Thomas Island
The 21st dawned clear and sunny so we set off early to take advantage of the flood tide to help us on our way to Scawfell Island, 36nm to the SE. Again the wind was steady between 10- 15 knots from the south so we managed to sail most of the way. It is very satisfying to sit up on the coach roof in the sunshine and contemplate travelling to new places using the only wind as a power source. Off to the west the Smith group of islands stood out in the sunshine - Silversmith, Blacksmith, Goldsmith, Linne and Tinsmith. Brampton and Carlisle lay to the south wearing their cloudy crowns and Keswick and St bees could just be made out in the hazy distance.
We arrived at Scawfell Island mid afternoon and anchored in the middle of the larger side of Refuge Bay. A clear channel lead through the reef to the beach so we took Lily ashore and walked beach and explored the small lagoon behind the eastern end of the beach. There is a national park campsite with a picnic table under a pergola type shelter and an attached rainwater tank. The tank was full and the bush looked green and lush compared to the islands further north. This island has obviously received more rain this season.
Scawfell Island
It was such a beautiful evening that Peter and I sat outside for pre-dinner drinks and watched night fall. There was the amazing sound of hundreds of birds and millions of insects getting themselves ready for bed. All at once the singing stopped. Total silence! Who gave the order? Peter and I just looked at each other. 'Did you hear that? They all just stopped?' How does that happen? Not one bird or insect sang on. I wish I knew the answer. It would be a very handy technique in the classroom.
We spent four days in Refuge Bay on Scawfell Island, along with five other boats sheltering from the forecast 25 - 30 knot S/SE winds. Scawfell is a high crescent shaped island and it's shape interrupts the flow of the wind and sends bullets howling and screaming through the bay. The second night was diabolical. The tide held the boat side on to the wind and screaming bullets of wind had us swerving around the anchor. It held beautifully, but the crunching and creaking of the boat along with the noise of the wind kept me awake all night. The next day we decided to move to the eastern side of the bay and anchor as close as possible to the shore. It seemed to be a little more comfortable there. Four of the boats chose the smaller western bay and they thought they had the best spot in the circumstances.
Scawfell Island is lovely, but I was glad to leave and make the quick, boisterous sail across a very lumpy, messy sea to Mackay Marina for a night or two of peaceful sleep. We have done all the usual jobs; water, dinghy fuel, caught the bus into town to stock up for the next week and do the laundry. From the marina it is about a 10 min drive to town so we took the bus and decided to explore a bit before doing the food shopping. The Pioneer River is a large river that runs through the centre of the town and the levy banks have been landscaped with walking and bike paths, extensive gardens and parks and we walked for several kms and were impressed with how this area has been beautified.
If the wind abates and the rain stops tomorrow, we will begin to head north through the Whitsundays and back to Townsville over the next couple of weeks. If not we might spend another night here and wait for the weather to be a little kinder.
Creek, Scawfell Island
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