The archipelago is made up of 74 islands of different sizes along the coast of Queensland, Australia, 900 km north of Brisbane. Five have resorts but most of them are inhabited.
Whisunday Island is the center of the group. It was named after Captain Cook by mistake. He thought he discovered it on Pentecost Sunday, Pentecost. He was wrong.
The landforms seen from above are a mix of colors: turquoise, aquamarine, indigo, bottle green, yellow and white… They are protected from the ocean by the Barrier Reef, so the waters are relatively calm, perfect for sailing .
My adventure began in the Golden Plover. It was a wonderful sunny morning. It was early but I could already feel the powerful rays on my skin.
A couple of sailors helped me into the brig, while the Captain was agitated welcoming each one of us.
There were already many people on board. People of different ages and various countries. Many were from the USA and Canada, others from various European nations; there were some Germans.
Older people wore bright summer hats and most of us had sunscreen on our skin.
After the safety instructions, they showed us the boat and its interior. We were all assigned cabins or bunks that we shared with our fellow travelers. The plan was to travel around the islands for a week, eating on board or stopping over and having lunch and dinner on the beaches on our itinerary. At night sometimes we had a choice… sleep on the beach or on the boat…
I was over the moon… You know my deepest love for the sea and the ocean…
Finally we leave the port in Early Beach and start our journey.
The feeling of sailing in those turquoise waters with all those islands around us is indefinable.
They offered us breakfast and that gave us the opportunity to break the ice and meet our fellow travelers.
The days were beautiful. Once on the seashore, the sailors organized the meals, they set up tables and chairs for us. It was lovely to have delicious fresh food every day with a couple of glasses of chilled wine, happily chatting with my new friends. We all got along, we were great companions.
After helping, it was never too long, I had, we had, time to ourselves.
We explored the beaches, hiked where possible, and most of all, we all enjoyed the soft white sand and crystal clear waters.
It was incredibly dark. I love sunbathing, even now… I always will… The sun’s rays on my skin renew me, give me energy, power. Swimming and relaxing in the pure waters was invigorating and refreshing. The sight around me was amazing.
I had on a skimpy purple bikini that looked really good on my tanned skin. On the sparkling white sand, I really stood out.
The dinners were exquisite, not only because of the delicious food, but mainly because of the great atmosphere. We were all sitting together across the tables chatting, laughing, having great conversations. The candles, the moon and the stars created the light we needed.
Someone played a guitar and we all sang. The setting and atmosphere was perfect.
Sometimes we sleep on the beach. We had sleeping bags. Older people preferred to rest in their cabins. The sand was warm. The merciless sun during the day kept it that way. The firmament was impressive.
What a thrill to wake up and admire the impressive sunrise…
Some nights the anchor was dropped in the middle of the ocean and we all slept on the ship, in our bunks. It was lovely to be cradled by the sea.
At night I went on deck and stood there with my back to the wood, looking at the stars and the moon, listening to the calm sea and the constant creaking of the brig.
Some people jumped into the sea to swim… Without fear of sharks.
During the voyage we visited other islets, probably the Molle Islands, Hamilton Island and Lindeman Island… but the highlight of the trip was, without a doubt, our stay in Whitehaven Beach. I’ll tell you another time…
I have met some wonderful people during my stay at the Golden Plover and it is my pleasure to remain friends with them.
Traveling is not just about sightseeing, it’s about meeting people.