The following morning was a leisurely pack whilst waiting for the tide to come in. QSK were planning to return via Potts Point then head for the mangrove channel in Garden Island on their return to Redland Bay. We said our lot would be congregating there and they would be welcome to join us. Not wanting to be briefed we went
ahead. QSK were soon to be outnumbered 2 to 1 as a kayak
convention of around 32 boats filled the beach. Would have been 33 with Ron - 34 with Chris - 35 with Scarla - 36 with Patrick - 37 with Kylie - 38 with Steve - 39 with Nev - 40 with Glenis - 41 with David - 42 with Cheryl - 43 with Bruce - 44 with Lord Mongrel (known to us as Anthony) ... we missed the rest of you. Brian was in his element collecting e-mail
addresses. Even more delicious food filled the tables and the meal was concluded with the vanquishment of Felicity. Maybe we should have Christmas parties more often.
With all that scrummy food in our bellies we split into two. We tried to shepherd Carol with us to Moreton but she wouldn't be a part of it, protesting loudly and making a break for those returning to Point O'Halloran. With the clutter of boats there was an incident with two Mirages leaving one holed. Lucky it
wasn't a Natureline vs Mirage as one would have been hulled, and we all know which one would have survived. A quick repair with duct tape and it was off facing into the NE which was going to dog us the way it dogged QSK the day before.
The opposing NE brought a sloppy chop and a slower pace. Santa Claus was washed overboard and duly rescued by Ted after Ray thought he was a goner. Tinsel became a matted limpid mangle bunched up along the deck lines. Ted's darling decided to have a little sup along the way. She quietly scooped some into the front hatch with every wave, bringing the nose a little lower for a bit more each time. By the time we hit the beach at Dunwich he was pumping out. Dave and Mark had a
pumping duel with no clear concession of defeat. This trip was pacing slower than intended and the prospect of another 3+ hours of the same held limited appeal. So Plan B for the Moreton Island Venturers had us heading into One Mile where the local store at Dunwich had said there was a council caravan park with beach
access.
The One Mile Caravan Park was refreshingly feral. We also discovered that it was unattended after 2pm so we made ourselves at home on a vacant waterfront block serviced with a concrete trestle table and side stools. A statuesque egret watched proceedings from across the road upon high. Our fellow campers kindly lent a key to the amenities block which were beautifully clean and tidy. All
punters had either a hot or cold shower (depending upon whether
you figured out the button) to the smooth sounds of 4BH.
After a few wines and unnecessary nibbles it was off to the Little Ship Club. This was a welcome surprise find for some of us. Great beer on tap (including Kilkenny), tables to seat a congregation of knights and equally enormous tasty meals all
enjoyed under the shelter of an open patio. Hey, this is a place to come back too and their next annual jazz festival sounds like a goer. Put in on the calendar Brian.
The wind did not settle overnight, in fact it seemed to be blowing even harder in the morning. Not our problem, in fact our pleasure as this is where we were pulling out. Tom got to play with his 3G phone downloading the latest from the BOM with
predictions of a SE change. After breakfast the egret gracefully
stalked the boats carefully eyeing open hatches. If that beak wanted something resistance would have been futile. Much laughter as north on the concrete table was determined by what must have been a hunk of reo. After the ceremonial passing on of the remanents of wine and camp fire in a can we were sent off in the right direction by the prospective Moreton Island Venturers. Three of us left for the northern side of Peel at the bottom of the tide before making a beeline for Raby Bay.
Once on the water the wind was less prominent, in fact by the time we turned for Raby Bay it was positively disappointing. I was anticipating a hing dinger of a sail with paddle out the side and got a right old plod with a tad of wind assistance. However the weekend did bring some great ideas, a colourful congregation of the devoted celebrating with a great banquet and a new venue for the calendar.
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