Leg 70 - Riverhead, Sarah River to Urangan, Hervey Bay

Exiting the Great Sandy Straits and into Hervey Bay for a weekend stopover presented several land based opportunities. We could meet up with some other Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club members (known as Shaggers) at the Hervey Bay Boat Club. The Club is more of a marina associated with a Leagues Club. Logic follows that they would have 'club/pub' type food. Club style food would surly include Fish and Chips? Fish and Chips is The Bloke's food of choice on a Friday night. What was not to love?

 

Lingering at Riverhead was not an option if a day-sail up to Urangan would be rewarded with such a feast. In addition, our Pittwater hosts, Peter and Debbie would visit us as a part of their northward reconnaissance road trip. The for'd cabin (or Coffin Bay Suite) was made ready for visitors.

The Urangan Pier

 

St Peter, patron saint of fishermen, stands watch over the Urangan Harbour.

As with all trips into a marina, I made a bee-line for the laundry facilities. If we were to have visitors, reducing the dirty linen pile would make one less item that would need to be dragged into our cabin. The visitors v-berth is also our for'd lazerette/store room!

A Lighthouse folly atop The Hervey Bay Boat Club

While our original plan had been to be there for only 3 nights, another 'weather situation' called for a postponed departure and we didn't leave until the worst of the Southerly blow had passed a few days later. The Bloke had a favourable impression of Hervey Bay and its bayside cafes and despite it bring God's Waiting Room when considering the volume of oldies resident there, it won him over. Oldies need looking after so there will always be a population of youngsters there to deal with them. Yup, there are hipsters here!

Debbie says "Hi there" and probably wishing it was warmer than Pittwater

Coral rubble. evidence that warmer conditions are a possibility here.

 Goodbyes to Kate and Commander Chris from Bilbungara just before they took off north looking for sunshine.

Jetty neighbours have a triathlete son with a state of the art carbon fibre bike too precious to just chain to a fence.

Hipster proof of life.

Bundaberg, a city synonymous with sugar production, rum and export, is just down the road and here there are cafe's serving sugar from Latin America. If it catches on, God bless OUR farmers!

A very popular fishing spot on the restored Urangan Pier.

 

Rewards for the early risers

Euthanasia Urangan Pier style!