Circumnavigation of and Bushwalks on Magnetic Island

Date - 5.6.62, May 29 '62.
Party - Canoe Section:-
Graham Muller & Les Peters } KAYAK
Neil Krach & John Norman } KAYAK
Paul Stephenson & Roy Son } DUGOUT
Walking section:-
Beryl Bowie
Edith Dahl (hemis).
Clarry Barrent.
Harry Jensen

Map used - Nautical Chart + supplies by John N.
Transport - / Land vehicle by Roy L
Canoes by Peter K., Neil K and Roy L.
Other 4 members on Roy's boat.

Distance - by canoe 25 miles

• short excursion.
• on foot - 10 miles +
  short excursion.

Type of outing - competition, canoeing, crossing, walking, rock-hopping, surfing in canoes, and others, cave exploration, photography

Rating - strenuous, particularly

When we arrived at Cape Pallarenda on Sat. morning there were only 4 of us in the canoe, Hector, Harry could not be found, and Les had not turned up.

So we were about to push off in two canoes only, when Leslie arrived from Annapil (nr. + Main Creek rd.) bringing with him Leo, who he had picked up on the road. The three canoes slid quietly into the gently lapping water at 0730 hrs, and set course for West Point.

Breakfasted on a small creek just round West Point. Arrived Horseshoe Bay at noon exactly. Beryl and Edith and Clarry were waiting. But what was the mountain
humpbacked figure standing down the beach in the distance? Why, only Harry, he had caught the first boat.

After lunch we all went up to the creek on Endeavour beach, to do some exploration. We found that the whole area seems to be a maze of interconnected creeks amongst granite boulders of the creek. One can travel for quite a few hundred yards without surfacing, (all Bongos from now on to Magnetic).

Edith had some argument over the colour of some bathing she was doing as we lazed around under a she-oak tree that night on the beach at Horseshoe Bay. Neil made a sharp come-back for Beryl.

Sunday morning, six canoes, at off for Stroma Bay, I with paddling in the dingout with land. The rest walked to Stroma Bay. Easy walk but very pretty, in a rugged way. The canoes were awaiting the walkers across.

From then on surfing in the canoes was the order of the day, a great fun was had by all. Towards dusk all except Brugh, Jack n and they went up to the old observation posts on the hill. They found a konda head, and the canoes a hiding place. We had a coconut every about for tea that night.

Monday morning was spent in surfing in the canoes, and we set off for Stroma Bay at 1400 hrs. The sea was rough though. The dingout was heavily loaded, and the going was bad. The first point we eventually got round, with brown seas washing over. Neil capsized his kayak some quite close in to the rocks. We made fast a line from the dingout, and towed him out a way, both he and John his crew, bailing furiously. Finally they climbed aboard, and from then on we made slow, long tacks to cross the bay safely. Both of us deeply seasick, and with the off. The coxswain it's no fun. Leon convalescing putting out his anchor at Stroma Bay at 2130 hrs with a thick head and leaving the canoe for another log. Both were towed on ropes when, reaching Arcadia in only 2 hrs 40 mins of paddling (electric motor).

Karl Paul and Edith took over the dugout, and the canoes pushed off for Picnic Bay. The rest walked. Canoes beat walkers by 1 hour. She an infantry, boarding Angles' boat at 1900 hrs, and the main section pushed off just after. By 2020 hrs we were at Pallarenda taking only 1 hr 10 min. 5 cars. Pass, was with all tully muck coming across, having eaten a fermented coconut. (don't eat fermented coconut).

Well, that's it. She couldn't nearly beat the walkers home anyway.