Days 6 and 7 - Port Bundaberg to Pancake Creek

Dear Cracklin Rosie fans,


Greetings from Pancake Creek, which is a sandy, tidal creek a bit south of Gladstone.  Thanks to everyone who has responded to earlier missives, which is encouraging me to write more!


After mucking about with the diesel in the bilge and carpets, and getting things reasonably clean, we left Port Bundaberg yesterday morning at 5.00 am to travel the 62 nm to Pancake Creek, which was highly recommended as an overnight anchorage.  We had a fabulous trip, with the boat pointing nicely into light-ish north east winds, but we had to keep the engine going to maintain enough SOG (speed over ground) to get us here before dark.  En route we had a pod of dolphins playing under the bow and leaping out of the water for about 15 minutes.  They might have stayed longer, but I foolishly announced I was going to take some photos with my phone, and that was clearly the signal for them to clear out.  Overall, we averaged about 5.5 kts, and arrived here at about 5.10 pm.  We had one minor drama when anchoring when the anchor chain nearly ran completely out causing some serious anxiety for the anchor man (DGB).  However, the situation was retrieved and the anchor chain is now attached firmly to the boat.   We had a beer each, bangers and mash for dinner, and early to bed.  I am enjoying re-reading a biography of Flinders and noting his visits to some of the places we have been to or are going to. 


Today, we achieved another milestone when we launched the rubber ducky and put the outboard on it, and did a brief exploration of Pancake Creek, which is a lovely location - excellent anchorage and with sandy beaches, although the sandflies are not much fun.  We enquired of a local about nasties in the water, and were assured that it is too cold for box jellyfish (he referred to them as 'boxies') or Irekangi, said there are bound to be sharks, and doubted the presence of crocodiles.  Courageously, we had a short swim off a sandbank, keeping very close to the shore.  Apart from that we have done some more tinkering on the boat.


We are enjoying the navigational challenges, using charts, GPS plotters and trackers, and an excellent book called Cruising the Coral Coast to negotiate shallows, headlands and navigational markers.  The importance of tides are new to us - not something one needs to worry about much in the Swan River.  Here at Pancake Creek, the difference between low and high tide is about 3 m, and the water moves very fast between high and low tide, and we have to consider the tides when deciding to leave or arrive at a location.


Tomorrow we are off to Cape Capricorn (about 40 nm north) and then the next day to Great Keppel Island.  There has been a request for photos, but I (as in DGB) does not seem to be able to work out how to do that, but will keep trying ......


regards


Don and Jim