Another Day in Mackay

Saturday 7th August




The wind did not ease overnight and we had a brief discussion at around 9am where it was unanimously agreed we would stay another night in Mackay, as the attractiveness of heading out into 20+ knots had little appeal.



The rest of the morning was spent doing a few chores around the boat, and after lunch we went for a walk along the beachfront from the marina towards the mouth of the Pioneer River. We ended up walking all of the way to the river mouth, along a track favoured by 4WD and trail bike enthusiasts, who had little respect for pedestrians.

                                          Beachfront between the marina and mouth of the Pioneeer River
Like all of the rivers up here the entrance is plagued with shoals and the tidal range is huge, exposing very large expanses of sand at low tide, not something you would look forward to navigating in a deep keel yacht.

                                          Mouth of the Pioneer iver at low tide

It took us a bit over 2 hours to complete the round trip from the marina.

                        The tidal range here is 3 - 4 m - making a fair climb up the marina ramp at low tide

Dinner tonight was a baked chicken dinner cooked on the Cobb, which Rod & Lee joined us for.



Tomorrow we are hopeful of leaving Mackay for Goldsmith Island.