We have finally got to publishing our new web site.
www.westward-ii.com
8 April 2009
12 December 2008
Changing to a web site
Well we've decide to build a web site and hope to have it up and running early in the new year. It will have the remanded of the trip notes and more photo's.
We will put a link here when it is completed.
We will put a link here when it is completed.
8 October 2008
WIIN - York Sound (3 – 8 August)
Next stop is the Hunter River, and we left early in company with Justapussy, while Head Office planned to sail straight to Bigge Island. We were able to get the MPS up for a while, and again saw many whales underway. We anchored at Naturalists Island - apparently named after a party of naturalists camping in 1984 - at the mouth of the Hunter River.
The next morning we anchored in the river and over the next couple of days explored, being careful of the tides to ensure we didn’t get stuck up the creek with no water! Currently 8 metre tides, and at low many exposed rocks and sandbars - many crocodiles sighted as we explored.
At the end of one creek there was a freshwater stream and waterfall, which we stood under and was very cool and refreshing. We also took the opportunity to fill some water containers and do some washing. At night the river comes alive, with noise from ‘things’ in the water and on the banks, and too dark to see the fish and crocs out there.
After leaving the Hunter River we had strong wind warnings for the next few days. We stayed at an unnamed bay, where we explored by dinghy the bays nearby. There were sandy beaches, rocks, some mangroves, and beautiful crystals in the rocks. We also explored a huge cave which can only be accessed at low tide, which was inhabited by bats and many creepy crawlies. We ate big black tipped oysters from the rocks at the beach, and also, one evening had a great bonfire on the beach.
We took the dinghies a few miles across to Rainforest Ravine, which looked so out of place with the surroundings. It was a rainforest, lush with vegetation and a fresh water stream running down over the rocks. We had taken a picnic lunch, and had a dip in the cool fresh water before heading back. When we got back to the creek where we had left the dinghies, Darryl from Justapussy was able to retrieve our dinghy as he had arrived back ahead of us. The tide had risen more than we expected, and it would have been difficult to get to the dinghy without getting in the water – with the creatures that lurk within!
The HF radio has been fantastic and is our only link with the outside world at the moment. So apart from keeping up with the weather and news (and footy scoresL), we have regular skeds with other yachties we know. Recently we have spoken with Sunseeker (Dampier), Freo Doctor (Christmas Island), Eloise and Mischief (Indonesia), and Hanuman (in Broome).
Where you end up isn't the most important thing. It's the road you take to get there. The road you take is what you'll look back on and call your life. Tim Wiley
The next morning we anchored in the river and over the next couple of days explored, being careful of the tides to ensure we didn’t get stuck up the creek with no water! Currently 8 metre tides, and at low many exposed rocks and sandbars - many crocodiles sighted as we explored.
At the end of one creek there was a freshwater stream and waterfall, which we stood under and was very cool and refreshing. We also took the opportunity to fill some water containers and do some washing. At night the river comes alive, with noise from ‘things’ in the water and on the banks, and too dark to see the fish and crocs out there.
After leaving the Hunter River we had strong wind warnings for the next few days. We stayed at an unnamed bay, where we explored by dinghy the bays nearby. There were sandy beaches, rocks, some mangroves, and beautiful crystals in the rocks. We also explored a huge cave which can only be accessed at low tide, which was inhabited by bats and many creepy crawlies. We ate big black tipped oysters from the rocks at the beach, and also, one evening had a great bonfire on the beach.
We took the dinghies a few miles across to Rainforest Ravine, which looked so out of place with the surroundings. It was a rainforest, lush with vegetation and a fresh water stream running down over the rocks. We had taken a picnic lunch, and had a dip in the cool fresh water before heading back. When we got back to the creek where we had left the dinghies, Darryl from Justapussy was able to retrieve our dinghy as he had arrived back ahead of us. The tide had risen more than we expected, and it would have been difficult to get to the dinghy without getting in the water – with the creatures that lurk within!
The HF radio has been fantastic and is our only link with the outside world at the moment. So apart from keeping up with the weather and news (and footy scoresL), we have regular skeds with other yachties we know. Recently we have spoken with Sunseeker (Dampier), Freo Doctor (Christmas Island), Eloise and Mischief (Indonesia), and Hanuman (in Broome).
Where you end up isn't the most important thing. It's the road you take to get there. The road you take is what you'll look back on and call your life. Tim Wiley
2 October 2008
WIIN - Left High and Dry (29 July – 3 August)
We arrived at Sampson Inlet after a great sail from Raft Point, to find Justapussy (JAP) and Head Office (HO) anchored up.
Sailing up from Raft Point under MPS we had some wonderful and sometimes close encounters with the gentle giants of the deep, whales everywhere. A calf played 50 metres off the starboard side while mum slept a bit further away and while setting the MPS we got as close as we ever want to with one diving under the bow and us bracing ourselves waiting for the keel to hit and with all the excitement and being mesmerised we forgot to take any close up photos, but what memories.
Peter and Doris from Head Office had decided to beach HO and clean the prop.. Was an interesting sight with HO laid on her side, however all went well and she was floating again with the next tide.
Next we headed for Sheep Island – no kiwi jokes please – an d caught a huge yellow fin tuna on the way out of Samson Inlet. Another good sail and many whales again to entertain us.
We went ashore on Sheep Island and saw the grave of Mary Jane Pascoe – an early settler who died in 1865. On the mainland we walked up to the remains of the Government Camp in Camden Harbour. Crockery shards, shells and small items remain on a rock wall – the camp was abandoned in 1865.
Next we sailed to Glauert Island and this time caught a large Mackerel underway, so will not need any more fish for a while! Next day we went exploring with Jan and Darryl on Justapussy, visited the big boab with “HMC Mermaid 1820” carved in it, and also the boab in Ivy Cover with “IVY 19.10.1890 (or 91)carved into it. Ivy was a pearling schooner working in the area.
While at Glauert island HO was again high and dry this time it was not planned, and all worked out okay and they were floating again before long. We then all went ashore for a big bonfire on the beach.
Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. John Lennon
Sailing up from Raft Point under MPS we had some wonderful and sometimes close encounters with the gentle giants of the deep, whales everywhere. A calf played 50 metres off the starboard side while mum slept a bit further away and while setting the MPS we got as close as we ever want to with one diving under the bow and us bracing ourselves waiting for the keel to hit and with all the excitement and being mesmerised we forgot to take any close up photos, but what memories.
Peter and Doris from Head Office had decided to beach HO and clean the prop.. Was an interesting sight with HO laid on her side, however all went well and she was floating again with the next tide.
Next we headed for Sheep Island – no kiwi jokes please – an d caught a huge yellow fin tuna on the way out of Samson Inlet. Another good sail and many whales again to entertain us.
We went ashore on Sheep Island and saw the grave of Mary Jane Pascoe – an early settler who died in 1865. On the mainland we walked up to the remains of the Government Camp in Camden Harbour. Crockery shards, shells and small items remain on a rock wall – the camp was abandoned in 1865.
Next we sailed to Glauert Island and this time caught a large Mackerel underway, so will not need any more fish for a while! Next day we went exploring with Jan and Darryl on Justapussy, visited the big boab with “HMC Mermaid 1820” carved in it, and also the boab in Ivy Cover with “IVY 19.10.1890 (or 91)carved into it. Ivy was a pearling schooner working in the area.
While at Glauert island HO was again high and dry this time it was not planned, and all worked out okay and they were floating again before long. We then all went ashore for a big bonfire on the beach.
Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. John Lennon
WIIN - A Reef and Aboriginal Rock Art (27 – 29 July)
Underway again and our next stop is Kingfisher Island, where we stayed overnight, and then we headed for Montgomery Reef. This is quite amazing as is an extensive area, mostly underwater at high tide, and exposed at low tide causing water to cascade in a spectacular fashion.
We anchored up and saw more and more reef being exposed, and took the dinghy ashore - was like walking on the ocean floor, with some pretty corals, clams, shells, many turtles and rays in the shallows.
After lunch we made our way to Raft Point, where we thought we may have an anchorage to ourselves – but a charter boat arrived late in the evening.
We went ashore and trekked up the hill to view the aboriginal artwork in a huge cave. The path was quite clear as a lot of charter boats stop here, and beautiful views back on the bay.
The next morning we are on the move again, this time our destination is Samson Inlet.
Lost time is never found again.
We anchored up and saw more and more reef being exposed, and took the dinghy ashore - was like walking on the ocean floor, with some pretty corals, clams, shells, many turtles and rays in the shallows.
After lunch we made our way to Raft Point, where we thought we may have an anchorage to ourselves – but a charter boat arrived late in the evening.
We went ashore and trekked up the hill to view the aboriginal artwork in a huge cave. The path was quite clear as a lot of charter boats stop here, and beautiful views back on the bay.
The next morning we are on the move again, this time our destination is Samson Inlet.
Lost time is never found again.
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