I've found where I want to live

 

Birthday cake!

After a pleasant breakfast at a local cafe where I was served a (small) birthday cake while on the phone to Sharon (thanks Bruce), we were on our way to the airport for our flight to the Whitsunday's.

Agnes Waters airstrip Rwy 14 slopes uphill with rising ground to the south of the airfield.  Conversely, a departure off Rwy 32 passes over a lagoon.  With a 10 - 15 kt wind from the south this morning I was presented with a classic pilot dilemma. Take-off into wind uphill toward rising ground or downhill with a moderate tail wind.  As we were light(er) I opted for a departure off Rwy 14 with a careful decision of an abort point if I hadn't achieved 80% of my take-off speed.  With sweaty palms I pushed the throttle in while standing on the brakes and then we were off.  As I'm here to type this, my decision proved to be the correct one and we were airborne easily by halfway down the 950m strip.  Keeping the nose down to accelerate quickly we then climbed away easily turning left on our way to Gladstone.

Gladstone is a large regional airport that serves a 35,000 population largely engaged in mining related industries.  It was an easy 30 min flight there for re-fuelling.  Finding the Avgas bowser was a challenge.  Fortunately there was a guy on a ride-on mower who said "follow me"!

My planned track from Gladstone to Shute Harbour airport took us right through restricted airspace that had been activated for the Talisman Sabre military exercises.  That required some re-planning and a diversion through Rockhampton's controlled airspace.  With a call to Brisbane Centre for an Airways Clearance, I was handed off to Coral Approach and controlled through the airspace and out the other side.

Shute Harbour airport is a private airpark nestled in a valley that serves the Whitsunday Islands.  The winds funnel through the valley and it can be turbulent and difficult for visiting pilots unfamiliar with the area and the way the wind is influenced by the terrain.  Today the conditions were good and although there were some lumps and bumps, our approach onto Rwy 14 was straight-forward.  Our approach is shown below.  The landing wasn't near as bad as the video shows - the camera man wasn't holding his iPhone firmly:

 

 

Shute Harbour airpark is beautiful.  It's a busy field with helicopters, Cessna Caravan's and everything in between.  The grounds are just like a golf course and the runway and taxiways are as smooth as a billiard table.  Beautiful hangar homes surround the runway with high-end general aviation aircraft and helicopters visible in hangars that are as pristine as operating theatres.  They've just released another 39 lots for sale and, the good news is, some are still available at AU$198,000ea.  I could have one.  Building a home compatible with those already there and buying an aircraft to "keep up with the Joneses" might be a bot more.  Dreams are free.

 

We're staying at Airlie beach tonight and enjoyed an afternoon walk exploring the place.  Lovely spot.

Leg Summary
Agnes Waters (YAWT) - Gladstone (YGLA)
Distance: 42nm (78km)
Time: 0.5hrs
Alt: 2,000ft

Gladstone (YGLA) - Shute Harbour (YSHR)
Distance: 267nm (494km)
Time: 2.2hrs
Alt: 4,500ft

 

Agnes Waters: Morning walk along the beach for breakfast

Gladstone Airport

Cannonvale on approach to Shute Harbour airstrip

Airlie Beach