flapping 'round the fish co-op

Our first week at the co-op was very tense and challenging. We encountered an environment that is seldom mentioned in boating tomes. For whatever reason (fear, addiction, just run out of puff), there is a group of boaties (and I use that term very loosely!) that lead a life that revolves around alcohol-they sit on or around their boat and drink and drink and drink. Unfortunately a couple with this "lifestyle", who haven't left their co-op berth in 6 years decided that we were going to be their new best friends. We were woken each morning by the sound of this couple drinking, arguing with people and using language that made us cringe-at 7ish right next to our boat-yuk! Whenever we emerged we were given the third degree-what time did you go to bed, what are you doing, yahdah,yahdah,yahdah. We made it clear that their lifestyle was not ours-they continued to pursue. We ignored them hoping they would leave us alone-nah they peristed. He started telling people he now had 3 wives-oh god, wake in fright! We became very disheartened, our home was being invaded and it was not where we wanted to be. We searched the district looking for another berth-damn nothing available. Eventually AK got VERY firm-he had already started calling her bwana (boss woman) as she had directed him to leave us be-and they moved back to drinking near their boat-yah, we reclaimed our space.

Living on a boat in a marina environment is an interesting experience-you are constantly in the public eye and your space becomes very sacred. We are very careful who we invite on board and find that we have to be firm with people-some think it is OK to jump on deck for a chat.

We are in Laurieton as AK has family in the district-Aunt Joan the 84 year old matriarch from Lake Cathie, cousin Mark (and family)the boatie in Roland Plains, Aunt Gwen an 83 year old fisherwoman from Queens Lake and cousin Carmel (and family) an immigrant from Adelaide settling in Telegraph Point. We have been spending as much time as possible with them-bingo with Joan, lunch with Carmel, chats with Gwen and much laughter with Mark, Marti, Paddi and Sophie. Mark and Marti helped us reclaim our space at the co-op and Mark is altering our mizzen sail to allow us to move our boom upwards for more space.

We have been doing more work on Manatee- the carpets in the single and aft cabins have been removed and the floor stained-it's an unfortunate orange at the moment, we're still working on it. We have found a fantastic engineer who has made us a new bracket for an alternator and a new exhaust pipe for our generator- all great quality at an unbelievably cheap price.

We also hoped to pick up some work while we are in town-not much around though-the area is quite depressed, with a number of businesses laying staff off. We have managed to pick up some casual stocktaking, but not enough to make much difference to our bank balance!

Since we have been here we have been lucky enough to have jackik fly overhead our berth (in her piper warrior sewzy -great navigation) on her way back to Sydney from Kempsey. Our friend Les has also had sucessful treatment and is on her way to a new life- fantastic news and cousin Greg is also steadily improving after his medical challenges. Unfortunately we have had to miss a few important birthdays of friends- happy 50th to Tony and Jenny.

We are spending a lot of time at the beach, walking at least 5km a day and we have bought esky lids and have ventured into the surf. We also have a new camera!

An unusually overcast day at Dunbogan Beach

Pearl enjoying her "walk"

Ruby posing for the body shot

the only footprints are our own on Dunbogan

life at Laurieton

The following Wednesday we moved down the river to our organised pile berth (4 poles that you "park" your boat between) at the Laurieton Fish Co-Op. For $85 weekly you are left alone by the vigilant waterways staff who rigorously police a no liveaboards policy...and rent includes water , power and a finger wharf to the shore.

The trip down to our berth was interesting as the river runs at about 4 knots. Even though we moved between changing tides (you get about 30 mins grace from the current), it was difficult. We have since watched one of the fishing boats (wooden) and the skipper drives the boat in at a very fast speed. As Manatee is a very heavy steelie she takes a while to stop. Marg managed to get Manatee's bow sprit poked into our berth and with the assistance of others throwing ropes AK managed to pull her in.

After a welcoming party from a few of the permanents we took the girls for a walk to explore their new home.

As we are being a little slow (yes we know Jackik) in updating our blog, here are a few other blogs you might find interesting..............

http://cruisingunderpower.fastmail.net/index.html

http://www.sailblogs.com/member/roaringgirl/?xjMsgID=51875

http://www.womenandcruising.com/index.htm

Crowdy Head to Laurieton

On Friday 29/8 we prepared for a 1000hrs departure.....then we had visitors -a local (elderly male) who had heard us on the radio the night before (how many on board, expected departure time etc)and decided he would visit for a chat and 2 tourists who saw the dogs on board from the beach and also wanted to chat. AK has a new mantra....don't be impatient, this is the country, don't be impatient, this is the country.
We left the harbour about 1150, churned through the alarmingly largish breakers and set for Laurieton. Viewing beautiful and sometimes majestic coastline, it was an uneventful trip. Marg navigated the Camden Haven bar beautifully (the worst we have experienced so far), surfing Manatee through the washing machine of an ebb tide...oops another rule broken. We were met on the river side of the bar by two enormous dolphins who swam on our bow wave and guided us safely through the first few navigation markers. We tied up to the jetty at the RSL, a free berth with free amenities...yippee! Really a great spot, parkland and bike/walking pathways radiate along the river, very quiet with the township 5 mins up the road. We spent 5 days at the jetty (max allowed) while we organised another berth or mooring.

Port Stephens to Crowdy Head

We spent 2 nights at Nelson Bay on a maritime mooring waiting for the sea to abate. "Imagine" from Hobart was on the other mooring. I have some great pics (but I have stuffed the camera...more later) of the two Tasmanian boats moored together. These 2 moorings aren't popular as they cause a boat to rock and roll and it is a little disconcerting to be soo close to the beach.

On Tuesday we explored the area in Ini the inflatable. Plenty of dolphins about but we realised if we said "look dolphin" they disappeared. We reckon they were "tourist dolphins" who appear for a quick happy snap. We landed Ini on a beautiful secluded beach at Shoal Bay, just under coastal patrol's hut. When we set off again AK got drenched by a wave...as did the camera. We are still trying to get it working after drying it out.

On Wednesday we left Port Stephens heading North for Forster at daybreak. "Imagine" headed South at the same time. Our estimated time at Forster-Tuncurry was 1330. The seas were kind and winds about 10-15knots from the North...yep motoring again!

Once we passed Seal Rock the seas were amazing, a colour that is hard to describe....almost like liquid glass. There was a distinct change in the air, it was warmer and the winds abated. There were whales and plenty of dolphins surfing our bow wave. Manatee, as the current was kind, made very good time so we decided to continue on to Crowdy Head.

The kind currents were somewhat misleading however and sucked us right in! Our calculations unfortunately we based on a good first leg. As the sun set we were still not at Crowdy Head....oops. Looks like AK and Marg have blown their agreement to NOT enter a strange port at night. But we forgive ourselves because with 2 Aries on board rules are made to be stretched.

Crowdy Head is a very small boat harbour on the southern end of the beautiful surfing beach. Really shouldn't be entered with a northern swell. Yep we had a northern swell. On hindsight we would stay at sea, although alls well that ends well (providing the lesson is learnt). We managed to find the very narrow opening and entered the harbour to find the expected empty jetty had a large catamaran berthed alongside! We had booked the jetty with the fish co-op as required and were told the jetty was "all yours". Later we find out - boaties don't book, arrive after the co-op has closed and leave before it has opened....all to avoid the fee!

A stressful 30 minutes followed, we managed to berth without damage to us or the catamaran and spent a very "surgy" night at the jetty. Later we also find out that you can request a berth at the fishing boat jetty which doesn't suffer from surges...oh well!

Many lessons learnt this leg.

Manatee fangs it to Fame Bay

At the recommendation of Peter and Malcolm we decided to opt for the seclusion of Fame Bay (Port Stephens) to wait for reasonable weather before heading further north. One of the many great things about boating is that you get to experience places inaccessible to most

people. Fame Bay was one such place.....

We had the bay to ourselves for most of the time

Boaties bath...camp site out of the picture

Ruby & Idge share a moment

AK must practice her wildlife shots...spot the dolphins..not

eagles soared overhead

we watched the moon rise

and the sun set (Idge on the main boom)

we explored

and walked (view of Ini from a midden)

and did what we all do best

We were out of (reception) range so we are behind on our calls, emails and blog. We spent 6 nights at Fame Bay and had our first saltwater dunking....brisk and refreshing! We met Mary and her "cabin boy Christian" who were from Sydney and members of the cruising yacht club. Mary gave Marg some great advice regarding seas. On Monday we returned to Nelson Bay to await decent weather to continue our journey north.

Marina Daze

So....we ordered a patch kit and arranged overnight post. We berthed at D'Albora Marina as we had no way of getting ashore and waited...and waited....and waited. The kit arrived on Thursday. In the meantime Ruby posed for photos for the tourists on the bowsprit as we were berthed next to the whale and dolphin watching boats. The bowsprit was at head height so she will appear in many Korean happy snaps.

Manatee tucked next to the massive tourist boats

We got to know some of the staff, Peter and his dog Malcolm were regular visitors and helped with the repair job when the kit arrived. Most of the deckhands were women and one boat had an all female crew...really nice to see in a still male dominated profession. One of the deckies related stories of whales playing with the boats, apparently they are renowned for it. This area up to Forster is a marine sanctuary so plenty of marine creatures about. Dolphins come into the marina in summer and the boom nets on the back of the tourist boats (you can see one on the big boat nearest to Manatee's bow) are referred to as 'human tea-bag apparatus' due to the plentiful sharks!

Marg and AK took advantage of the marinas 'personal care facilities'-individual bathrooms with unlimited hot water (we really limit our water consumption on Manatee as one should anyway) and a TV room where we could watch some Olympic events.

The rest of the time we took advantage of the pleasant surroundings.

Lots of boats ( heading north from the Sydney Boat Show and heading south from the Hamilton Island Race) pulled into the area seeking refuge as the weather turned nasty so we had a pretty social week. We are both very relaxed, AK has stopped wearing a watch and when asked the time Marg often replies "a quarter past thingy".

Nelson Bay antics

So....our first night at Nelson Bay....headed to the local wharf and met two live aboard boaties who had been tied to the wharf for ages-despite the 3 day limit. Guess it is winter. The first was very excited to meet us and called out "joe, quick 2 girls with a boat". Joe emerged from his yacht, drink in hand, and the (elderly) lads attempted to entice us to tie Manatee up to the wharf where we could "get to know each other". We bowed out graciously (for us) and took the girls for a lovely walk along the beach where we were moored (only about 50m off!) and enjoyed the sunset.



After having such a lovely evening we decided to continue the bliss and have dinner at "The Wharf" restaurant. We dressed up in our bestest clothes and headed to the marina in our dinghy (inflatable). Thinking it was safer to tie up to the rocks rather than getting locked out of a marina arm we headed off to a remarkably fine dinner. Highly recommend the seafood spaghetti, chowder and the view over the wharf.



We returned to the dinghy to find her wedged under a gangway- perhaps someone had tried to nick her. Unfortunately she suffered a nasty gash...not good for an inflatable. Marg bravely held up her bow so we wouldn't sink as we hurriedly made our way back to Manatee. We left her on the dinghy davitts overnight and sunk gratefully into bed.



Our morning inspection showed a very nasty gash that would need repairing. Now where is that repair kit? We spent hours turning Manatee inside out....no kit. Damn. Reassessing our situation...only 50m to shore, can the girls swim for their walk? Nup. Phoned every possible retailer in the Port Stephens area. Nup no repair kits. Finally sourced one at.....Lake Macquarie....AAGH.