Almost the birthday treat

 29th June 2026 By the light of the silvery moon - for dinner on the bow We awoke this morning in Talbot Bay and I indulged myself with coffee in bed while reading my book, before showering and presenting myself for breakfast  We had company in Talbot Bay! We are surrounded by hills so the topography is quite different to many places we have been and we have company in the bay. A couple of other vessels moored but also the platform for the operators who are permitted to transit Horizontal Falls and to provide mooring for seaplanes.   Watching seaplanes land and take off from time to time reminded me of Gerald Durrell's account, in My Family and Other Animals  of Theodore's love of watching the sea plane land. Cyclone Creek Morning excursion times had been swapped and by 8am we were in the tenders and heading towards Cyclone Creek.   Cyclone Creek The sandstone cliffs here have been tilted and folded and are rather stunning, creating some rather narrow navigation...

28th June 2026 I awoke at 5:40, too late to attempt further sleep, and with sunrise scheduled for 6:10, I quickly showered, dressed and adjourned with my coffee to the top deck We are at anchor at Reef point and there is a private vessel and a fisheries boat also anchored in the bay. By 6:15 the sun is above the horizon, painting a path across the water and starting to highlight the red cliffs on the other side of the bay. Even at this time of the morning I can feel it's heat on the back of my neck. Sandstone on dolerite; all lit up by the rising sun The orange sandstone cliffs here are sitting on a later of dolerite, providing an interesting contrast of colour. A white egret, at least I presume that is what it is) paces the mangrove mudflats and the occasional fish jumps. As the egret takes flight, so do a few smaller dark birds I had not seen. Breakfast on the beach (Jasmine's photo) Breakfast this morning was burritos on the beach with a fruit platter and I elected not to ha...