seeing more of them this season.

Garyn and Jess return to the boat about 2:00 in the afternoon.  Garyn musters up the courage to jump in the water for a quick swim, the kids pack up, and we spend a final evening together playing Fiji Rummy.  So far we have played four hands and Garyn beats the pants off of us on the final night.  Jess doesn't really enjoy playing cards, but she has been a good sport and has done a great job learning how to play the game.

It's Been Fun!

Saturday, June 16, 2012 - Last Day
As we pulled into a slip at Hamilton Island, a gentleman came over and introduced himself.  His name is Cliff, and his wife is Lou.  They are staying in the condominiums with their daughter and grandchildren.  He and his wife sailed around the world 20 years ago from South Africa.  We spent the afternoon tidying up the the boat, doing some shopping and  laundry, and worked on some boat projects after Garyn and Jess flew off to Sydney.  Cliff and Lou came over late in the afternoon and we shared some appetizers and wine together recalling our adventures.  We hope to visit our new friends when we visit Perth next spring (October-November 2012).

Tomorrow is Sunday, June 17, 2012.  We will head back to Cid harbor and then to the mainland and Airlie beach early next week.

All is Well with the 2 Sail R's on SV Worrall Wind