Friday, 15 May 2015

I recently, 4 May 2015, did a trip to the Keppel Bay Islands of Miall Island and Humpy Island.  There is no outstanding adventure story to this trip.  I had a bit of trouble deciding which Island was Miall  -- I had to pull out the map/chart to finally decide and head in the right direction.  Miall Island is small about one nautical mile perimeter and has a small (40 metre) beach.  You are unable to explore the island by land because it is low bush (heath land) with no walking paths.  After a night on Miall I headed to Humpy Island.  It was a few nautical miles to the south of Miall.  Humpy is a beautiful Island both from the sea and on the land.  It has a walking track leading along the ridges of the hills on the island revealing many 'lookout' areas.  After spending a night on Humpy Island I left to return to Keppel Bay Marina.  The seas out near the island were mountainous.   About two-and-a-half metre waves with white-caps; the wind was blowing about 18 knots.  I did not realize this when I pushed-off the beach as it was in the lee of the island.  I was so tired from the previous two days paddling that I could not sit-up in the kayak properly.  The waves were not head-on and the kayak rode them without difficulty.  The problem was that I needed to be heading toward the marina and I could not point the kayak in that direction due to the waves; I was heading towards Ritamada point about two nautical miles to the south of where I was going.  The wind and waves calmed down a lot when I got further in-shore as the wind was blowing over the land and the tide had turned.  Someone at the boat ramp asked if I needed a lift with the kayak and I gladly accepted -- I was very fatigued.  I did the trip alone and have been told by several people, kayakers and lay-persons, that this was not good for safety reasons; however, I did put a trip report in with the Coast Guard.  Another adventure over.  Enjoy the photographs.  A video is coming when I visit more of the islands in the near future.  David.

Humpy Island from the sea, can you see the cat.

Me on Humpy Island

Humpy Island

Looking at Great Keppel Island from Humpy

Humpy at sunset

Humpy Island

Humpy Island

Drag marks Miall Island

Just landed Miall Island


Miall Island

Campsite Miall Island

Sunset Miall Island

Miall Island

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