Day 5 - Sampson Inlet to Doubtful Bay - 15 June

The crew titled this day as “Butterflies and Reefs” on the daily notice board. Today was washing day and each cabin was given two washing bags - one for whites and the other for coloured. Betty, the host, was thoroughly organised with our washing.
After our continental breakfast we made our way on “Homer” to Butterfly Gorge for a swim and an exploration. We spotted a two metre crocodile in some mangroves on the way up the gorge and Mark swung “Homer” around so we could have a better look. “Homer” stopped high into the gorge in front of rocks and we all poured out and walked across large sandstone rocks beside the gorge stream before reaching the large rock pool. We did spot a few butterflies as we walked along. About fourteen of us were brave enough to have a swim in the beautiful rock pool with high sandstone cliffs either side. Mum and Cathy watched from a shady cover as Harry, Henk and I braved the chilly, clear water. Mum and Cathy are coping well the expeditions we are taking from “Homer”. After our swim Mark then took us further up into another part of the gorge and the water was a stunning turquoise which made the burnt sienna cliffs stand out brightly overhead.
When we returned to the boat we all had our beds remade with clean sheets and our washing was dry.
Lunch was another range of delicious cold salads, quiche and one of the large fish which was caught yesterday afternoon. We then had a few hours to fill in before reaching Montgomery Reef. Henk spotted a two metre sea snake swimming past the boat and we saw a number of flying fish The sea was very calm and we could see for miles.
Montgomery Reef which is more than 400km2 in size is the beginning of the Buccaneer Archipelago which has hundreds of islands and extends down to Cape Leveque. The reef emerges four metres out of the water at low tide. We boarded “Homer” to have a closer look at this unique phenomenon. There were waterfalls over much of the reef as the tide went out and the height of the reef grew. We saw quite a number of turtles come to the surface to take a gulp of air before diving below to feed in the water flowing from the reef.
After coming back on board the “Odyessy” was taken to Raft Point which is on the southern side of Doubtful Bay. It was dark when we arrived so we won’t see our surroundings until tomorrow morning.
Dinner was a scrumptious meal of fish caught by us on yesterday’s fishing expedition.
It was an early night for all of us as the fit members of the group including Henk and I will be leaving at six thirty to do a hard walk to see Aboriginal rock art.