Calendar


Trip Diary

08-2012 Peel Island (An Ekka tradition)
08-2012 Moreton Island
07-2012 Rocky Point
06-2012 Blakesleys
06-2012 The Bedroom
05-2012 Breakfast on Karragarra
05-2012 St Helena
05-2012 Perigee Bedroom
02-2012 Queen Mary II
02-2012 Mud Island
11-2011 St Helena
11-2011 Shorncliffe to Redcliffe
10-2011 Weinam Ck to Dunwich
10-2011 Peel Island
10-2011 Breakfast on Karragarra
10-2011 St Helena and Green Island
09-2011 Wivenhoe Dam
08-2011 Fraser Island
08-2011 Canaipa Passage
08-2011 Karragarra
08-2011 Stradbroke Island
07-2011 St Helena
07-2011 So long, and thanks for all the fish.
05-2011 Green Island
05-2011 Wivenhoe Dam
04-2011 Upper Noosa River Weekend
04-2011 Easter at Woodgate
04-2011 Mud Island
04-2011 Karragarra for Breakfast
02-2011 Bongaree
02-2011 St Helena
01-2011 Weinam Ck to Blakesleys
10-2010 Moore to Blackbutt Rail Trail
10-2010 Whitsundays
09-2010 Mud Island
09-2010 Redcliffe
09-2010 Girraween
08-2010 Upper Noosa River
08-2010 Potts Point
08-2010 Peel Island
08-2010 Gateway to City Bike Ride
08-2010 Mud Island
07-2010 Blakesleys Afternoon Paddle
07-2010 Kedron Brook to Scaborough (and return)
04-2010 Colmslie Beach
04-2010 Brighton Park
01-2010 Nundah Creek
01-2010 Blakesleys
01-2010 Upper Noosa River (with a difference)
01-2010 New Year Paddle
12-2009 Potts Point
08-2009 Raby Bay to Peel Island
08-2009 Wynnum Creek to King Island
07-2009 Sandgate to Redcliffe
05-2009 St Helena
04-2009 Wellington Point to Peel
04-2009 Breakfast on Karragarra
03-2009 King Island
03-2009 Mission Point
03-2009 Mud Island
01-2009 Morning Tea at The Pin
01-2009 Circumnavigate Macleay Island
01-2009 New Year Recovery Paddle
12-2008 Caniapa
12-2008 Pine Rivers
11-2008 Coochie Night Paddle
10-2008 Breakfast at Karragarra
10-2008 Girraween
10-2008 Coomera Falls Circuit
09-2008 Hinchinbrook Island
09-2008 Manly Harbour Festival
09-2008 Linville to Blackbutt Rail Trail
08-2008 Weekend at Blakesleys
08-2008 Old Woman Island
08-2008 Circumnavigate Macleay Island
07-2008 Upper Noosa River
07-2008 Weinam Creek to Dunwich
06-2008 Scarborough to Bongaree
06-2008 Wellington Pt to St Helena
06-2008 North Stradbroke Jazz Weekend
05-2008 Point O'Halloran to Blakesleys
04-2008 Upper Noosa River
04-2008 Aquatic Paradise to St Helena Is
04-2008 Eprapah Creek
03-2008 Paradise Point to Moreton Island
03-2008 Wynnum Ck to Tangalooma Point
03-2008 Amity Point weekend
03-2008 Bremer River
03-2008 Brisbane River - Gregors Ck to Barneys Rocks
02-2008 Play Day - Coochie Mudlo
02-2008 World Wetlands Day Paddle
02-2008 Brisbane River night paddle
01-2008 Australia Day Week
01-2008 Blakesleys 3/4 Moon Paddle
01-2008 Shorncliffe to Nudgee
01-2008 Brisbane River - Barneys Rocks to O'Sheas Crossing
12-2007 Raby Bay to One Mile via Blakesleys and Potts Point
12-2007 Diamond Head to Tipplers
12-2007 Wynnum Ck to Green and St Helena Islands
11-2007 Bike Ride Bay Islands
11-2007 Tingalpa Creek
10-2007 Potts Point Night Paddle
10-2007 Return to Gilligans Island
10-2007 Salt Water Creek and Coomera River
09-2007 Elimbah Creek
09-2007 Scarborough to Caboolture River
09-2007 Fraser Island Whale Watching
09-2007 Circumnavigate Russell Island
08-2007 Pine Rivers Night Paddle
08-2007 Linville to Blackbutt Rail Trail
08-2007 Brisbane River City Reach
08-2007 Peel Island
08-2007 Brisbane River
08-2007 Green Island Day Trip
07-2007 Pine Rivers Night Paddle
07-2007 Mooloolah River
07-2007 USS Kitty Hawk in Brisbane River
06-2007 Black Tie on Peel Island
05-2007 Harrys Hut Camping Weekend
04-2007 Theodolite Creek
04-2007 Upper Burrum River
04-2007 Circumnavigate Big Woody
04-2007 Walkers Point to Toogum
03-2007 Boat Passage to Big Sandhills
12-2006 Woodgate to Mon Repos
10-2006 Fraser Island Whale Watching
04-2005 Keppel Islands
12-2004 Fraser Island
10-2004 Munna Point Camping Weekend
10-2004 Mooloolaba to Maroochydore
09-2004 Coochie Mudlo Island
08-2004 Karragarra Island
07-2004 Wellington Point to St Helena Island
06-2004 Noosa River Camping Weekend
05-2004 Brisbane River Night Paddle
04-2004 Budds Beach to Moreton Island
10-2003 Bulwer to Tangalooma
05-2003 Eatonsville to Harwood Island

Links

SEQSK Discussion Group
SEQSK Newsletters
Adventurer Anthony Malloch

Wellington Point to Peel
Date: 13-04-2009
Easter in Queensland often brings memories of wet tents, flooded camp grounds, an early desertion of Stradbroke Island and generally pretty miserable conditions. The last few years have been nothing short of glorious so the odds were that the weather would throw a wobbly. The welcome rain sprouted fairy rings and made it easier to remain inside and not mull over what might have been on Big Woody Island.

Three days of jerking wires and moving office in an already tight space had us fanging out for a watery reprieve. By the time we got back online all bar one of the group had changed to a Raby Bay start. Wanting a day with a difference we stayed with our plan to paddle from Wellington Point to Peel Island. The forecast was fixed on a 10-15 knot easterly with a suggestion of a northerly touch. While clouds said that the wet had not finished, the skies were lighter in the east.

When it was definite that neither Dean or Ray were turning up we headed out into the constant breeze - right on the nose. The chop was small and the bay was pretty much deserted. A call out to the rest of the starters leaving from Raby Bay went with the wind which was starting to firm up, turning the paddle into a gym exercise. By the northwest corner of Peel I had had enough of the unrelenting breeze and was well and truly ready to fly the sail.

Turning the corner we sailed by the inviting beach on the eastern side of Peel where a sheoak and a hibiscus provide a beautiful canopy for a tent. Others have thought so too and the place is marked by a National Parks no camping sign. Approaching from the eastern side kayak colours nosing above the remaining stone wall jetty marked Platypus Bay. By the time we pulled in the rest of the group were ready to head off.

We were greeted by a most welcome piece of Carol's walnut cake, made even more precious by her having to fend off Dave and piker. Really, Dave I thought you would have known better to get between me and my food, let alone a treasured piece of Carol's gourmet cake. As for piker, (now known as pikelet for not turning up at Wellington Point) you don't know what you are messing with - even Mark doesn't take me on when it comes to food.

A couple of tinnies traded places with the group. After a welcome lunch (less the watermelon) we rested in the shade and waited for the sheoaks to announce that there was sufficient wind to blow us back to Wellington Point. The easterly held but didn't change much. It was enough to have us travelling easily at 11kph, tipping 14kph with the bit of swell which was around. Another 5knots would have been superb. We were monstered by enormous launches with three to four levels of deck and noisy diesels pushing up the largest swell of the day. The only launches out were huge and stupendous and by the sound of the engines, likely to be on their annual drive down to the Gold Coast for a couple of days of the casino and restaurants. Ick.

As we approached Wellington Point the black clouds that had the intensity of a thunderstorm now started to sound like one too. Not very comforting when there are no yachts within cooee to take the hit. Then the rain washed out most of the wind. By the time we pulled up onto the ramp the carpark was very wet and everyone was perched under the shelters. The day looked like it was shutting up shop early as it remained as grey as ever bringing to a close a weekend of classic Easter weather.
Easter weather
With plenty of rain
Peel's eastern beach
Leaving on arrival
Back into rain