Sunday, 12 February 2017

Febrero 9 - 12 / February 9 - 12

Vamos a explorar el area Whitsunday… por mar y aire.  Whitsunday es un area de 74 islas al frente de la Playa Airlie.  Se llama Whitsunday porque fueron descubiertas por el Capitan James Cook en 1770 en Whitsunday (el septimo domingo despues del Semana Santa).

Nos levantamos muy temprano en la mañana el 9 de Febrero y manejamos a la Marina Abel Point para tomar el bote.  Tim, el ayudante y chef del barco; quien nos llevo a conocer a el Capitan “Caos” Karl.  Nos embarcamos en Ragamuffin II, un pequeño velero para 13 personas, 11 pasajeros y 2 tripulantes.  Comenzamos el recorrido a motor pero apena pudimos levantamos las velas. Capitan Caos nos pidio ayuda para levantar las velas, nos enseño varias cosas de navegacion y nos dejo manejar el bote.  Fue una experiencia única!

Despues de navegar todo el dia llegamos a la Playa Whitehaven, una playa de arena blanca y lo mejor era que no habia nadie.  Desembarcamos en una manera no muy convencional… nos tiraron cerca de la playa en un bote pequeño, el agua nos llegaba al pecho y la marea siempre estaba brava, pero nadamos hasta la playa y llegamos sanos y salvos.  De ahi empezamos a caminar y a esplorar esta area.  Caminamos en la playa, vimos la laguna y fuimos al mirador.  Mucho mas tarde nos recogieron y nos llevaron al bote y pasamos la noche anclados cerca de la Playa Whitehaven.

En la mañana del 10 de Febrero regresamos a la Playa Whitehaven par aver el amanecer… bueno, no tanto para el amanecer porque se nos paso pero fue muy bueno ser los primeros en la playa.  Estuvimos un par de horas caminando en la playa, viendo las rayas y tiburones en la laguna y fuimos al mirador.  A eso de las 10:00am nos fuimos para otro sitio a caretiar.  En la tarde estuvimos en una isla de coral para ver el atardecer.  Fui a caminar por la playa y me toco ver un par de tiburones de aleta negra en agua muy bajita, parece que es bastante comun en estos tiburones estar en aguas poco profundas.  Despues de ver el atardecer regresamos al bote y pasamos la noche anclandos en esta zona.

En la mañana del 11 de Febrero fuimos a buscar a Torpedo Dive, un barco que se dedica a prestar servicio de buceo en la zona de Whitsunday.  Marcela y yo eramos los unicos que ibamos a bucear, uno de los empleados de Torpedo Dive nos recogio y nos llevo al bote.  Alli nos dieron las indicaciones pertinentes y despues de firmar todo el papeleo nos metieron al agua.  Apenas descendimos nos encontramos con un gran Maori Wrasse, un espectaculo a solo 6 metros.  La vida marina en el area es muy bonita, vimos mucha diversidad de corales y peces; sin embargo cuando nos estabamos sintiendo bien bajo el mar la buceada se acabo.  Estuvimos 38 minutos bajo el agua y fue espectacular.  Ya casi viene el buceo en Cairns.

Despues empezamos a regresar a la Marina Abel Point.  En la tarde, el Capitan Caos paro el bote y nos dijo que podiamos saltar del bote y disfrutar del mar; sin mucho que pensar saltamos del barco al mar.  Estuvimos casi una hora disfrutando del mar, saltando del barco al mar y nadando.

El 12 de Febrero estuvimos explorando el area Whitsunday por el aire.  A las 9:00am nos montamos en una avioneta Cessna de 12 personas, 11 pasajeros y el piloto.  Primero estuvimos sobrevolando algunas de las 74 islas del area Whitsunday.  Pudios ver algunas de las que habiamos visitado los dias anteriores en el barco.  El piloto despues nos llevo a la Gran Barrera de Coral… lo unico que puedo decir es WOW!  La vista es impresionante y le deja a uno una sonrisa en la boca que es muy dificil de borrar… es dificil parpadear porque uno no se quiere perder ni un minuto de esta Hermosa vista.  Estuvimos sobrevolando la Gran Barrera de Coral por 15 minutos pero disfrutamos cada segundo.  Despues de una hora de vuelo volvimos sanos y salvos al aeropuerto de la Playa Airlie y no podiamos creer lo que habiamos visto!

El resto del dia estuvimos en la Laguna con algunos de los amigos que conocimos durante el viaje en barco a vela.

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We are exploring the Whitsunday area… by sea and air.  Whitsunday is an area of 74 islands right in front of Airlie Beach.  It is called Whitsunday because they were discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770 on Whitsunday (the seventh Sunday after Easter).

We woke up early in the morning on February 9 and drove to Abel Point Marina to catch our sailing boat.  We met Tim, the deckhand and chef of the boat; who took us to meet Captain “Caos” Karl.  We embarked on Ragamuffin II, a small sailing boat for 13 people, 11 passangers at 2 crew members.  We started the journey motoring but as soon as we could sails were up.  Capitan Caos asked us to help putting up the sails and taught us a few things and he let us drive the boat.  It was a fantastic experience!

After a complete day of sailing we arrived at Whitehaven Beach, a beautiful white sand beach and the best thing was that there was nobody else there.  We disembarked in a very unconventional way… we were dropped off by a dingy close to the beach, the water was chest high and the waves were quite big but we made it to the beach safely.  We then walked around an explored this beautiful area.  We walked on the beach, saw the lagoon and went to the lookout.  We were later picked up and spent the night anchored in a bay next to Whitehaven beach. 

In the morning of February 10 we went back to Whitehaven Beach for sunrise… well, not quite because we missed it but it was nice to be the first ones on the beach.  We spent a couple of hours walking along the beach, looking at sting rays and sharks in the lagoon and going to the lookout.  Around mid morning we headed to nother spot to do some snorkeling.  In the afternoon we went to a coral cay to see the sunset.  I went for a walk and saw a couple of black tip fin sharks in shallow water, which is common for this type of sharks.  After sunset we returned to the boat and spent the night anchored there.

In the morning of February 11 we went to meet Torpedo Dive, a diving boat that spends most of its time around the Whitsunday area.  Marcela and I were the only ones diving, so we were picked up by the crew from Torpedo Dive and taken to their boat.  We were given the safety briefing and after signing (our life away) all the paperwork we were in the water.  As soon as we hit the bottom we were greeted by a big Maori Wrasse, a great sight just 6 meters underwater.  The marine life in the area was amazing, we saw a great diversity of corals and fish; however just when we were getting comfortable it was over.  The dive lasted only 38 minutes but it was fantastic.  Cannot wait for the next dive in Cairns.

We then started our return back to Abel Point Marina.  In the early afternoon Captain Caos stopped the boat and told us we could jump in the water; without hesitation we were all jumping off the boat into the ocean.  We spent about an hour swimming and jumping in the ocean.

On February 12 we went to explore the Whitsunday area by air.  At 9:00am we boarded a Cessna plane of 12 people, 11 passengers and the pilot.  We went around some of the 74 islands.  We were able to see some of the ones we had spent some time on while sailing.  The pilot then took us to the Great Barrier Reef… all I can say is WOW!  This is a view that takes your breath away and puts a big smile on your face… you cannot stop looking at this natural beauty.  We were in the Great Barrier Reef area for around 15 minutes and we loved every minute of it.  After a 1 hour scenic flight we arrived at Airlie Beach Airport and could not believed what we had seen!

We spent the rest of the day chilling out by the lagoon with some of the friends we made while sailing.

Velero Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Sail Boat Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Entrada del mar Hill, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Hill Inlet, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Entrada del mar Hill, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Hill Inlet, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Entrada del mar Hill, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Hill Inlet, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Entrada del mar Hill, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Hill Inlet, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Entrada del mar Hill, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Hill Inlet, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Playa Whitehaven, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Playa Whitehaven, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Entrada del mar Hill, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Hill Inlet, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Playa Whitehaven, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Rayas en la Laguna de la Entrada Hill, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Rays at the Lagoon in Hill Inlet, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Rayas en la Laguna de la Entrada Hill, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Rays at the Lagoon in Hill Inlet, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Entrada del mar Hill, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Hill Inlet, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Isla de Coral, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Coral Cay, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Isla de Coral, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Coral Cay, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Atardecer en la Isla de Coral, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Sunset at the Coral Cay, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Atardecer en la Isla de Coral, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Sunset at the Coral Cay, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Atardecer en la Isla de Coral con los Pasajeros de Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Sunset at the Coral Cay with the Passengers of Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Velero Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Sail Boat Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Amanecer en la Isla de Coral, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Sunrise at the Coral Cay, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Durmiendo en el Velero Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Sleeping on Deck in Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Amanecer en la Isla de Coral, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Sunrise at the Coral Cay, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Velero Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Sail Boat Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Marcela y Capitan "Caos", Velero Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Marcela and Captain "Caos", Sail Boat Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Marcela y Capitan "Caos", Velero Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Marcela and Captain "Caos", Sail Boat Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Todos los Pasajeros del Velero Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
All the Passengers of Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Todos los Pasajeros del Velero Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
All the Passengers of Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Capitan "Caos", Velero Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Captain "Caos", Sail Boat Ragamuffin II, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Atardecer llegando a Playa Airlie, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Sunset arriving at Airlie Beach, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Caretiando, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Snorkeling, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

En alta mar disfrutando del mar, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Enjoying the ocean, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Buceando, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Diving, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Marcela lista para Despegar, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Marcela ready to Take off, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Isla de Coral, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Coral Cay, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Gran Barrera de Coral, Queensland, Australia
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Gran Barrera de Coral, Queensland, Australia
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Gran Barrera de Coral, Queensland, Australia
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Gran Barrera de Coral, Queensland, Australia
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Gran Barrera de Coral, Queensland, Australia
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Gran Barrera de Coral, Queensland, Australia
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Gran Barrera de Coral, Queensland, Australia
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Gran Barrera de Coral, Queensland, Australia
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Playa Whitehaven, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Playa Whitehaven y la Entrada Hill, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Playa Whitehaven y la Entrada Hill, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

Avioneta Cessna, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia
Cessna Airplane, Whitsunday, Queensland, Australia

2 comments:

  1. What a great trip/experience! Enjoy!!!

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  2. NOOOO pero que es esto por Dios.....me paso lo mismo que cuando vi el lago tekapo, me erice y se me salieron las lagrimas por ver tanta hermosura!!!! Que espectáculo!!!. A una de las nuevas terneritas de Agustin le puse el nombre de Coralina, en honor al paseo de ustedes por esos sitios.

    ReplyDelete

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