Exmouth via Serrurier Island
Serrurier Island
Saturday August 7 120nm, 24hrs
Sailing through the night we reached Serrurier Island at 1530 hours. There were three other sailing boats in the bay, one of them being Talisman with Michelle and Vic aboard. We saw many whales whilst in transit, and kept the motor on during the night sail to reduce our chances of hitting one. In the morning a massive body appeared behind the boat without warning. I was so in awe I couldn’t do anything other than gasp and point. Colin got the message.
Saturday August 7 120nm, 24hrs
Sailing through the night we reached Serrurier Island at 1530 hours. There were three other sailing boats in the bay, one of them being Talisman with Michelle and Vic aboard. We saw many whales whilst in transit, and kept the motor on during the night sail to reduce our chances of hitting one. In the morning a massive body appeared behind the boat without warning. I was so in awe I couldn’t do anything other than gasp and point. Colin got the message.
Exmouth
Sunday August 8 36nm, 6hrs
Beware the sandflies, barely visible but will pack a bite that will itch for a week!
Sunday I took a quick, cold swim before setting sail at 0600 hours. Colin said the early hour was to make the most of tides, but I know the real reason was to be back in time to watch the footy. Talisman left early for the very same reason!
As we approached our pen in the Exmouth Marina we saw Nick on Samsara and he kindly helped us moor up. We were being blown onto the finger jetty so it wasn’t too hairy, but we’re not the kind to refuse help when it’s offered. When Talisman arrived a couple of hours later Colin helped them moor up. They were being blown off the finger jetty so were thankful for the assistance.
We’d booked in at the Exmouth Game Fishing Club for dinner and invited Michelle and Vic to join us. They did, bringing two other couples – Simon and Angela from Zia ll, and John and Meagan from Inismara. It’s always great to meet other yachties and share stories and information.
Monday, having booked a rental car in advance (after almost missing out last time), we had planned to meet Colin’s niece, Alex, after picking it up. However, the rain that had persisted all night had not yet let up and walking to Avis was looking decidedly unappealing. Thankfully we got a lift with Alex instead.
For breakfast we went to a favourite hangout of Alex’s, The Social Society. Where did all these gorgeous young women with exposed midriffs come from, we wondered? It was a very groovy place with a great vibe and the BEST granola. I’m pretty sure it would be my favourite place too if I lived in Exmouth.
We parted ways with Alex, who is volunteering here for a month as a dolphin research assistant, and returned to the boat to clean. All that glorious hard rain had done little to wash the Dampier red dust off the boat, so Colin got to with a bucket and brush while I cleaned the downstairs and did a stocktake in preparation for provisioning.
Tuesday morning was spent at the laundromat getting clothes and linen clean, chatting with other launderers, and assisting people with misbehaving machines since we’re old pros at this now. One of the young girls thought I worked there!
Wednesday Colin collected our next guest, Geoff, from the airport at 1215 hours. We’d arranged to meet Alex and the researchers for dinner at Whalebone, but prior to that we’d been invited onto Talisman for drinks and a squiz. Colin was keen to check out the wooden boat made by Vic and his father, and Geoff was keen to check out Vic’s homemade rum. He apparently also makes gin and bourbon.
Click images to enlarge
Sunday August 8 36nm, 6hrs
Beware the sandflies, barely visible but will pack a bite that will itch for a week!
Sunday I took a quick, cold swim before setting sail at 0600 hours. Colin said the early hour was to make the most of tides, but I know the real reason was to be back in time to watch the footy. Talisman left early for the very same reason!
As we approached our pen in the Exmouth Marina we saw Nick on Samsara and he kindly helped us moor up. We were being blown onto the finger jetty so it wasn’t too hairy, but we’re not the kind to refuse help when it’s offered. When Talisman arrived a couple of hours later Colin helped them moor up. They were being blown off the finger jetty so were thankful for the assistance.
We’d booked in at the Exmouth Game Fishing Club for dinner and invited Michelle and Vic to join us. They did, bringing two other couples – Simon and Angela from Zia ll, and John and Meagan from Inismara. It’s always great to meet other yachties and share stories and information.
Monday, having booked a rental car in advance (after almost missing out last time), we had planned to meet Colin’s niece, Alex, after picking it up. However, the rain that had persisted all night had not yet let up and walking to Avis was looking decidedly unappealing. Thankfully we got a lift with Alex instead.
For breakfast we went to a favourite hangout of Alex’s, The Social Society. Where did all these gorgeous young women with exposed midriffs come from, we wondered? It was a very groovy place with a great vibe and the BEST granola. I’m pretty sure it would be my favourite place too if I lived in Exmouth.
We parted ways with Alex, who is volunteering here for a month as a dolphin research assistant, and returned to the boat to clean. All that glorious hard rain had done little to wash the Dampier red dust off the boat, so Colin got to with a bucket and brush while I cleaned the downstairs and did a stocktake in preparation for provisioning.
Tuesday morning was spent at the laundromat getting clothes and linen clean, chatting with other launderers, and assisting people with misbehaving machines since we’re old pros at this now. One of the young girls thought I worked there!
Wednesday Colin collected our next guest, Geoff, from the airport at 1215 hours. We’d arranged to meet Alex and the researchers for dinner at Whalebone, but prior to that we’d been invited onto Talisman for drinks and a squiz. Colin was keen to check out the wooden boat made by Vic and his father, and Geoff was keen to check out Vic’s homemade rum. He apparently also makes gin and bourbon.
Click images to enlarge
Thursday Geoff had brought supplies to fix the nav, deck, and anchor lights, so Colin was up and down the mast making repairs, taking a lit soldering iron up on one trip. I strongly suggested he didn’t, but you can’t stop a man on a mission so it seems.
Breakfast at The Social Society before heading to meet Alex at the research quarters of DBCA (Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions), inland just past Milyering Discovery Centre. Alex took us up the gorge to see some early wildflowers, and Sturt Desert Peas cascading down a rock face.
Onwards to Yardie Creek for a look at the gorge and the crossing, then homewards via the Yardie Creek Homestead (the café was closed so we settled on ice-creams for lunch) and Bundegi Beach where we introduced Geoff to the stinging red jellyfish.
Click images to enlarge
Breakfast at The Social Society before heading to meet Alex at the research quarters of DBCA (Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions), inland just past Milyering Discovery Centre. Alex took us up the gorge to see some early wildflowers, and Sturt Desert Peas cascading down a rock face.
Onwards to Yardie Creek for a look at the gorge and the crossing, then homewards via the Yardie Creek Homestead (the café was closed so we settled on ice-creams for lunch) and Bundegi Beach where we introduced Geoff to the stinging red jellyfish.
Click images to enlarge
Friday Colin was up the mast at the crack of dawn again. You can’t keep a good man down.
We headed to Lakeside to go snorkelling - having heard just that morning that dugongs were sighted there a few days ago – but the road was blocked off, perhaps for that very reason. It is breeding season after all, and there would be no piece for dugongs with snorkellers around, especially if armed with a camera. We headed south to Trealla Beach just south of Lakeside, but saw nought but a sea snake and huge, tasty looking samson fish. After struggling with swim fins in the current – having left my dive fins at home – I decided I should buy some proper snorkelling fins.
The boys decided that was enough snorkelling for the day and we stopped for preprepared lunch at the Jurabi Point. No ice-cream lunch for us.
The Exmouth Game Fishing Club was booked out for the weekend, so we met the Samsara crew – Gary, Jo, and Nick – at Cadillacs, a country bar/restaurant specialising in southern USA food. It was pretty good too!
Click images to enlarge
We headed to Lakeside to go snorkelling - having heard just that morning that dugongs were sighted there a few days ago – but the road was blocked off, perhaps for that very reason. It is breeding season after all, and there would be no piece for dugongs with snorkellers around, especially if armed with a camera. We headed south to Trealla Beach just south of Lakeside, but saw nought but a sea snake and huge, tasty looking samson fish. After struggling with swim fins in the current – having left my dive fins at home – I decided I should buy some proper snorkelling fins.
The boys decided that was enough snorkelling for the day and we stopped for preprepared lunch at the Jurabi Point. No ice-cream lunch for us.
The Exmouth Game Fishing Club was booked out for the weekend, so we met the Samsara crew – Gary, Jo, and Nick – at Cadillacs, a country bar/restaurant specialising in southern USA food. It was pretty good too!
Click images to enlarge
Saturday Nick had invited us for fancy stovetop coffee on Samsara. What a lovely way to start the day – fine coffee, fine company, and lots of cruising information exchange.
Determined to get more wildflower pics our plan was to drop Geoff at the laundromat and Colin and I head towards Bundegi. The slight hitch when we arrived in town was I’d forgotten my camera - doh! While Colin graciously returned to the boat to collect that, and the laundry liquid we’d also forgotten, I bought myself some fins.
As it was close to midday we headed first to the Bundegi Beach Café. A fried softshell crab burger was a first for me. Following this we drove slowly back to town with poor, long-suffering Colin stopping periodically so I could take photos. We picked up Geoff and his clean clothes and did our victualing, forgetting only one thing – lettuce. Kinda crucial to the salad. I put away the supplies while Colin ducked back to the shops, picking up not just a lettuce but a drogue for the dinghy as well. Funny, I didn’t remember seeing them on the shelves in the IGA. Maybe they were with the gluten free products.
Our farewell to Exmouth dinner was at Mantarays, and we were the first to try a new dessert – Chocolate Souffle with Salted Caramel Ice Cream. The waitress wanted a detailed description of our experience with this new item. I told her it was like slicing into a volcano of chocolate with sweet lava bubbling out of the incision, cooled off by ice-cream and topped with the final sugar assault of crunchy walnut praline. It was sensational!
Click images to enlarge
Determined to get more wildflower pics our plan was to drop Geoff at the laundromat and Colin and I head towards Bundegi. The slight hitch when we arrived in town was I’d forgotten my camera - doh! While Colin graciously returned to the boat to collect that, and the laundry liquid we’d also forgotten, I bought myself some fins.
As it was close to midday we headed first to the Bundegi Beach Café. A fried softshell crab burger was a first for me. Following this we drove slowly back to town with poor, long-suffering Colin stopping periodically so I could take photos. We picked up Geoff and his clean clothes and did our victualing, forgetting only one thing – lettuce. Kinda crucial to the salad. I put away the supplies while Colin ducked back to the shops, picking up not just a lettuce but a drogue for the dinghy as well. Funny, I didn’t remember seeing them on the shelves in the IGA. Maybe they were with the gluten free products.
Our farewell to Exmouth dinner was at Mantarays, and we were the first to try a new dessert – Chocolate Souffle with Salted Caramel Ice Cream. The waitress wanted a detailed description of our experience with this new item. I told her it was like slicing into a volcano of chocolate with sweet lava bubbling out of the incision, cooled off by ice-cream and topped with the final sugar assault of crunchy walnut praline. It was sensational!
Click images to enlarge