The beginning....

Hmmm... how soon one forgets (see Capt Paul's blog below)!  I wished (before I left for two dives off Stradbroke Island @ 6:00 am) Capt Paul a Happy Birthday!!  Wayne immediately followed with his well wishes!

On to the GOOD stuff!  First order of business was to provision.  Provisioning for Capt Paul is almost as fun as the sailing sometimes I think!  Wayne and I chased him around a couple of stores with the wine store not to be forgot!  Once complete (took about three hours I think) Capt Wayne and Capt Paul took their full carts down to the marina.  These carts did not include the meat which we were having the butcher shop freeze for us before we picked it up!
After Capt Wayne picked up the meat the following morning, we were out of the Manly Marina and had a wonderful sail up to some friends of his house (Allen and Ronnie). 

We rafted up to their beautiful boat, and chatted about everything (including politics... Australian politics) while we waited for the fuel boat to be ready to get fuel aboard Dances With Dragons (DWD). 

We motored out to a mooring buoy and waited.  The fuel boat (a wonderful steel trawler) rafted up with DWD and we took on quite a bit of fuel!  By that time the wind had shifted and we ended up motoring the rest of the way to Stradbroke Island anchoring for the night  in the Deanbila anchorage on the east side of the island. 

Next morning we "dinked" in to the beach for a walk to the bus stop.  The bus took us to the west side of the island, a great walking pathway called Lookout Point!  Beautiful day , beautiful views, and a wonderful path system.

  

 

 

 

 Capt Wayne and Capt Paul decided to wait for me while I was walking down on the rocks taking pictures.  Found them on this bench since the path was closed for repair.

I wandered along the path a little further for some additional pictures! 

 
We hopped back on the bus with a stop on the way back at the Manta Dive Shop that we had seen/passed on the way to Lookout Point. Wooohoooo!  Got all set up for a two tank dive the next day (Monday).   While we waited for the bus again we walked to the beach access and saw the cutest Koala Bear up in the tree.  He/she was eating the tree (not sure of the type) even though it was not the usual Eucalyptus tree that they eat. Back to bus... dink...DWD and some delicious leftovers!  One last point... and, I know I am speaking for Capt Paul too... how blessed are we to be having these wonderful times with a wonderful friend... translating into memories... thank you Capt Wayne!