Middle Percy Island

Sunset at Middle Percy Island

Curlew Is

Our first night at Curlew Is had us up in the wee hours, watching the lightning display in the western sky.  We had been waiting for the south-easterly weather change which we would be sheltered from, but this was something a little extra that Mother Nature threw in.  The following morning we smelled bushfire smoke.  A few days later we would learn that lightning strikes had caused fires on South Percy Is. 

The following  day had settled down enough to take the dinghy across to shore.  The Sandflies were happy to see us and sent out the signal to all their friends. We fed them.

Ian had been looking at an unusual boulder through his binoculars from the boat the previous day.  There were many small cavities in it, carved out by wind and weather.  They were just the right size for people to decorate with shells, coral and Pelican skulls.

The next day was too rough and windy to go to do anything so we had a lazy day.  Ian read a book and I watched Lord of the Rings part I.  I also made my first batch of yogurt ever which turned out perfect.  

There was a sandbank which ran from a headland on the island to a small rocky outcrop off the eastern side of the island.  It was fascinating to watch the waves chase one another across this sandbar during tide change.  We were between this sandbar and Curlew Is.

Middle Percy Island

Middle Percy Is is well known to boaties on this stretch of the coast.  The island became popular when a man known as Andy, leased the island in 1964.  He planted coconut palms, built a large A frame shed and a large treehouse on the island.  One can eat the coconuts, stay in the treehouse and leave your equivalent of 'I woz here' in the A frame. 

The A frame is full of mementos from passing boaties and it is obligatory to leave the name of ones vessel on a self-made plaque or anything else that is interesting as shown in these photos.

Winkali is now a part of that tradition and Ian is about to install our humble plaque in the hall of fame.

The coconut palms produce an abundance of fruit.  Coconuts products have become one of the trendy health food items at the moment and it is with pleasure that we can help ourselves to this wonderfood for free  (nothing miraculous has happened to us yet, but we haven't spent a fortune having to find out).  

The island has an interesting history and at one stage there was a sheep station here.  There is a homestead on the highest part of the island and a long walk will take you up there where the current owners of the homestead, John and Kate, currently live.  

A long walk took us to the homestead.  Visitors are welcome, but alas, no-one was home.  Even island dwellers have to leave now and then.

The homestead is surrounded by chooks, goats, vegies and fruit gardens and peacocks.  It is quite unexpected, almost like walking into an English country garden.

Many of the islands in this region are inhabited by goats which were introduced and the late 18 hundreds along with coconut palms, in order that ship-wrecked sailors would not starve while awaiting rescue.

We hadn't anticipated such a long walk, and finding no-one at home, we had a polite look around and headed back.  At least we had the luxury of walking downhill this time.  

 The walking track is well marked with these signs and 'coconut heads'.

A Brahminy Kite flies overhead to see if we're going to be a threat to his hunting grounds.  

We woke early in the morning (2:45 a.m.) on 5 Dec to find our next northerly wind had kicked in early.  That was our signal to head south - destination - great Keppel Island.

I'm a bit behind with blogs but will catch up soon.

See you there.