A Weekend Away At Straddie

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The Valentine weekend of 13th to 15th February 2015 was the time set aside for the Mamre Men’s Retreat.

That's mainland Australia disappearing into the distance behind the water taxi as we head towards North Stradbroke Island. It's time for the annual Mamre Men's Retreat. After completing my day's work by 06:00 am, I went home and helped the kids get ready for their various activities of the day. At 07:30 am I was picked up by my friend and we headed across to Cleveland where we arrived in plenty of time to catch the water taxi to Dunwich at 08:55.
That smug on the horizon behind our wake is mainland Australia slipping away out of sight.

Early Friday morning I completed my day’s work and arrived home at 06:15 am to get the kids ready for their various activities, since Wendy was working this morning as well.

At 07:30 I was picked up by my friend David and driven to Cleveland where we arrived in plenty of time to catch the 08:55 water taxi.

From the rear deck of the catamaran, I took the photo shown above.

After disembarking we were picked up by Ray and driven to the pie shop for some truly excellent Straddie pies. From thence we proceeded to his place at Point Lookout on the Northern tip of North Stradbroke Island where we tested out his brand new pergola and heard about how he had erected it almost single-handedly. Later, we were driven around the corner to Pat’s Retreat which was to be our home for the weekend.

First order of business for me was to select a bed, dump my stuff in the room and test out the bed for a few hours.  I slept like a log!

About 15:00 (3:00 pm), I awoke and found David fully engaged in preparing for the evening meal.  With a total of 14 hungry men expected, there was a great deal of work to be done in preparing and cooking a full roast meal.

Around 18:30 (6:30 pm) the full contingent had arrived and a delicious roast dinner was thoroughly enjoyed by all.  The meal and the hours afterward were accompanied by some hilarious chatter but details will not be recorded here since, as the saying goes, “What happens on Straddie stays on Straddie!”

I retired early at about 21:00 (9:00 pm) and went to sleep very quickly indeed.  I heard some very loud rain on the tin roof at some stage (what a beautiful sound that is!) and made the usual nocturnal peregrinations to the facilities but otherwise slept right through until daylight. Only a couple of other blokes had already arisen, so I had a quick cold shower and my other usual morning ablutions.

Breakfast was bacon and eggs along with several other choices. I ate too much!

37 km down the beach we stop to do some fishing.
37 km down the beach we stop at Swan Bay. A short distance across the water we can see South Stradbroke Island.
After retracing our steps a bit (well, to be honest, we drove) to a safer part of the beach, the fishermen among us got their rods out to catch our dinner. Just as well there was a Plan B for dinner!
After retracing our steps a bit (well, to be honest, we drove) to a safer part of the beach, the fishermen among us got their rods out to catch our dinner. Just as well there was a Plan B for dinner!

A while after breakfast we went for a drive 37 km along the beach to Swan Bay at the Southern end of the island.  The the fishing rods were baited up and a bunch of eager fishermen caught nought but thoroughly enjoyed doing so!

Those among us who were not fishermen, supervised those who were while leaning on the cars and chinwagging.
Those among us who were not fishermen, supervised those who were while leaning on the cars and chinwagging.

We then drove 25 km back along the beach before turning inland to visit Brown Lake where our canoes were launched.  After swimming and boating we had a picnic lunch in the bush.  We saw a huge lizard climbing up and down a tree.

Brown Lake is very well named! However you look at it, it's brown! If you look hard enough you might see the heads of some of the Mamre Men who are out there cooling off.
Brown Lake is very well named! However you look at it, it’s brown! If you look hard enough you might see the heads of some of the Mamre Men who are out there cooling off.
We watched a very large lizard who climbed up the tree, began to come down again but when he saw us waiting at the bottom of the tree, turned around and headed for the top again. Since it is equipped with such good camouflage, you may have to look carefully at this photo to actually see it.
We watched a very large lizard who climbed up the tree, began to come down again but when he saw us waiting at the bottom of the tree, turned around and headed for the top again. Since it is equipped with such good camouflage, you may have to look carefully at this photo to actually see it.
We parked the cars in the shade at Brown Lake.
We parked the cars in the shade at Brown Lake.
The kayaks were unloaded from the car.
The kayaks were unloaded from the car.
One of the boats sprouted a pair of wheels. No, it's not an amphibious vehicle, the wheels just help while taking the kayak down to the water's edge.
One of the boats sprouted a pair of wheels. No, it’s not an amphibious vehicle, the wheels just help while taking the kayak down to the water’s edge.
When they reached the water's edge, it was time to launch the vessels.
When they reached the water’s edge, it was time to launch the vessels.
And head out onto the lake.
And head out onto the lake.
Bob supervised the others at swimming for a few minutes before going in to join them.
Bob supervised the others at swimming for a few minutes before going in to join them.

Mid-afternoon we returned to the home base, where I chose to take some more sleeping time and write up this post.

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