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 .