More On Shaw

One of many interesting features we have been watching as we progress along the coast are the rock types and formations. Mathew Flinders "scientific gentlemen" would be proud of us. My apogies to all the geos that I may have insulted over the years - yes they can hold your interest.

We have seen dark angular formations; formations like laid tiles; stratified gravels and more. Shaw was interesting as from the sea the tan rocks gave a sense of crumpled brown paper, or old school shoes at the end of year where the light coloured worn and torn areas contrasted with the areas tucked away from harm where the original polished leather could still be spied.

Another feature we sometimes find are the small tidal creeks. Often at the south western end of a beach. Great to explore a little way, but always with the reticence that comes from the crodile warnings in all the reference books. As unlikely as it may be those marks could be the tracks of a ......?
Out on the bay you can see a large catamaran - not the one described below but similar. A price we had to pay for travelling in the strong winds were some sleepless nights worried about dragging the anchor, complicated by the large tides in these areas. Well one night as we were up and worrying about ours we saw a large Sunsail charter cat closer than it was a while ago........
and then it was a lot further away........

and we tried to explain it away as "they must have a lot of chain out to be swinging that much"....

until they were even further away and we are thinking (aloud) "noone carries that much chain"


and then they were cleraly off and running - one thirty am and we are trying to raise them by spotlight, radio (as if they had that ont) and finally resorted to the airhorn (which I have only used once on Moreton Bay to attract a stink boat that was about to run us down) (thoughts go out to the people killed last night on Moreton Bay) and the bloody horn did not work!

So for Tiburon it was up anchor and chase them down, catching then almost a nautical mile away. Well you should have seen the entertainment when we finally woke the unfortunate couple who were first up!

Imagine man with pants on one leg and not the other scrambling across rear deck followed by wife!

Anyway they returned to anchor safely for the rest of the night and arrived next morning to thank us again and added to the beer stocks.

It happens to all of us and we spent a little time with Peter and Lou reflecting on our "big drag" at Tangalooma on New Years Eve last.

Our good deed done we left Shaw and made our way to Hamilton Island in 20/25 with 30 gusts, at one stage followed by the biggest wave we have seen thus far. Quite safe though.