Not the whale in the distance, but a sleepy seal in the middle of the ocean 

Next morning I decided my body is that sore it will be more than enough to do the 30 km to Windy Harbour, despite the prefect conditions with moderate following winds. The next landing spot would be another 45 km away, too much for my sore body and swollen wrists.

So I slept a bit in and woke at about 7.30, Terry already up outside and ready to go. I had to walk those 2,5 km back to my boat, and Terry volunteered to join my walk and to help me launching through the surf. What we saw from our camp spot was actually quite frightening…I was sure “my” spot was a much better one!

So we kept on walking through the soft sand, I was carefully putting my steps into Terry footprints, as this was a bit easier and harder to walk on!

I was just telling him “my” landing spot looks as calm as this one, as we almost missed my boat, if Terry wouldn’t have spotted my dragging marks in the sand! This “was” my landing spot!

Lucky to be there, we took some “sleeping” pictures and carried the boat down the dune to the water’s edge.

Terry gave me a push in, and I was afloat, waiting for a lull in the sets of breakers to take off. I was quite amazed to notice there was almost no lull, where was my quiet landing gutter?

I was expecting to be drifted eastwards with the following winds, and kept on working a bit against it with some side strokes westwards while waiting for the lull, but when I eventually looked back to the beach Terry was standing on the other side – a current must have drifted me already that much westwards that “my” gutter was gone!

But I eventually decided there “was” a lull even in the non-gutter, and I took off in high sprint mode. For sure I caught a fat one right into my face, strong enough to later give me a bit of neck ache, but not strong enough to throw me on my back deck or to capsize me. It just swept my anorak hood off my head, which I didn’t like, as it held my headgear as well on a potential capsize.

I quickly closed the hood again, and took off for the next set, but luckily didn’t catch another one! I was afloat, and could keep on drifting east.

This is what I basically did the first hour, eating all kinds of food, as didn’t eat much yesterday, checking my wrist pain, and enjoying the fast “paddle” with no paddling effort! Maybe I should have better chosen this day for the long leg from Augusta to Windy Harbour? Well, nothing would be gained besides a better daily average and some less effort…but I would have missed out just another adventure!

Rounding the headland of Point D’Entrecasfeaux between the reefs of Quagering Island was a bit lumpy, and I had to concentrate that much I wasn’t even seeing Terry and some other spectators high on the cliff’s point.

I was eventually around safely, and faced another bit of reef break guarding the main beach of Windy Harbour. Some wide berth was necessary, and I was wondering where Terry was on the beach? No answer on the radio or sat-phone…well, eventually I thought this must be where the most shelter is between the rocks. There he was, waiting with some locals cheering me on coming in.

We took my boat and gear to the official campsite in town, and I was happy to have a hot shower and some good rest on an early afternoon.

Terry left around 4pm for Perth, ready to pick up Greg from the airport on Monday night!  This will change my trip and my spirits quite a bit, having my partner to support me probably for the rest of the trip until Melbourne!

Text message from Freya:

34.50 116.01, Windy Harbour.  9:00 am to 2:00 pm, 30 km. A whale again after long! Would have loved some of the following winds yesterday.