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| Time to get started on the 2018 blog |
During the last six months back home in Albany, many changes have taken place within Peter and my families. Firstly, my Dad, aged 90 passed away on 24th January and then Peter's Dad followed in his footsteps on 24th February, aged 93. It was quite a traumatic time, with a trip to Townsville and executor duties to perform, we have revised our plans for 2018. At the end of 2017 we had decided to sail to New Caledonia for the winter. That has been postponed until next year. Our current plan is to spend this year upgrading systems, sails and covers, service the life raft and generally get this boat exactly how we want it.
Our first port of call will be the Clarence River, Yamba, where we have already contacted Scooter for a new dodger, bimini and lee cloth (like a veranda over the cockpit). The Shag Island Cruising Yacht Club will be having a regatta there at the same time so we will join in the fun while this work is being completed. After that we have booked in at Boat Works where we will haul out for a much needed anti foul of the hull, replace the cutlass bearing in the prop shaft and service the life raft amongst other smaller jobs. Everyone recommends Boat Works as a great place to do this so we will find out soon as we are booked in beginning 16th May for five days. Boat Works premises are on the Coomera River on the Gold Coast and we will hang around there exploring the many creeks and waterways between Stradbroke Islands and Moreton Bay for most of this sailing season.
Lake Macquarie 9th - 14th April
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| A Storm Approaches |
A quick flight had us in Sydney just after 11am. Plenty of time to take the train to Lake Macquarie before daylight ran out. I love the ride from Sydney Central to Gosford. It is so scenic with the stunning views of the Ku-ring Gai Chase National Park and the beautiful waterways of Sydney Harbour and Hawkesbury River. We arrived at Fassifern Station and were met by Ric, a long time sailing friend of ours who we met with Val, in the Camden Haven River four years ago. They insisted we stay with them for the night in their lovely, tree house like home in Carey Bay. Catching up on six months of living, over a tasty BBQ roast and a long day of travelling, had Peter and I sleeping soundly as soon as our heads hit the pillow. Thank you Ric and Val for a wonderful night.
Next morning Carol and Roger, old Lake Macquarie friends formerly from WA, lent us their dinghy and we motored out to Olivia waiting patiently on her trusty mooring. Peter didn't think the seagull poo was as bad as when he visited in summer although there looked like a lot of mess to me. He undid all the flags, string and nets that he draped around the boat to deter the birds from using it as a convenient island. We then took Olivia over to tie up at the Toronto Yacht Club jetty to remove the bird poo with the high pressure washer. She looked much better after that.
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| Peter gets rid of the bird poo! |
On Thursday night Carol and Roger invited us to dinner with them and Ivan and Andrea, who live over the road. Andrea is known as a master of cooking desert. With Carol's tasty Spaghetti Bolognese and Andrea's amazing Bread and Butter Pudding and Citrus Syrup Cake and interesting conversation we had another great evening. Carol and Roger always offer us their washing machine. which we make good use of. Thanks again Roger and Carol for making our stay here memorable and the use of your washing machine.
We have stocked up the boat with food, spare parts, cleaned her inside and out and had the electrician in to re-do some wiring that was not correctly installed in the first place. Busy! Busy! Today we had our first drama for the season. Peter wanted to change the engine oil so he decided that we needed to go for a motor around the bay to warm up the engine first. It was windy. As I let the mooring go Olivia drifted over the rope and although Peter cut the motor quickly the mooring rope managed to tangle itself around the propeller. There we were, hanging backwards to the strong, gusty wind, for everyone to see. (Embarrassing!!) Eventually Peter had to deploy the anchor and dive in and untangle the mess. Hopefully we won't do that again.
This evening, after a blustery, boisterous day on the water, thunder storms surround us. It has been lovely sitting out in the cockpit and watching the lightening flickering between the clouds and lighting up the sky. It hasn't come too close and hopefully won't during the night.,
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| A weird looking sky at sunset, Toronto, Lake Macquarie |
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