August 04, 2014
The morning bird chorus wafted across the bay from Lord Island as Skipper and I walked the decks enjoying our 5-star accommodation. The sights, sounds and beautiful cool, crisp air of a favourite Kimberley anchorage, helped awaken me after a welcome full nights’ deep slumber. Life is good. Alto-cumulus patterned the sky with pale pink and the islands wore a slate grey tone in the low light. At eight twenty-five we started the main engines and raised our anchor. Three minutes later Curt reported the first sighting of the day, right where we were headed! Passing Flake Rock, we encountered the whale navigating the tidal waters near the Finch Islands. This single whale got our cameras clicking quick-smart, as well as the gorgeous scenery as we wound our way through the islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago.
‘Always the Gutter, never the Drine!’
Whirlpools of fast flowing tidally-influenced water bubbled and boiled at the surface with the whale swimming just to the side! Just where would the whale go? Sure enough, the single animal navigated carefully past the whirlpools, expertly avoiding the rocky and very shallow areas. Humpback whales have been doing this for eons, it was plain to see.
Cockatoo and Koolan are ancient islands of world-renown, high-grade iron-ore. Fresh mining scarred the worked cut-away on Koolan Island overlooking Yampi Sound. Pink and red patchwork marked the open face and a dusty trail followed a huge, but dwarfed dump-truck laden with ore, negotiating the steep tracks. Rusty red rocks, pale sage green spinifex, bright blue sky and aqua water completed the image. The Kimberley vista is simply sensational.
A humpback whale in the Buccaneer Archipelago near the Finch Islands.
Pulling out of the islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago, we made our way towards Montgomery Reef with the entrance to Collier Bay on our aft starboard quarter. As the day wore on, the wind dropped and pretty soon the 25 knots of the morning was less than 5 knots. Almost thirty pods en route to Camden Sound included an animal at sunset that seemed most interested in Whale Song. We obliged and while drifting enjoyed the slow surfacings and loud blows as the tangerine faded and the moon lit the twinkly stars.
Currently we are travelling towards Hall Point to anchor overnight. What will we see tomorrow? Everything is a surprise and a treat!
Mich
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