Monday, December 20, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
WEEK 6 UPDATE MON 8TH NOV
Well the week started like any other except for the fact we are now both on diets which is a bit of a struggle for me. Not allowed is: Breads, Milk, Sugar, Chocolate,Fried Food, anything tasty and enjoyable really, so its a Tony Ferguson style shake in the morning...mmmmm...then a tuna salad for lunch....then some arvo snacks of carrot and celery sticks ..... then dinner is grilled fish, all in all not bad but, a shock to the system.
Cup day began early as I toddled over to the local pub about 9 am to put some bets on as the TAB where we are going for lunch is only small, so I thought I would get in early to save having to be pushed around by a couple of hundred pushy pensioners with there $2 mytery bet in one hand and there walking stick in the other.
Elaine finally got wear her new boat shoes out. We spent our cup day at a luncheon at the bowling club which overloooks the river from the Bar entrance, about 5 min walk from the Marina. Had booked tickets and got on a table of six. Kevin and Dori who were locals of Port and Vic and Dianne who were from Erskine Park up here checking on there rental properties. Had a great day and could not have asked for better company. We started at about 11.30 and didn't leave there till after 6.30. The day was well organized with some best dressed competitions, lucky door prizes and stuff like that. Didn't win any money or prizes for that matter but the day was great fun.
Wednesday morning I jumped on a little plane home to do a couple of days work, leaving Elaine on boat watch for a few days. Day one was no problem Elaine stuck to her walks and shopping but Thursday day two the winds, storm and tears arrived. With 40ish knot winds and howling rain and Elaine I arranged for the Marina manager to keep an eye on both the boat & Elaine. By Friday day three the wind had died a lot but the rain was still hanging around and making it difficult for Elaine to get off the boat so she was Not Happy Jan!
I arrived home on Saturday with Elaine just as eager to see me as she was about getting off the boat and standing on solid ground. We went to the Seafood restaurant for dinner here at the Marina on Saturday night, seemed a little over rated. It had been made out to be a lot better than it was or maybe it was just us a week on our diet and our expectations of real food a little high.
Sunday morning we got up and on our walk early. We headed to the "Boat Shed" which is the main boat / canoe hire place around here. After an hour & a half walk we stumbled accross this run down shack so they weren't lying when they said SHED. So we went accross the road to the Cafe for a Soya milk no sugar capaccino which tasted like cat's piss (Rod's opinion) so wont be doing that again.
Another hour & half walk back home we stopped off at the local club for our grilled fish & salad lunch. Rod stayed and propped up the bar while Elaine went and did some grocery shopping (yummm more bloody lettuce)
Whilst sitting on the back of the boat in the sunshine having an afternoon beverage we watchied a few guys fishing. One of them got a big catch. After a struggle we were sure he had just snagged his line when he pulled up a Stingray. The Dick nead he would pull it out of the water with his hands. Lucky he put it back.
So our plan was to try and leave Monday 8th, but sitting here in 25knts of wind and coming from the North, we will stay put for a few days as this is supposed to keep up until Friday.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
UPDATE SUN 31 OCTOBER 2010 WEEK 6
MON 25TH OCT:
Today started with the local laundromat pick up boy coming to the Marina to collect our washing. Its a long walk to the laundromat especially carring your dirty clothes. They charge us $4 a kilo to Pick up, wash, dry, fold and return, which turns out quite exspensive but they are a charity organization so can't complain to much.
Decide that I needed a Bunnings fix so we thought we would take a walk to the local Bunnings store, which looked quite close on the small map but 5 kms later and several large hills on we came across it. Admiring the out door swing sets on display we sat in one for a while to rest our legs like 2 old pensioners (Ma & Pa Kettle eat your hearts out). After a much needed rest I began my aisle walking looking for a polishing machine for the boat, much to my dismay they didn't have one (Surley this couldnt be right, I had come all this way, I needed to buy some sort of tool) Not to be detired I deciced I would buy a Karcher (water pressure washer) so I could justify our walk there, and really I mean lets face it I really should have one. Obviously I was more interested in buying something at Bunnings rather than thinking that I still had a 5km walk home with a 13 kilo Karcher on my back, made it about 1km and decided that the bus stop looked really good. 15 mins later and $2 we were out side the Marina :) Dinner that night was spent at the Panthers Club. $22 bucks for dinner , $20 bucks for drinks, relaxed in the longe chairs and spent $4 bucks on Keno, Won $52, So made a profit of $6 bucks, (how good is that).
TUE 26th NOV:
Elaine had went for her facial and full body massage, I decided to go and put our $6 windfall to good use at the TAB, After 2 beers and 1hr I had turned our 6 dollars into a deficate of $30 so it was best I went back to the boat and give the new Karcher a run. All went well , Elaine arrived home from her Pampering about 3 pm only to go straight for a nanny nap , poor little thing was plum tuckered out. Dinner tonight was lamb chops on the barbie with salad and a glass of red to top it off.
WED 27th NOV
Still needing an electric polishing machine for the boat, I had a restless night sleep thinking of other possibilities where I might acquire one. I have to be a little bit carefull because Elaine doesn't want me to turn the boat into a floating factory,IE: full of tools that I don't really use, or don't really know how to use. I thought local knowledge is my best couse of action. After chatting to a few locals I found out there was a Super Cheap Auto just up the road, (Bewdy). 2 km walk $100 bucks later I now have a polisher, I will let you know how things go after I have read the instructions.
It has also come to my attention that another good idea for us is a Kayak / Canoe . There are shit loads up here on the River / canal whatever you want to call it, I was thinking that it would be a great form of exercise for us where ever we are on top of the walking. A 2 man canoe, or 1 man 1 woman canoe isn't cheap and is certainly not in our budget, but what the hell. So we have had a good look around , there are not alot of places in Port Mac that sell them but we have stumbled across a camping store that has a chinese 2 person brand new with paddles (apparentley they don't come with paddles, there an optional extra, what is that shit all about) anywho we will give it some thought, hope they will deliver, not sure what the bus drivers going to say , or charge me if I try getting that on the bus. So back to the boat for a few hours before dinner. Whilst deciding our dinner venue for the evening I spent part of this time shaving Elaines Legs and then painting her toe nails, this is all in the name of keeping to a budget and a trade for a Karcher and a Polishing machine, quite reasonable I thought, fortunately no photos of this.
Dinner was spent over at the club here Westport Bowling & Crocquet Club. Good cheap eats , bought a ticket in the raffle and won a meat tray 2 Tbones 2 Rissoles, we are on a roll. This is the club that we are going to spend Melbourne cup at. They are putting up tents and marcquees to make it look like the real thing. So we will be frocking up next Tuesday.
THUR 28th OCT:
John Kalachian and Swanny have signed up to do the Coffs to Southport leg with me so thats all good news, another hand wouldnt go astray. Not a great deal to report today . It was spent more so relaxing catching up some emails etc. Looking forward to getting of the marina a moving on though.
Getting back to the budget it was Elaines turn to do a bit of maintenace on myself. Getting out the new hair clippers that cost $100 bucks she proceeded to put it all together, as I ran the extension cord out and prepared my self on the back lazzeret seat. ( How bad could it be). One would think that using hair clippers would be childs play, however there is a certain speed that clippers should be run through your hair with a number two, and quite clearley Elaine required alot more experience on going slowly. I tried to explain to her it wasnt a sale at Westfeilds, my screams heard by many other vessel owners as it was more of a hair ripping than a hair trimming. Any way at the end of the ordeal it was nice and even all over , a bit like Rompa Stompa.
Another Hanse, a 400 had come into fuel up and replenish there food etc , so I thought being the neighbourly person I am I wonder over and find out where they were of to etc etc. Whilst at the fuel doc The 2 guys on the Hanse gave her a bit of a wash down while the female got out her fold up push bike and headed into town to do some groceries etc. Any way I trundled over there to be a bit nosey. Said Gidday and asked where they were of to , the response was a simple , " where of to Crowdy Head" and they walked of. Left standing there looking like a dick, it suddenly dawned on me, the haircut, I would walk away from me to, Im thinking they thought I was going to rob them, there are quite a few unsavoury Characters around here so I guess you cant blame them.
FRI 29 OCT:
Up early this morning Elaine went over to do some Grocery shopping to top up our depleating food supply. I have taken a Lamb roast out of the freezer for dinner. While Elaine is of shopping I walked over to the wharf , which is only about 50 meters away. There is a 100 ton crane there it has just lifted out a brand new 50 ft Cruiser which was being deliverd from Brisbane I think and heading for Pittwater. It had hit something in the water and ripped one of the legs of . Apparently a whale the locals say.
Weather hasnt been to kind to alot people here. 20 - 30 NE winds, which is no good for going up the coast , and no good for the berth we ar in , as the boat is resting against a concrete pylon with only 2 fenders between. Fortunately the people next to us allowed us to run a rope from our port stern to there boat to keep the pressure of the fenders against the pylon. The wind are supposed to hang around for a few days. the weather is looking quite good for our depature on Thurs or Fri.
SAT / SUN
Most of Saturday was spent keeping an eye on the boat and the concrete pylon, bcause of the winds. Port Mac is a very busy place at the moment because of the Iron Man Compatition on Sunday it is a big affair with about 1000 entrants,even Mr Abbott is here to compete.
Saturday night was spent going to see a tribute band for the Highwaymen. We lasted till intermission then went home , pretty disappionting really. Didnt get a great deal of sleep once agin due to the wind howling about the mast and rigging and checking on my friendly pylon.
The marathon kicked of at 6.30am with the swim up the river past where we are moored, wish I could tell you what it looked like but that must have been when I did get some sleep. We decided to walk over to where the bike ride section finished and watch the run leg begin. There were alot of tied compeditors by the time we walked over there. The time clock was at 2.55.00
with still a fair way to go.
Would be nice to get out onto a swing mooring and out of the marina, as you still get to use the facilities at a fraction of the cost, but unfortunately there is not enough depth around them. All going well we can move on Thursday AM .
Today started with the local laundromat pick up boy coming to the Marina to collect our washing. Its a long walk to the laundromat especially carring your dirty clothes. They charge us $4 a kilo to Pick up, wash, dry, fold and return, which turns out quite exspensive but they are a charity organization so can't complain to much.
Decide that I needed a Bunnings fix so we thought we would take a walk to the local Bunnings store, which looked quite close on the small map but 5 kms later and several large hills on we came across it. Admiring the out door swing sets on display we sat in one for a while to rest our legs like 2 old pensioners (Ma & Pa Kettle eat your hearts out). After a much needed rest I began my aisle walking looking for a polishing machine for the boat, much to my dismay they didn't have one (Surley this couldnt be right, I had come all this way, I needed to buy some sort of tool) Not to be detired I deciced I would buy a Karcher (water pressure washer) so I could justify our walk there, and really I mean lets face it I really should have one. Obviously I was more interested in buying something at Bunnings rather than thinking that I still had a 5km walk home with a 13 kilo Karcher on my back, made it about 1km and decided that the bus stop looked really good. 15 mins later and $2 we were out side the Marina :) Dinner that night was spent at the Panthers Club. $22 bucks for dinner , $20 bucks for drinks, relaxed in the longe chairs and spent $4 bucks on Keno, Won $52, So made a profit of $6 bucks, (how good is that).
TUE 26th NOV:
Elaine had went for her facial and full body massage, I decided to go and put our $6 windfall to good use at the TAB, After 2 beers and 1hr I had turned our 6 dollars into a deficate of $30 so it was best I went back to the boat and give the new Karcher a run. All went well , Elaine arrived home from her Pampering about 3 pm only to go straight for a nanny nap , poor little thing was plum tuckered out. Dinner tonight was lamb chops on the barbie with salad and a glass of red to top it off.
WED 27th NOV
Still needing an electric polishing machine for the boat, I had a restless night sleep thinking of other possibilities where I might acquire one. I have to be a little bit carefull because Elaine doesn't want me to turn the boat into a floating factory,IE: full of tools that I don't really use, or don't really know how to use. I thought local knowledge is my best couse of action. After chatting to a few locals I found out there was a Super Cheap Auto just up the road, (Bewdy). 2 km walk $100 bucks later I now have a polisher, I will let you know how things go after I have read the instructions.
It has also come to my attention that another good idea for us is a Kayak / Canoe . There are shit loads up here on the River / canal whatever you want to call it, I was thinking that it would be a great form of exercise for us where ever we are on top of the walking. A 2 man canoe, or 1 man 1 woman canoe isn't cheap and is certainly not in our budget, but what the hell. So we have had a good look around , there are not alot of places in Port Mac that sell them but we have stumbled across a camping store that has a chinese 2 person brand new with paddles (apparentley they don't come with paddles, there an optional extra, what is that shit all about) anywho we will give it some thought, hope they will deliver, not sure what the bus drivers going to say , or charge me if I try getting that on the bus. So back to the boat for a few hours before dinner. Whilst deciding our dinner venue for the evening I spent part of this time shaving Elaines Legs and then painting her toe nails, this is all in the name of keeping to a budget and a trade for a Karcher and a Polishing machine, quite reasonable I thought, fortunately no photos of this.
Dinner was spent over at the club here Westport Bowling & Crocquet Club. Good cheap eats , bought a ticket in the raffle and won a meat tray 2 Tbones 2 Rissoles, we are on a roll. This is the club that we are going to spend Melbourne cup at. They are putting up tents and marcquees to make it look like the real thing. So we will be frocking up next Tuesday.
THUR 28th OCT:
John Kalachian and Swanny have signed up to do the Coffs to Southport leg with me so thats all good news, another hand wouldnt go astray. Not a great deal to report today . It was spent more so relaxing catching up some emails etc. Looking forward to getting of the marina a moving on though.
Getting back to the budget it was Elaines turn to do a bit of maintenace on myself. Getting out the new hair clippers that cost $100 bucks she proceeded to put it all together, as I ran the extension cord out and prepared my self on the back lazzeret seat. ( How bad could it be). One would think that using hair clippers would be childs play, however there is a certain speed that clippers should be run through your hair with a number two, and quite clearley Elaine required alot more experience on going slowly. I tried to explain to her it wasnt a sale at Westfeilds, my screams heard by many other vessel owners as it was more of a hair ripping than a hair trimming. Any way at the end of the ordeal it was nice and even all over , a bit like Rompa Stompa.
Another Hanse, a 400 had come into fuel up and replenish there food etc , so I thought being the neighbourly person I am I wonder over and find out where they were of to etc etc. Whilst at the fuel doc The 2 guys on the Hanse gave her a bit of a wash down while the female got out her fold up push bike and headed into town to do some groceries etc. Any way I trundled over there to be a bit nosey. Said Gidday and asked where they were of to , the response was a simple , " where of to Crowdy Head" and they walked of. Left standing there looking like a dick, it suddenly dawned on me, the haircut, I would walk away from me to, Im thinking they thought I was going to rob them, there are quite a few unsavoury Characters around here so I guess you cant blame them.
FRI 29 OCT:
Up early this morning Elaine went over to do some Grocery shopping to top up our depleating food supply. I have taken a Lamb roast out of the freezer for dinner. While Elaine is of shopping I walked over to the wharf , which is only about 50 meters away. There is a 100 ton crane there it has just lifted out a brand new 50 ft Cruiser which was being deliverd from Brisbane I think and heading for Pittwater. It had hit something in the water and ripped one of the legs of . Apparently a whale the locals say.
Weather hasnt been to kind to alot people here. 20 - 30 NE winds, which is no good for going up the coast , and no good for the berth we ar in , as the boat is resting against a concrete pylon with only 2 fenders between. Fortunately the people next to us allowed us to run a rope from our port stern to there boat to keep the pressure of the fenders against the pylon. The wind are supposed to hang around for a few days. the weather is looking quite good for our depature on Thurs or Fri.
SAT / SUN
Most of Saturday was spent keeping an eye on the boat and the concrete pylon, bcause of the winds. Port Mac is a very busy place at the moment because of the Iron Man Compatition on Sunday it is a big affair with about 1000 entrants,even Mr Abbott is here to compete.
Saturday night was spent going to see a tribute band for the Highwaymen. We lasted till intermission then went home , pretty disappionting really. Didnt get a great deal of sleep once agin due to the wind howling about the mast and rigging and checking on my friendly pylon.
The marathon kicked of at 6.30am with the swim up the river past where we are moored, wish I could tell you what it looked like but that must have been when I did get some sleep. We decided to walk over to where the bike ride section finished and watch the run leg begin. There were alot of tied compeditors by the time we walked over there. The time clock was at 2.55.00
with still a fair way to go.
Would be nice to get out onto a swing mooring and out of the marina, as you still get to use the facilities at a fraction of the cost, but unfortunately there is not enough depth around them. All going well we can move on Thursday AM .
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
WEEK 5 - UP DATE
Monday 11/10/10 - Well things are looking better the Shipwright finally came and removed the pully and that was all. Our hopes fade yet again as the new parts haven't arrived yet and we are left in the dark as to what or when things are going to happening next.
Wednesday 13/10/10 - yeah, Brett the Deisel Mechanic turned up nice and early: unanounced still in our jammies, to fit the new pully for the altenator and promised to be back the next day to do the Service.
Thursday 14/10/10 - Elaine heads off to the hairdressers for some much needed colour work while Brett got the Servicing of the motor underway. Later in the afternoon Elaine had to head off to Sydney for the evening leaving Rod to amuse himself for the evening it was tough choice........Hello PUB!!!!!!!
Friday 15/10/10 - The winds have arrived and by 2.30am they have hit 43.5 knots and Elaine isn't happy as the boat is leaning over way to much for her liking. This turns out to be one long night with Rod pacing the dock until @ 8.30am keeping an eye on the ropes not only for our boat but the 60 foot steel yacht in the pen next to us which was sitting approx a foot and a half off of us and looking like it was coming to join us at any minute.
Saturday 16/10/10 - We caught up with Lionel & Steve at Vue's for Cocktail hour or 2 maybe 3 but who's counting.
Sunday 17/10/10 - We organise ourselves and decide over a couple of drinks that we would head off in the morning and stay the night at Broughton Island so we can make an early start for the trip to Port Macquarie on Tuesday morning to make the high tide later in the day.
Monday 18/10/10 - Things start off looking good, the weather is nice the wind is good and we are on our way to Broughton Island. We get there and things aren't as good as first thought. The swells coming into Esmeralda Cove from all directions and are rolling quite bad which is making it unsuitable for us to go in and anchore up so we head around to the east to Coal Shaft Bay and the same thing is happening so off to the north side to pick up a mooring from Providence Beach only to find that the waters although they look beautiful are way to shallow for us. After a few minutes of consulting we decide to push on and head for Port Macquarie.
It is now 1.30pm on Monday and we have plenty of time to get to Port Macquarie for the 7.00am high tide on Tuesday morning. It turnes out to be a long long freezing cold night. Rod has the job of getting us there mostly to himself while Elaine has combination of mild sea sickness and sleep deprivation. We get to Port Mac in the early hours @ 3.00am and have to circle around off shore waiting for the tide to come in to allow us to enter the harbour at 6.30am with help from Marine Rescue to guide us over the bar and along the channel to the Marina.
Thursdsay 21/10/10 - Elaine heads off shopping for new boat shoes........... anyway you can tell from the photo that these aren't really what Rod had in mind!!!!!!!!
Friday 22/10/10 - We head off in the tender for a bit of sightseeing and low and behold we end up at the bottle shop. With a couple of cases loaded we venture back to the boat job complete.
Saturday 23/10/10 - We become members of the Panthers @ Port club as this is going to be a bit of a regular hangout we may as well receive discounted meals, drinks & entertainment. Membership fee recouped after first day!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday 24/10/10 - Today we decide to tackle the scenice walk of the area along the shoreline from the Marina into town along the breakwall past Town Beach up to Flagstaff Hill Lookout to Oxley Beach and back into town for a much needed brunch and back to the Marina. Lucky for us we got this done in the morning as by mid afternoon the clouds came rolling in and we had a change of cold winds and rain a good time to snuggle up and watch a movie.
Monday 25/10/10 - Back to our local haunt Panthers !!!!!!!!!! Over lunch and drinks we come to the agreement that we will be staying here until 6th November for tidal reasons and then heading off to Coffs Harbour. Elaine has booked herself in for a much needed pamper day with a facial and massage tomorrow. We have booked ourselves tickets to see The Highwaymen on Saturday night and Melbourne Cup celebrations on Tuesday 2nd November and a lot more excercise is needed.
The trip to Coffs is @ 72 nautical miles and roughly 11 hours sailing. We intend to stay at Coffs for a period of approx 3 weeks due to the fact that we have to fly back to Sydney for proir engagements. Elaine will need to stay in Sydney until @ 14th December and Rod will be returning to the boat solo on @ 30th November to sail to Southport. As this trip is 152 nautical miles and @ 25 hours of straight sailing at 6 knots this is too long for one person, So anybody wishing to give him a helping hand for this part of the journey please let him know. The date on leaving Coffs after 30/11 is flexible if you are interested.
Wednesday 13/10/10 - yeah, Brett the Deisel Mechanic turned up nice and early: unanounced still in our jammies, to fit the new pully for the altenator and promised to be back the next day to do the Service.
Thursday 14/10/10 - Elaine heads off to the hairdressers for some much needed colour work while Brett got the Servicing of the motor underway. Later in the afternoon Elaine had to head off to Sydney for the evening leaving Rod to amuse himself for the evening it was tough choice........Hello PUB!!!!!!!
Friday 15/10/10 - The winds have arrived and by 2.30am they have hit 43.5 knots and Elaine isn't happy as the boat is leaning over way to much for her liking. This turns out to be one long night with Rod pacing the dock until @ 8.30am keeping an eye on the ropes not only for our boat but the 60 foot steel yacht in the pen next to us which was sitting approx a foot and a half off of us and looking like it was coming to join us at any minute.
Saturday 16/10/10 - We caught up with Lionel & Steve at Vue's for Cocktail hour or 2 maybe 3 but who's counting.
Sunday 17/10/10 - We organise ourselves and decide over a couple of drinks that we would head off in the morning and stay the night at Broughton Island so we can make an early start for the trip to Port Macquarie on Tuesday morning to make the high tide later in the day.
Monday 18/10/10 - Things start off looking good, the weather is nice the wind is good and we are on our way to Broughton Island. We get there and things aren't as good as first thought. The swells coming into Esmeralda Cove from all directions and are rolling quite bad which is making it unsuitable for us to go in and anchore up so we head around to the east to Coal Shaft Bay and the same thing is happening so off to the north side to pick up a mooring from Providence Beach only to find that the waters although they look beautiful are way to shallow for us. After a few minutes of consulting we decide to push on and head for Port Macquarie.
It is now 1.30pm on Monday and we have plenty of time to get to Port Macquarie for the 7.00am high tide on Tuesday morning. It turnes out to be a long long freezing cold night. Rod has the job of getting us there mostly to himself while Elaine has combination of mild sea sickness and sleep deprivation. We get to Port Mac in the early hours @ 3.00am and have to circle around off shore waiting for the tide to come in to allow us to enter the harbour at 6.30am with help from Marine Rescue to guide us over the bar and along the channel to the Marina.
Thursdsay 21/10/10 - Elaine heads off shopping for new boat shoes........... anyway you can tell from the photo that these aren't really what Rod had in mind!!!!!!!!
Friday 22/10/10 - We head off in the tender for a bit of sightseeing and low and behold we end up at the bottle shop. With a couple of cases loaded we venture back to the boat job complete.
Saturday 23/10/10 - We become members of the Panthers @ Port club as this is going to be a bit of a regular hangout we may as well receive discounted meals, drinks & entertainment. Membership fee recouped after first day!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday 24/10/10 - Today we decide to tackle the scenice walk of the area along the shoreline from the Marina into town along the breakwall past Town Beach up to Flagstaff Hill Lookout to Oxley Beach and back into town for a much needed brunch and back to the Marina. Lucky for us we got this done in the morning as by mid afternoon the clouds came rolling in and we had a change of cold winds and rain a good time to snuggle up and watch a movie.
Monday 25/10/10 - Back to our local haunt Panthers !!!!!!!!!! Over lunch and drinks we come to the agreement that we will be staying here until 6th November for tidal reasons and then heading off to Coffs Harbour. Elaine has booked herself in for a much needed pamper day with a facial and massage tomorrow. We have booked ourselves tickets to see The Highwaymen on Saturday night and Melbourne Cup celebrations on Tuesday 2nd November and a lot more excercise is needed.
The trip to Coffs is @ 72 nautical miles and roughly 11 hours sailing. We intend to stay at Coffs for a period of approx 3 weeks due to the fact that we have to fly back to Sydney for proir engagements. Elaine will need to stay in Sydney until @ 14th December and Rod will be returning to the boat solo on @ 30th November to sail to Southport. As this trip is 152 nautical miles and @ 25 hours of straight sailing at 6 knots this is too long for one person, So anybody wishing to give him a helping hand for this part of the journey please let him know. The date on leaving Coffs after 30/11 is flexible if you are interested.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
WEEK 3 OCTOBER 10 2010 (10/10/10) UPDATE
Well yep we are still in Port Stephens. We have however moved to Nelson Bay Marina from Peppers and are awaiting our repairs to our Motor.
Prior to leaveing we met Paolo and Patrizia of yacht Swansong. They are on there way up to Camden Haven with a group of other yachts from Sydney. If we had not had our motor problems we would have joined them with sail as Port Macquarie is only an extra 3-4 hours on from there stop and it would haqve been good company along the way.
Caught a bus into Salamander Bay on Sunday to have a look around. The shopping center there is very big for this area, probably comparable to Rockdale Plaza in size. Did a bit of shopping caught a bus back. We had originally thought of walking it but glad that we made the wise choice of the bus as it was one of the hot days and further than we had thought.
Monday we moved the boat over to Nelson Bay D'Albora Marina. We where given a berth up the end where all the charter boats are. There was a walkway gate right behind our berth so I had to take the dingy of because it would have hit the gate, and the berths here are very short so we couldn't move any further forward. We asked the marina to move us but it wasnt going to happen as Derdrie " the marina receptionist" was about as helpfull and a wet paper bag of hot shit, and a pesonality of a bowling ball, said NO. Only to be told the next day that if we didn't move our dingy from the next pen we would be charged for another berth. Left Elaine to go and sort that one out, funny enough they found us a new spot, a bit further out but away from all the charter boats , which at this time of the year is a good thing.
Met a Guy called Rusty he was cleaning a 70ft cruisers teak decks, So I asked what to use , as it turns out Napisan was the go and a hard scrubbing brush. As I had neither of these it was off to the shops we went, at least we were in walking distance to most things. Finding a hardware was a bit diffiicult, asked an old guy in the street, unfortunately he was from Queensland and just on his last leg of his caravaning trip around Australia. He did however offer to drive us to Bunnings, we would have to squash into the front seat of his car as he had pulled the back one out to make room for his supplies as he travelled around. After a bit of a chat we decided we would keep having a walk around and gave the lift a miss.
Met a guy from Tassie Peter Keating. He had built a castle in Tassie and was quite an accomplished sailor and was taking his boat to Adelaide as he had sold it to a guy there and had to have it there by January. He had his 36 ft Hunter tied up to the local public wharf and was sitting there sharing some curdled home made Baileys with a guy name Glen who was from Gilgandra. Now Glen was in a wheelchair and was a farmer, and had been a paraplegic most of his life. I was offered a drink of the curdled stuff but declined that so Peter gave me some of his Rum that he had got sailing the Panama Canal, which had quite a kick. Poor old Glen was a bit pissy so I am not sure how he was going to wheel chair it to the local bowling club as it was about 2 k away and thats where his family was waiting. Time for us to head home as it was starting to get a bit cold. Walking back along the beach we came across 2 Sting Rays in the shallow waters along the beach, I got close enough , up to my knees in the water to get some good pics.
Caught up for breakfast with Terry Dumphy and his family on Saturday morning after our walk to Bunnings. By the time we got back to the boat it was mid afternoon. Elaine decided that we should do some washing. So after 3 loads we got back to the boat, showered and headed of to Chinese for Dinner. And not bad either.
Another Visiter this morning. Steve, Elaine's General Manager dropped by for a coffee. He lives up here on the weekends and stopped in to entice Elaine back to work.
Tomorrow being Monday I am hoping that the parts for the motor will be in and with any luck by Wednesday we should be all up and running again. Then I can start to have a look at the weather again and see when we can blow this popsicle stand and head off to Port Maquarie, I am on a first name basis with Marine Rescue and the Marina up there as I have emailed them that many times with our changes in travell plans.
Our budget is looking quite poorly as the weeks on the marina are chewing into our funds. So if any of you would like to help support the "Rod & Elaine Lazy Bastards Trip" please let us know.
Friday, October 1, 2010
WEEK 2 OCTOBER 2ND 2010 UPDATE
Well since the last update we haven't really gone too far. After checking out the prices at Nelson Bay Marina, we decided to go across to The Anchorage Marina at Peppers on Monday as it was marginally cheaper and a lot quiter. They have a heated pool which we haven't used so far but if we do decide to go for another dip at least it is going to be warmer than the ocean. The Marina itself is nice but a little bit wobbly on the docks as they are made out of timber. There seems to be the token dolphin that comes in each afternoon for a poke around.
Whilst the fees are marginally cheaper, unfortunately we didn't account for bus travel into town and back that we have done a few times and even caught a cab after doing some shopping. The laundry facilities are also a little cheaper but the only "pub" is a bar which means the beer is 8 bucks but there is a daily cocktail special that can tip the budget right over the edge. Not that we have needed it so far but there is also a day spa which might come in mighty handy over the next few quiet days. So all in all not the best financial move we have made so far.
On Tuesday we went to Shoal Bay for a look around and then came back to Nelson Bay to pick up some supplies when we ran into John Higgins from My Place Real Estate, who is currently looking after our appartment for us. He was up here with his wife Sandra and kids Emma & Luke for a couple of days staying at the resort where our boat is. No room in his car for us for a lift home so we bused it. We all caught up later that night in the $8 beer bar and proceeded to tell a few yarns . After nearly wearing the swip out on my Credit Card and many laughs we retired after a relaxing night.
We blew the budget at a seafood restaurant in Nelson Bay for Elaine's birthday so no more dining out for us this month and maybe next.
The weather hasn't been to kind to us of late. We were looking at moving onto Port Macquarie this weekend but the wind is coming from the North and thats the way we are heading, so rather than bash into it for 16 hours we will stay another 5 or 6 days here and the boys at Port Macquarie didn't seem too happy about us interuppting the Grand Final. They have a spot for us all though we might touch the botton at low tide, all should be good as it is just silt.
We have been walking each morning along some bush tracks, got lost the first day, came across and old guy called Graham who had a bit of a chuckle and pointed us in the right direction. We are increasing the walks each day to try and counter act the eating we are doing.
Its raining here today (Saturday), and was windy this morning, but it has calmed down now, its midday. No major problems with the boat at the moment. The water guages are playing up, but I think I can fix them. The Yanmah guy is coming here on Tuesday to hopefully fix the 2nd Alternator that broke on the way up from Pittwater, the new pully wheel sheared off the harmonic balancer leaving three bolts embedded in the excisting pully wheel, but apart from that all seems good.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
WEEK 1. 25 SEPTEMBER 2010 UPDATE.
Fianlly after 4 days of crap weather we are able to leave Cabarita and head off. Our first port of call was Pittwater for a bit of fine tuning.
We left Cabarita at 8.00am on Monday 18th Sept 10 as per our emailed voyage plan doc to Marine Rescue. We arrived at Pittwater at about 2.00pm and settled at Little Jerusalem Bay (photo attached) for the evening.
The next morning the weather was kind to us so we decided to head to Hallet's Beach for the day and night. It was a lovely sunny day so we went ashore for a walk and saw a big goanna. After a few hours of sun we headed back to the boat for an afternoon drink. The weather changed and a storm started to brew. Rod who had tied up the dingy earlier hadn't done a fantastic job and with the wind change it had come loose and headed off. As we stood watching it drift away we were at a loss as to how we could get it back. Since Rod tied it up it was up to him to dive in and swim to save it. Lucky for him there was a couple of nice people from a house boat who came to his rescue and brought it back for us.
Wednesday we headed to Scotland Island to catch up with No Mast for a pre trip drink and stayed the night. We left there Thursday afternoon to fill up with fuel and water at Royal Motor Yacht Club before heading to Coasters Retreat for the night for our journey to Port Stephens the next day. Whilst at Coasters Retreat we went ashore for a walk. It is here that Elaine saw some Kangaroos which Rod questioned and pointed out that they are in fact Wallabies. OK a blonde moment. From here we went for a dingy ride and stumbled across a little wharf called "Bonnie Doon Wharf" oh the serenity!!!!!!!!!!
Now our holiday feels like it has started.......................
We are up early 4.30am (well Rod anyway as Elaine is still sleeping and will do on and off all day) to start our way up north. It is a long day for Rod but we eventually make it to Nelson's Bay at 7.30pm. Our silence is disturbed by a whale blowing it's blow hole @ 60 meters from us just off Noran Head which got the heart racing, it is suprising how loud and clear the sound is. We are greeted by a pod of dolphines off Stockland Beach who want to swim along for a while.
Rod sighted more dolphines in the morning hanging around the boat and then they came back after lunch for a play in the bay. It is here that we have our first swim of the trip. The water is bloody freezing it is 19 degrees but feels more like 9 and if it doesn't warm up it will be Elaine's last swim. The water is so crystal clear and it is easy to see the bottom of the bay at 4.5 meters deep. I think we will stay a week.
Our next stop is Port Macquarie and we will be planning that over the next few days. We will be staying at Peppers Resort Marina for a few nights to restock and general household chores and celebrate Elaine's birthday.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
SEPT 16 TIME TO HEAD OFF...
Well we are all but ready to go . Now at the Marina, with no cars they are in storage at the factory. All excited to finally get of the marina but the weather is not in our favour. 25 to 30 knots out there and 3 mt swells, so we are still here at Cabaritta. A slight chance tommorrow mut more than likely Saturday.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Sunday 4 July
Up at Pittwater at the moment, Came up on Friday afternoon to see how the works are progressing. all nearly completed. Hopfully will come back on Tuesday night and sail her back to Cabaritta, where we will begin our final plans for our trip in October.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
17 JUNE 2010
Well Nemetona is up at Pittwater now. Grant and myself took her up there on Monday the public Holiday. The sail up there was a good one. SW winds 10 - 15 knots about 1m following swell. Arrived at Bayview and parked her safely. the trip in total took about 5.5 hrs. All I can do now is wait and not bother the work men to much. I have listed the items below that we are getting done.
- Water maker
- SS davits at the rear to hold Tender
- Radar
- Sink and stove infills to create more bench space
- Access door under main table for storage
- 3 extra batteries/ Total now 8 house 1 engine 2 winch and windless
- 2 new solar panels/ total now 4
- Replace hatches: warranty
- Repair timber work in forward head : warranty
- Mount life raft under Stern seating
- Check ducted heating systems as is faulty
Hopefully I will get to Pittwater next week to see how things are progressing, and not intrude to much on the work that is being carried out. I think that she will be up there in total for about 3 weeks maximum but hopefully it will be less.
- Water maker
- SS davits at the rear to hold Tender
- Radar
- Sink and stove infills to create more bench space
- Access door under main table for storage
- 3 extra batteries/ Total now 8 house 1 engine 2 winch and windless
- 2 new solar panels/ total now 4
- Replace hatches: warranty
- Repair timber work in forward head : warranty
- Mount life raft under Stern seating
- Check ducted heating systems as is faulty
Hopefully I will get to Pittwater next week to see how things are progressing, and not intrude to much on the work that is being carried out. I think that she will be up there in total for about 3 weeks maximum but hopefully it will be less.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
SUNDAY 6 JUNE
Well set of about 8 am from Cabaritta water was calm all the way to the Harbor Bridge. The weather forcast wasnt the best but we thought that we would have a look out side anyway. Unfortunately the swell was about 5 to 6 meters and the wind reaching 35knots from SE. We decided to turn around and head back to port rather than risk any damage or accidents. Got a good drenching coming back into the harbor. Arrived back at Cabaritta about 11 and tide up safely with a hand on the dock from Screensaver after contacting him on VHF 72. The weather is supposed to crappy till Monday so will more than likely make a plan for Tuesday now.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tuesday 1 June
Currently Nemetona is preparing to go to Pittwater on Friday to have some work done on her. These items include
- Water maker
- SS Davit system to carry tender
- Extra batteries for more ampy things
- An added alternater to get to 160amps
- A few extra creture comforts. Will detail these later.
- Water maker
- SS Davit system to carry tender
- Extra batteries for more ampy things
- An added alternater to get to 160amps
- A few extra creture comforts. Will detail these later.
Monday, May 24, 2010
The Boat
Hanse 470 e
LOA: 14.31m
DRAFT: 2.6M
BEAM: 4.46m
WEIGHT: 12.2T DRY
MAST HEIGHT ABOVE WL: 24.43M
ENGINE: 75HP YANMAH
REG:
AIS:
WATER: 400LTS
FUEL: 240LTS
BATTERIES: HOUSE 720AH , ENGINE 70AH , WINCH & WINDLESS 140AH
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