Moreton Island T/W

3-4 November 2007

As the barge now leaves Whyte’s Island at 8.30am, it was a late start across the Desert to our shady morning tea spot at the Desert carpark. Thankfully a breeze was blowing as the day was warming up fast.

This being Suzana’s first throughwalk, we were going to go to Rous Battery via the inland track and return the same way on Sunday. Just as well as the beach walk up the western side would have been very warm indeed.

For company we had Murray, a new member, and his wife, Judy, and with June and Noelene that made six of us. We made slow progress across the island in the heat but were thankful for occasional cooling breezes.

On arrival at Rous Battery I was pleased to see the grassy camping area was empty. It overlooks the ocean and the sea breezes are always blowing. The tracks leading among the remains of the Battery are being overgrown and it was a bit difficult to find the track to the big gun emplacement. Many spiders were disturbed as we wandered through the banksia bush looking for faint tracks.

The old water pump has been replaced with a tap and a pump is now operated by solar power. The water looked very clear but we still treated it just in case.

Suzana jumped in for a swim as soon as her tent was up and Murray soon followed. We explored a bit and then it was time to prepare our dinner. Someone forgot their torch and had to go to bed early but the others chatted on into the night.

Sunday morning sunrise was around 5am and we were all up and ready to go by 6.50am, keen to beat the heat for the walk back. Our barge was leaving at 1.00pm and we needed to allow time to visit the ice cream shop before then.

We made good time back to the road leading to the Desert and returned to the same spot as Saturday for a leisurely morning tea. No one was too keen to start the slog across the sand so we did a photo session for a while but then eventually had to put on the packs and head out.

June had counted the steps up from the beach on Saturday and advised us that we had 300 to go down on the way back, but it was much easier going down, of course.

The barge could be seen in the far distance when we reached the beach and, while some went into the resort in search of a shop, Murray and I continued on, shoes off, splashing in the cooling water.

An uneventful trip back across the bay found us back at the cars by about 2.30pm.

Thanks to everyone for coming and a special congratulations to Suzana who survived her first throughwalk. Patricia