A Whale of a Time...

Mr Whale about to dive under SOL

We anchored off the beach at Scarness, in Hervey Bay, once again in very clear water. Next day we sailed out towards Platypus Bay, Fraser Island for our first close encounter with WHALES!! We spotted a pod not far from the beach and headed towards them, slowing as we neared, and watched a pod of 5 swim around and under our boat.

I....

Was....

Terrified....!!!

Truly they are the most incredible creatures, they are so big, look so cumbersome, yet are so graceful – a real paradox. They were so close to us, we could have leaned out and touched them, but as I said, I was so terrified that I couldn’t even photograph them – I videoed the sky, my feet, in fact everything else except the whales, all the time shrieking, and squealing!! Jamie was far more relaxed and yes, he managed to get a good shot of them!

We spent the night along with Helene and Graham (Roo Bin Esque) and Elaine and Andy (Twoflower) enjoying sundowners on the beach near the Arches watching whales swim between our anchored boats and the shore.

Sunset, Platypus Bay, Fraser Island

Thursday, 27^th July, we doodled around the bay watching whales before making our way down to the Urangan Boat Harbour where we cruised up to the public wharf and picked up Sarah and Andy, who were joining us for a couple of days. (Sarah is a doctor who worked with me for a year in theatre at GVH and she and partner, Andy, were on a road trip up this way). Their introduction to life aboard was perfect, a lovely sail out to the anchorage where we watched the sunset. Next morning it was whale watching in earnest – we saw whales, whales and more whales.

Sarah and Andy enjoying the whale show

Today, knowing these magnificent beasts would not intentionally harm us or our boat, I was a lot more relaxed, and apart from the odd – Oh my God!! Oh goodness!!  and other expletives!! I managed to even get some good photos and video.

We also saw dolphins, turtles and although we went ashore on a crocodile and dingo hunt these we did not see – luckily.
We had Finska and drinks ashore, watched out for the “green flash” as the sun set – didn’t see it – then when we returned to SOL there were hundreds of whiting hanging around her stern calling out – feed me, feed me – so we just had to throw in a couple of lines baited with chicken, which they couldn’t resist – consequently about an hour later we had a bucketful (took longer to fillet them than to catch) – a delicious breakfast feast.

We dropped Sarah and Andy back at Urangan then anchored off Moon Point for the night. With next to no wind for the next few days we are going to go up the Mary River to explore the historic old town of Maryborough.