It was just a few hours down to the next spot. We left early thinking the current would be in our favor. Whether it was the 18 knots of wind on the nose or our inability to figure out the tide, the result was the same – a slow trip south to Wave Break island. We dropped the anchor in a pretty spot, that was crowded with boats. No biggie, there was room but the further west the more people and boats.
Before lunch Carl and I headed to the beach for a hike while Roxy stayed back to paint. We arrived at the same time as another couple, so a good long chat ensued. They are local, retired, and enjoy exploring the area with their rather large fishing boat. Super nice couple and a nice conversation but eventually it wrapped up and off we went. Just around the point my jaw dropped at a bunch of live aboard boats that were grounded with the low tide. Clearly this was intentional. Getting closer we could see they were, as we would call them, “Blue Tarpers”, meaning those living on the cheap and with boats in need of serious repairs/upkeep. There were signs all around that you could only anchor 7 day in a 60 day period, my guess, Covid relaxed this rule and these people haven’t moved in a very long time.
We continued on and came across more boats. One had a string of dilapidated boats – first a flat dinghy tied to it an 80s speed boat (with no engine and auction info written on it). The last boat was sitting on it’s propellor, listing 30 degrees and appeared to be abandoned. It wasn’t until we reach a rock break wall and doubled back five minutes later that we saw a guy climbing back into this shipwreck. Huh.
A bushwack began to reach a trail. They say everything wants to kill you in Australia, but we threw caution to the wind. After a number of dead ends, and squeezing through brush we did find the trail and followed it across the island to a beach. My legs were already stinging from the plants I had brushed against, so into the ocean I went. BRRRRR, this is not the tropics. At the end of the beach we came upon a kayak and snorkeling excursion. We had a laugh as there was nothing but sand for them to see and as I mentioned it was very cold. A short path led us back to the beach with our dinghy and before long we were untying it to head home. The couple we chatted with earlier were on the same schedule getting in their dinghy and asked if we saw the large snake on the beach. We dodged a bullet, either that it went back into the woods or that we stepped over it and were ignored…
The wind and currents are very strange here and mid-afternoon we were pointing opposite the 20 knot wind and were closing on a neighboring boat. It got frighteningly close before we had the engine started and moved away. Thankfully some other boats had left and it was just a short reposition to a spot with plenty of room. Whew.
As our last night’s dinner, I cooked us grilled steak, asparagus, potatoes, and a salad. A perfect way to close our out adventure. Tomorrow a marina and the day after we haul out and I say goodbye to Sky Pond.
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