Pancake Creek

Sunday 19 September, Gladstone to Turkey Beach

We left Gladstone Marina at noon which was later than we planned so we had only a short time with the outgoing tide. This was fortunate in one way as with a 20k easterly breeze the waves were really standing up. While the seas got better with the incoming tide, our speed over ground suffered and we realised we weren't going to make Pancake Creek before the sun went down. We ducked into Gatcombe Head but decided it was too exposed and tight with 2 other yachts already anchored.

We went with the tide to Turkey Beach in the Rodd Peninsula for the night. The anchorage was good but rain in the morning stopped us going ashore to look around.

Monday 20 September, Turkey Beach to Pancake Creek

The good weather ended today with rain and squalls for the short trip to Pancake Creek. Another school mackeral on the line meant fresh fish again tonight. We anchored in the mouth and moved further into the creek when the tide came in later in the day.

Tuesday, 21 September to Friday 24 September, Pancake Creek

Only our second period of prolonged rain in 4 months and Pancake Creek is a nice place to sit. We dragged our anchor for the first time in this trip so moved further up the creek and reset the anchor. 21 boats here at one stage.

Highlight was kayaking around to Jenny Lind Creek. This was a 3 hour round trip and needs to be done right on high tide. You go up Chinaman's Creek and take the first branch to port after the power poles. You follow that and cross the salt pan to enter a stream that takes you into Jenny Lind Creek.

It wasn't easy to find but when we climbed a sandhill on the eastern shore the views were worth the effort.

We didn't have time to climb to the lighthouse but the track from the mouth is good and it is definitely on our list of things to do next trip. It looks much easier than the trek from the anchorage through the bush.

Someone suggested tying a ribbon to the mangroves so you can find your way home again as it can get confusing. The stream home is shown in the centre of the picture at right. It is not so easy to pick in the panned out picture below. We would mark the salt pan exit next time as we got a bit disorientated here going home.

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