Friday 30th October 2009
Saturday 31st October 2009
BOOMERANG ISLAND 20°43′ 52" S 115°28′ 57" E
The weather conditions have not been conducive to moving on. Strong wind warnings with winds from the West! We tried on Saturday to leave, but after 3 nm of bashing into chop we decided to turn around and head back to our anchorage at Boomerang Island. We spent the days doing school work, cleaning the waterline and hulls, swimming to cool off, swatting flies (they are everywhere!!!!), reading books and getting the website up-to-date. My knee is slowly on the mend. The boys have been brilliant doing the crew jobs when we sail and anchor, but I’m back to being the galley wench!
Boomerang Bay
Thursday 29th October 2009
BRANDY BAY, MONTEBELLOS 20°28′ 57" S 115°31′ 37" E
BOOMERANG ISLAND 20°43′ 52" S 115°28′ 57" E
We woke to the chirping sounds of these cute little zebra finches. Tim wanted to catch one (or maybe two) for a pet and was most upset when I said “No!” One only problem with these cute little rascals was they poo everywhere!!!! Not so endearing. We are keen to get moving and continue our progress down the Western Australian coast. The official cyclone season starts 1st November and the “safe” zone is south of Carnarvon. So we said good-bye to the Montebellos. It was a pity that the weather was a bit blowy, as we didn’t really see her in all her glory. We headed for the eastern side of Barrow Island as a staging point back to the mainland. After we anchored, Tim and Ben were quickly in the water for a swim. Tim excitedly called out to Paul as he spotted a cray. After a quick confirmation that we were in a fishing zone, Paul headed into the water. A frustrated Tim said “Why are all the crays female with roe?” when I enquired as to their success.
The last limestone cliff of the Montebellos
Wednesday 28th October 2009
CAMPBELL ISLAND, MONTEBELLOS 20°25′ 16" S 115°32′ 39" E
BRANDY BAY, MONTEBELLOS 20°28′ 57" S 115°31′ 37" E
We left Campbell Island and headed around to Willy Nilly Bay. As we were going down the Stephenson Channel there looked to be perfect location for cray fishing, so we dropped the anchor and the boys were quickly in the water.
They caught a female with roe and let her go, but they enjoyed the snorkelling over some lovely colourful coral bommies. As we started pulling up the anchor, Tim noticed some squid circling it, so the engines were quickly turned off and the squid lines cast. Tim caught one squid. When we were getting no more bites it was take two – time to go! Again, as we started to pull up the anchor, the squid started circling. Again, it was engines off and lines cast but this time without success. I suppose it will only be an appetiser for dinner tonight!
The island of the Montebellos are covered in these amazing termite mounds.
We then went onto Willy Nilly Bay to explore it in the boat, unfortunately it was too shallow and came out and anchored in Brandy Bay.
Brandy Bay
The boys went in the dinghy with the Quoll boys to a sandy spit hoping for a play, but the sand was too spongy and they were sunk down to their knees.
The sand spit where the boys wanted to play cricket, the key test proved the pitch was too soft!!!
Tuesday 27th October 2009
MOSELLE BAY, NORTH WEST ISLAND, MONTEBELLOS 20°21′ 47" S 115°31′ 58" E
CAMPBELL ISLAND, MONTEBELLOS 20°25′ 16" S 115°32′ 39" E
The strong wind warning abated today and we were able to move onto Campbell Island. After completing their school work the boys went ashore to play. I was still resting my knee so was out of action. Paul and I decided as we were between Rose Island and Champagne Bay, having a bottle of sparkling ‘Red’ was the order of the day for happy hour.
Monday 26th October 2009
MOSELLE BAY, NORTH WEST ISLAND, MONTEBELLOS 20°21′ 47" S 115°31′ 58" E
With the weather not looking good for moving on we stayed for another night in Moselle Bay. I was out of action with my knee and given the orders from skipper and crew to keep off it, so Paul cooked breakfast, Tim made lunch and Ben cooked dinner. And then there were the dishes – being out of action might be good! Except it was driving me crazy not being able to move!!!!!
Sunday 25th October 2009
CHARTREUSE BAY, ALPHA ISLAND, MONTEBELLOS 20°24′ 33" S 115°31′ 32" E
MOSELLE BAY, NORTH WEST ISLAND, MONTEBELLOS 20°21′ 47" S 115°31′ 58" E
An interesting assumption we have made about the Montebellos, the person who was responsible for the names liked flower names for the islands, alcohol names for the bays and animals names for the hills.
We have Primrose Island, Pansy Island, Hollyhock Island, Violet Island, Bluebell Island, Jonquil Island, Crocus Island, Rose Island, Daisy Island, Marigold Island, Foxglove Island, Buttercup Island, Carnation Island, Gardenia Island, Dahlia Island and Aster Island.
Then there’s Moselle Bay, Drambuie Bay, Chianti Bay, Chartreuse Bay, Champagne Bay, Cider Bay, Brandy Bay, Whisky Bay, Vodka Beach, Sherry Lagoon, Vermouth Lagoon and Claret Cove.
And finally Elephant Hill, Bear Hill, Panther Hill, Beaver Hill, Lion Hill, and Giraffe Hill.
The Montebellos is comprised of about seventy limestone island interspersed with windy sandy beaches and provides some lovely snorkelling. The limestone cliffs are about 12 metre high and provide some interesting rock formations. The water is lovely and clear, but unfortunately for us the breeze was blowing quite strongly and creating a choppy swell. This is limiting our choice of bays.
The limestone islands with the lovely cliff in the clear waters of the Montebellos
Three nuclear weapon tests were carried out in the Montebellos during the 1950’s. We left Chartreuse Bay to visit the site on Alpha Island, where the largest nuclear weapon was tested in Australia on June 19, 1956. Named Mosaic G2, it was a 98-kilotonne tower blast. Radiation levels are now considered to be low and at a safe level, but you are recommended to restricted your visit to one hour per day. As you visit the island and wander around, there is evidence of blast shrapnel and destroyed building structures everywhere. The island is littered with the evidence of power of the blast. The tower, a concrete steel reinforced structure quite a distance from the bomb site and up and a hill, was obliterated. There is now a concrete structure on the bomb site.
Part of the steel reinforced concrete tower, looking down to our anchored boats.
The railway track to get equipment and supplies to the top was twisted and contorted.
The blast site.
We then moved to Moselle Bay, which seemed to be a popular turtle mating ground, as we interrupted a number of promiscuous groups. We felt like voyeurs in a turtle brothel! This had us on our guard when swimming though, alert for the presence of tiger sharks.
The thrashing throws of turtle love making
The boys went ashore with the Quoll boys for their obligatory game of 44 homes, and a swim. Paul and I went for a walk along the beach and then over the rocky outcrop. I jumped down from the cliff face onto the sandy beach, landed wrongly and my left knee gave way under me. Oh no! That was not good!! With a bung knee and in pain, Paul had to help me back to the beach, climbing back over the rocky cliff. We had early sundowner drinks onboard Wendera. Early for medicinal purposes for my aching knee and on Wendera as I couldn’t move. Luckily nothing was broken or torn, just a bad strain and it was swelling fast.
The ice pack was a packet of frozen chips! The wine is for medicinal purposes!!
Tim achieved one of his milestones today …… he is now officially taller than Aunty Loz by 7mm! He was so excited to report this feat!
