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

Black Tie on Peel Island
Date: 02-06-2007
Launch: Raby Bay
Distance: 21km
Conditions: Wind Southeast 15-20kn
Some nights become legendary and this was the making of one such night.

An invitation arrived to a four course Black Tie Dinner on Peel with wines selected to compliment each course. The rule for the occasion was that all camping gear, tuxedo, gown and any contributions for the set up or meal had to be transported to the island via kayak. Now this is my kind of restaurant with a delicious menu to be shared with good company. I reserved my seat at the table and was going - by hook or by crook - with or without Mark.

My parents arrived the day before bringing with them my much anticipated Macpac tent from NZ. Not much had changed in 20 years ago aside getting 1.5 times the tent for the same packed weight and volume. One practice run and it was decided to give it its maiden night out less the seam seal. On the morning of the paddle we made sure my parents knew where the QPAC concerts were that afternoon and evening, then left them to their own devices.

Did you know that an Artic Raider has been designed with that special occasion in mind ? A fox fur stole rolled up in a sheet placed in a dry bag shoves just nicely up the nose of the boat. Guaranteed to raise an environmental kill. A full length no crush black sparkling number was stuffed in another dry bag together with the complementary black lycra leggings, black gloves and matching black paddling shoes. Mark had a warmer option of a tux and if I may say so, he did look rather smart. You guys should spiff up more often - there might be fewer complaints around the camp fires.

The paddle was smack into a fresh SE against an outgoing tide. It was an unrelenting slog making all of about 4kph. The water was too low to cut the corner at the SW rocks to head for the relative tidal protection of Horseshoe Bay. As we gritted it out the rest of the crew tamed huge tarp which had fought long and hard for parasailing rights.

Aside the oversized tarp with frequent industrial tripping anchors and the odd Spurling bag waving around in the trees there was not much suggestion of what was to follow. That was until the camping tables started to gather into a long banquet table graced with starched white damask tablecloths. At the northern end were the camping gas BBQs and preparation trestles while coloured candle lights graced the perimeter of the tarp. (There was assistance from two power boats with the larger items.)

The chef and his paddling companion arrived late in the afternoon having also experienced pretty ordinary conditions on the way over. Did you know that a Sea Quest and a Nordcap can carry a complete restaurant meal for 16 ? Fresh basil, saffron, double cream; scallops, couscous, confit of duck, strawberries . . . it just kept coming out of those hatches.

Sundowners were enjoyed with some finger food. As the light started to fade the decision was made to get the show on the road. The metamorphosis was complete with penguins and makeup emerging from tents to take a place at the table. Camptime America was well represented. The tone was set with the much anticipated arrival of the final couple. They strode in carrying the ghetto blaster playing Ride of the Valkaries and took their places amongst much laughter and rousing applause.

Appetisers were the classic champagne and raw oysters. Now I am no oyster fan but these were beautiful buttery creatures wallowing in their shells bathed in a complex marinade with the suggestion of fresh ginger. Superb with the champagne and a promising start to a meal that just kept getting better. The crockery and glasses varied from fold up plastic to china plates, screw apart resin to crystal goblets from velvet lined boxes. Between courses Fay taught us about the varied history of Peel Island - once a place for inebriates, with the amount of wine for each course it looked like maybe we might need to stay a while. Michael addressed each course and educated us about his selection of wine - something to be said about having a passion for dining well.

The night and the meal was memorable. At the end Patrick went for a stroll down the beach to where two guys camping above the stone wall jetty were joed out next to their campfire. When they stirred he asked them if they had seen his taxi. Well that just about did it for them - a guy in a tux on Peel Island asking for his taxi. Their night probably became stranger when Mark and I wandered over. They did express some concern about a ? person they had seen on the beach with the tide lapping at their feet. It was an enormous tide which drowned the jetty and almost woke the chef who had made it to the end of the meal . . . just.

Much snoring overnight and sunglasses did not go amiss the next day. Many hands took control of the tarp and tidying up the gear which was shuttled to the mainland.

If ever a strange invitation arrives via e-mail to a black tie meal with arrival via kayak, I recommend you reserve your place and be prepared for a night to remember.

PS. A great vote of thanks to Phil, Fay, Michael and everyone else who did the background work that made this occasion such a success.

Tip: Don't forget the cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
Setting up
Ready and waiting
Chef and MC
Addressing the dessert
Spiffy
Plenty of good food and wine
Morning after
Paddling Chef with pot
Menu
 
Black Tie on Peel Island Map
GPS Trackfile (OziExplorer .plt)