5th Oct Pearl Bay to Great Kepple 56nm

Today is my birthday. I have made it to 62.

I was up early at around 6am before Maureen and Eric were up and sat on deck with a cup of tea thinking how lucky am I to be living this dream of cruising along the coast and experiencing the magnificent surrounds of Pearl Bay. There were turtles, fish, birds all going about their business. They spend their entire day hunting and gathering. Man used to until the modern era of super markets evolved. I still love the challenge of hunting and gathering my own food from the sea.

It certainly is rewarding and far healthier than buying meat.

After a quick breakfast we readied the yacht for another day of motor sailing.

Once we left the safety of Pearl Bay we were accompanied by a reasonable swell for the entire way to Great Keppel Island.

Not a lot happened until we saw a mother whale teaching her calf to breach. That was a bit exciting.

Lunch we had BBQ lamb sausages on the way.

No fish were caught although we had two hook ups and lost both.

We anchored in Monkey Bay on the west side of the island to avoid the swell and the constant 10 knots of wind.

We launched the dinghy and had a walk on the beach with Isabella crew and Tilley the dog.

A selfie on the beach at sunset

Crab balls on Monkey Beach

We had another amazing sunset

I had to wash my birthday suit before I could go for drinks

Drinks were on Isabella where we consumed some very nice spring rolls which we decided after that they were going to be our dinner.

We returned to Billabong and consumed a bottle of red and some cheese and biscuits. We certainly were not hungry after the lamb sausages for lunch.

It was a lovely day and a great way to spend a birthday on the Coral Coast.

9pm came and the lights were out.