I’m sorry, but Bundaberg is just boring. That is unless you are have an interest in alcohol and do a tour of the Rum factory but with 2 boys aged under 5 we didn’t think this would be good for our parental image. Apart from that, the most riveting thing there was a life-sized concrete gorilla outside a pizza shop which of course the children thought was amazing!

As there wasn’t much to do, we made the most of waiting for a weather window by provisioning and cleaning the boat. We have introduced ‘pocket money’ to the grand total of $5 a week if the boys help clean, put their toys away and help set and clear the table. This seems to be working well as every Friday we are ushered to Kmart  the minute it opens and spend the next 2 hours debating what they can actually buy for $5. Ollie normally selects a Match Box car and Harry some form of plastic animal or Ninja Turtle figurine.

Boys earning their pocket money

Our next stop was a little place called Pancake Creek which is only accessible by boat. Ric not being competitive at all spotted 5 boats miles up in front of us and although he never publicly disclosed it I could see he was determined to hold his own Pancake Cup and catch them. Annie T is a little unusual when she comes to speed (well that is if you can call 9 knots or 16.66km/hour ‘speed’) and while many yachts heel over on an angle as they get faster, Annie and her ‘eaten too many donuts’ girth sit’s almost flat on the water which makes for a very comfortable ride. This was our best sail to date as there were sparkling seas, smiles all round, deck playtime, whales and yes Ric did catch the Pancake Cup participants and made it in first to the creek.

Annie T looking forward on deck.

Happy Harry with his Sea Creature collection.

Whale!

Happy Crew

Happy Crew 2

Deck Playtime

We anchored in what we thought was a prime position right in front of the beach only to find our neighbour was holding his own Pancake Cup with a little too much anchor chain and ‘sailing’ all over the bay so no one could get with in 200m of him. Luckily we realised this just before dark and were able to reset the anchor before we collected him or the bottom when the tide went out.

Our time in Pancake creek was glorious! This little slice of heaven came with its own mini reef which presented our own personal aquarium at low tide,  a walk to a picturesque Lighthouse which was immaculately maintained by volunteers who gave a personalised tour to Ric and I, (Ocean Mum and Dad Belinda and Martin took the boys for 30 mins. Yay!), excellent fishing, turtles everywhere and humongous sand banks at low tide for the essential solider crab herding.

Pancake Reef

Pancake Reef

Pancake Crab doing it’s best Finding Nemo impression -Hey Hey Hey!!!

Pancake Sandbank Play

Lighthouse Adventure

Attack of the Clams!

History

Pancake Wildlife

Pancake Wildlife

Aww. With Pancake Creek in Background

Pancake Creek ‘Sundowners’ was an adventure in itself with the sandbank completely available when everyone gathered only to have it disappear with the tide 30 mins later. Gorgeous spot and our first real taste of the Great Barrier Reef.

Sundowners Before the tide

and After!