I’m taken back to the memory of my second ever Women’s Wholeness Retreat, departing from Yeppoon to explore the beautiful Keppel Islands. Two out of the three participants had to cancel at the last minute due to unexpected personal circumstances, leaving just my dear long-term friend, Lauren, and me.
“We can handle this, Lauren, it’s just you and me.”
And we did.
On a windy day, Rosslyn Bay Marina can be a challenging place to berth a 38-foot catamaran. With the wind against us, we released the lines and set sail, the northeasterly breeze guiding us toward Great Keppel Island.
I think Lauren had a few reservations about being not only first mate, but the only mate. Yet she embraced the challenge, and by the time we’d caught the mooring at Monkey Beach, she was glowing with pride, her confidence as radiant as the tropical sea around us.
Being February, we were treated to dramatic weather: towering storm clouds, tropical downpours, and lightning shows that became our evening entertainment and meditation. Between swims in the warm turquoise water, long walks on deserted beaches, private tarot sessions, and impromptu facials, we found ourselves laughing uncontrollably when our toilet holding tank decided to block.
That smelly, unforeseen challenge became a hilarious episode of teamwork, ingenuity, and determination, and yes, we did manage to unblock the outlet in the end!
What began as a retreat that almost didn’t happen turned into a sacred chapter of friendship, one that deepened our bond in ways we never could have planned.
Although the lack of crew was disappointing at first, the gift of that intimate time together will always be remembered.
✨ Watch the YouTube video to get a glimpse of our adventure and the spirit of what makes these retreats so unforgettable.
SheQuest Sailing 