"They can't f***en do that." Dave, there are no rules in a knife fight and yes they can and yes they did. An
adverse forecast had split the group asunder with most of those in the know leaving from Weinam Creek. We, on the other hand, were spoiling for a good SE and kept to Point O'Halloran with thoughts about heading from Karragarra to Blakesleys before firing back across the bay north of Coochie on a strengthening
blow.
On the way we crossed paths with an unrecognised pigeon pair of blue Contours strapped to racks. Clearly not everyone had checked the late e-mail chatter. Five others turning up at Point O'Halloran including the Contour paddlers, Jane and Peter, Noel, Marie and Murray and (an unimpressed) Dave.
With a massive 2.7m tide due at 9:41am on the Brisbane Bar, at
9:06 it was just a matter of sliding the kayaks off the grass and straight into the water. Setting out into a light SE we made for the lee of Garden Island where the tide was brimming amongst the mangroves. The sea eagles had moved south from the entrance of the passage to a look out opposite the tip of Karragarra. With a
suggestion of a kayak sail in the distance a call was put out on
Channel 21 for Carol - after all she did get a UHF for Christmas. After hearing the call and not being too paranoid about the being the only Carol on Channel 21 she duly responded with her location then asked who was calling. Oops ... better improve the call protocol. Those in the know made a hasty beeline for the shore, after all if you want to improve your chances of getting a feed around this lot it pays to be bold (and quick).
We arrived to find the mutineers relaxing at the table where the water had passed under and out the other side with the last barge landing. Unfortunately no photos - it was all hands on kayaks. When we arrived the 6 knot sign only just had its head out of water and the swimming enclosure was not far off being totally submerged.
The quick got their share of some chocolate caramel slice while everyone (yes read these words carefully - there is a first time
for everything) was given a home made chocolate muffin made by yours truly, Dave. And guess what, with their extra nuts (and anything else that was out of date in the pantry) they came up trumps.
After morning tea we went around Lamb in search of our wind. From the sails on a dual masted yacht sailing north, it was not looking good. There wasn't enough huff in it for her to fill her
blue and white spinnaker and seeing this wiped Blakesleys off the agenda. The best we had was a tiddler swell
which helped us make good time into Potts where we squeezed around a bench table. Murray was set up first making a billy of tea, but he almost missed out on a seat ... quick and the bold. Noel came up trumps with a beautiful coconut cake and Ray declared that there should be a ban on such delectable treats so soon after Christmas. Gee Ray, I was putting my tight fit lifejacket down to the PLB I got for Christmas, not the Christmas indulgence.
Those who had not checked their e-mail now came up trumps returning with a following wind. The mutineers were into a stiff outgoing tide returning to Weinam Creek. While there were a few swells to ride off Coochie that blow never arrived - it would have been lucky to have topped 15 knots all day. It was a while
before the mutineers took their place at the cafe for a coffee calling an end to what was yet another great day on the bay.
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