Shoal tickle

We awake with thick heads again, and decide on a late start short hop to shoal tickle via windy tickle. This is a meandering route through the islands that follows a winter sea ice skiddo route. About 25 miles in total, and enough time to clear our heads and concentrate on the complicated route. windy Tickle has reputation for being, well windy. But fickle too, and I’m a bit wary as we head into its narrow entrance with 25kts behind us and us doing a bit under 8. Bit of last minute sail reduction and we cruise through as near to being under control as we ever are. Where we plan to anchor is a bay just before the entrance to shoal tickle. As we see the entrance to the bay open before us we realise this little know little used anchorage is epic. Surrounded by mountains on all 4 sides. And the scanty info says good holding for the anchor. Which always helps me sleep. We set the anchor in about 8 metres at about 4pm. The sky is blue so it’s time to tidy up and climb one of these big lumps before tea time. It’s a bit tricky to decide on a place to land and we make one failed attempt before finding a good spot which will allow us to climb the hill. The first area of meadow reminds us of the bear activity as we stumble across a nice fresh berry filled bear poo. Anyway onward and upward. The view from the top must be amazing. We find a dog skull probably a Kayote and Tarquin wriggles a tooth out of the skull. Probably to make jewellery to complete his Viking Pirate look. The view from the top is breath taking and we sit for quite a while and watch the sun go down. Really amazing isolation.
Unfortunately as soon as the sun hit the horizon the flies forgot we wanted to be alone and absolutely swarmed. The hour down the hill was horrendous. Breathing in flies and being bitten as fast as you could swat the clouds of flies away. Totally claustrophobic situation even the speed of our small boat wasn’t even fast enough to shake them off. Boat doors and windows sealed and swat a few intruders and we are safe at last.
Next day there weather is could it the forecast has changed and there’s a proper depression about to pass over us which didn’t exist the day before. Doesn’t look like we are going anywhere and put out some more chain as the wind will be coming down the bay and forcing us into the shallows if the anchor doesn’t grip. After a very wind noisy night we up anchor as soon as the wind lulls and head back to Hopedale to catch up up with Clause and Katrin before they do a big hop north. To Tongan national park, home of the polar bears.Read more