Friday.Crew change over day.

We were tied up beside a fishing boat on the outside of Strahan Wharf as there were many boats in the sheltered cove.Three deep and nearly filling it up.

Today was BBQ day at the sailing club .The whole fleet was together apart for a couple of boats still up the river.Some in Double Cove and some in Mill Bay.

The wind came around a bit in the night and we were moving a bit but our hosts big red buoys made good fenders.

We stuck it out as the convenience for carting gear ashore and loading the new crews stuff far outweighed a bit of up and down.

As usual Biggs and Cheroz were up early and walked around to the club before I was up.Blogging takes a bit of time with one finger.Left hand at that.

We stripped the beds and loaded all the used linen along with my clothes into the doby bag.They cleaned up the boat,we had turned the friges off the night before.They have an automatic defrost feature which is rather inconvenient as you never really know when it might happen,one day into the leg from the Tamar.

I collected single and two dollar coins and set off for the laundry.Was lucky there were two machines empty .Loaded them up and returned to the boat for brunch.

The relief crew were due after 11.30 so we had time to get Masterpiece ship shape ,most bags packed now.

Back to the laundry to find Julie from Geelong was there.She had put a load in and was waiting,they were at the Fisherman's jetty further up the bay and too far to nick back to.It was then I had a bit of luck,there are three driers,I got the single old one.The double ones are hopeless.Probably take an hour and a half to dry a load,must be something wrong with them.

Put one lot in and hung around talking.I did not want to loose my machine to do the second load.

Got my second load on a real backlog now three or four people waiting.Dave Norman sitting outside on the bench moaning about the cold weather,Cooky going crook about him,seems to have dropped his bundle,no BBQ for him,in bed !

Returned to the boat to find the crew patiently waiting for Ross and Simmo,got a call 30 minutes away.

They went into action and took all their gear ashore ,we sat under the booking office verandah out of the wind and in the sun,quite pleasant but they wanted to get going.

It did not take long to unload the BMW with eight people carrying stuff.Ross unpacked the eskis to go back and after some good byes they were away.

The new crew settled in and after a while we went around to the BBQ which had been going for a while.The wind was cold but the club has a big " west coast" stove burning Huon pine scraps and an inside cooker as well,quite a popular place,only the die hards outside.Wandered around talking to the different groups while Ross cooked our snags.First timers taking advantage to ask questions about things they were not sure of,their excitement to get to Davey quite evident.

I had a talk to Ross's brother in law who has joined us for the trip on the walk back.Inspected the fish farm feeder gear as we passed.Much expenditure there.

Back on the boat for a coffee,I suggested we go up the river for the night as it looked like Sunday would be the earliest we could attempt the trip to Davey.No fishing boat movement so if they are staying put so are we.

Need some bread so they wandered over to Banjos a bit late,up to the shop then.

We pulled out at about six,don't think we will get right up but can anchor if need be.The light gradually faded and after hitting a reasonably large log decided to anchor for the night as Simmo was getting hungry and needling Ross about his dinner.It was quite dark when we lit the BBQ.

Turned in about ten thirty.

A bit wet.

Thursday Back to Strahan.

Had a cooked breakfast and up anchored,it took well over half an hour to get the mud and weed off the anchor and chain,we had never seen such a big ball on the anchor.Thick sticky mud ,we would never have dragged our anchor in a cyclone.

Three crew up forward with boat hooks and the gaff.Biggs reckoned later we should have put the dinghy in to free it. 

We steamed around to Pillinger and anchored out,went in by dinghy and walked the old railway line and had a look at the shack,some rough repairs have been done.Returned to the boat for coffee and headed for Strahan .

Jetty remains at Pillinger 

Still raining ,passed a couple of boats heading for the river on our way,they might as well as the weather forecast is for bad weather for the foreseably future!

We travelled slowly at 10 knots as I was unsure of how much fuel we had left,not much I thought.

We arrived at the fuel bowser with another vessel,the Liberty  filling up.We tied up beside Stormbreaker and filled the water tanks while waiting.They seemed to be having trouble with the card reading machine,we found out later it must have been on the blink,tried three cards and it did not like any of them,even the bank managers.Mike came to the rescue and we filled up,worked out we had 34 miles of fuel left.Have done 460 miles from the Tamar,must have seen a bit !

The crew went over to the pub for dinner,I stayed on board to try and help Les get the internet sorted at home.One and a half hours later I spoke to a person who was very helpfull and accepted my transferring authority to my daughter to get it going again.

Cheroz arrived to get me as the kitchen was about to close,it was still going two hours later as people trickled in for dinner.Our meals were superb,two seafood fettuccini s ,one fillet steak and one braised wallaby.

Biggs as usual found someone he knew who contracted to the fish farms,they were next to us and come from Dover.

Got back to the boat reasonably early and had a brown sugar before turning in.

Wednesday The crew brave the Franklin.

Woke after a quiet night,some showers but only light.Had a bit of a lay in.Probably a mistake as at about nine it started to rain .The wind had made during the night and turned westerly.We were well sheltered but had little wavelets slapping now and then.The anchored out boats had swung on their anchors to face down river.

Then it really rained,with horizontal sheets going up river against the green background made a sight to see.I had elected to stay on the boat when the Franklin trip got under way.Three in the dinghy enough .

We waited for a break in the weather before they set out.Two other boats at the landing getting ready as well.One left before and one after.

Pottered around the boat,finished my blog,washed up the tea cups and had a fellow over off Finesse who's daughter used to come down home for sleep overs with my youngest when I was building the boat.That is Tassie ,we are all connected in some way.The owner and his wife's son is dating Cheroz's daughter.

They had a good  run up the rivers ,only a couple of strandings and managed to find an overhanging rock for shelter when the worst rain squall came.

Got a call on the handheld to get some meat out of the freezer for lunch and dinner.Noticed it was well and truly frozen with a little whispy smoke when I opened it.Keeps my icecream just right.

They returned full of beans about the run in the dinghy and not too wet.We had sausages in bread for lunch washed down.

The sea plane had arrived and was up river when two other boats arrived,we advised them to keep over our side to avoid his runway just as he came roaring down the gorge,The wind in his favour today he was flying well before the landing.It was spectacular seeing the almost vertical bank to get around the corner.

After lunch we piled into the dinghy to do St Johns falls and Jill O'Rielly's grand fathers house remains.

We did not get the landing place quite right and had quite a scramble to get up the bank.We were too far down the river but did not like to take the inflatable in between the two nasty looking steel stakes in the river.Much puffing all round when we arrived at the old winch.

Had a look around the area the hydrangers well out this time ,most likely not but seemed much larger than two years ago.

Went back to the boat and vacated the jetty,two other boats ready to take our place,Montague had left an hour ago.

The visibility now not very good along with the light in my eyes full astern required at the first corner,Huon Pine leaves on the foredeck but thankfully managed to stop before any contact with the shore.Much ragging by the crew who obviously did not see it coming either !

We motored down the river passing quite a few boats which had elected to wait out the forecast blow either anchored out or tied to the bank.You can tie for and aft if you find a little indentation in the river bank,the trick is to find one in a sheltered spot.There were two boats at Heritage Landing which would be ok for the night as the cruise vessels had finished for the day.

We elected to go out of the river to Farm Cove.I knew a very sheltered spot which I called the duck pond.Asked the locals and evidently it does not have a name .John Brettingham Moore calls it South West Arm.It looks like a boot so it could be boot bay also.

Although quite straight forward the entrance to Farm Cove is ringed with rocks.One is guided first with a pile and afterwards by a white buoy anchored on the end of a reef

The bay we were headed for is in behind all this and is very sheltered from the South and then the SW blow expected.We passed Fargo making good time heading in the same direction with a headsail drawing nicely,one helmsman on deck.no plastic goose coups for them. He did not see me coming as he was concentrating on his steering in the now  20 knot breeze.We steamed past at 21 knots .Decided to give her a blow out after a couple of hours crawling down the river.Must have been a sight.

They elected for the next bay in.

We anchored with one meter under us as it was low tide and would only get deeper.No sooner had we anchored when the rain began.Showers of varying weight,wind squalls also,this went on all night.We were very comfortable but the wind in the tree tops was something else.Just before dawn we were awoken by hail on the deck ,the wind now gone to the SW.Getting quite cold now ,called for long strides and sox.

There was much mirth at the expense of the skipper when Biggs tried to light the BBQ for our steak.He failed and after a while I said I will fix it.I use a lighter rod to get it going ,I went out and pressed the start knob and clicked the lighter and bang with sheets of flame coming out of every opening,he had left it on.,fortunately the lock catch was in place to hold the lid on otherwise the result may have been very different ! Biggs banned from the BBQ now.

We had another steak and salad meal,the butcher has excelled him self with the meat,Cheroz to tell him.Probably only make him zealous he was not here though.

Turned in reasonably early at 9.30 to rain on the deck.

Sorry about the horizontal rain photo Folks,mine did not come out.I hope to add it later when Cheroz works out how to get it out of his camers and send it to me.

Tuesday Up the Gordon River.

Biggs and Cheroz were up early,walked around to the train which had steam up across the bay.

It was out of the shed and on the turntable when we looked.Mike went for a walk and I finished my blog.

They fire up the ferries an hour before departure with them in gear to warm up the engines and gearboxes.As we were quite close the underwater noise was quite loud.They have learned from experience over the years running full power cold is destructive on engines and gearboxes.

They do not muck about after clearing the harbour as they have a tight schedule once under way.

It seems the run is tailored to give the passengers the same experience over all from the two companies.They seem to take it in turns to leave first and therefore return first or a while later.Hells Gates,Sarah Island and Heritage Landing with a fish farm stop fitted in.One does it back to front.

Troy told us it has been a good year for tourists.They are contemplating a new boat ,a little bit faster cruising,no doubt the design work is under way,a narrower hull to reduce the drag should do the trick and a different drive system.

Cheroz and Mike walked up town for some essentials we had run out off,a visit to the chemist for some pills as insurance for the skippers toe,now behaving but you never know,a new crew arriving Friday.Biggs and I washed up.We returned the favour to Huntress and took her lines when he changed berths.A big boat to handle on his own.My owner returns on Friday he informed us.Interested to meet him as we have not met yet,they always seem to be on a different schedule.Not happy as plenty of time diving but as yet no cray,contemplating buying a second hand pot.

We departed and motored around to Mill Bay in West Strahan for a look,surprising how many boats there,quite a few private jetties.The remains of many more on the way.I have been told this is the place to be if there is a really big blow.Pleased I now have a track on my plotter into it as the entrance would be a bit tricky in the dark.

Left to go up the harbour to Sarah Island to pay our respects.Steered over to the fish farms on the way,they certainly have expanded since my last visit twelve months ago.Surely they have enough room now.Some of the new feed barges in action,I believe there are something like twenty on order.

Tied up at the old jetty ,seemed to have been made for Masterpiece ,she fits perfectly and it is still in good order.Most other visitors anchor out and dinghy in.Probably wise as there are a few snags in one area but I did notice the small tourist cat from Strahan going inside them.Must have local knowledge.

Noticed Eagle went inside Grumet island as well.I go outside.

Good to see the island has had some TLC since here last,but only a little,new signs which only one or two people can read at a time and some blackberries sprayed,may be they should bring back a few selected convicts.

Back to the boat and heading for the river,after a natter to some other circum navigators on the jetty who asked about anchorages in Port Davey.

We entered the river and anchored at the Boom Camp site now a fishing club setup.Had the last cray for lunch,the skipper weakening and having a small amount .Put the dinghy down and went into the floating jetty.

They have done a good job over many years setting it up.We were quite surprised at the gear they have here,any one is welcome to use it for a small donation.A large custom wood stove ,cabin with plenty of bunks a generator shed and an excellent toilet with fairy lights on the walkways.Many good days spent here I suspect.

We saw a sea canoe leave Strahan with a small red sail on our way up,we stopped at Sarah Island and  as we turned into the river we passed him again.

When we were about to leave a tall English gentleman arrived at the boom camp to have a bite to eat.

He certainly had covered some ground during the day.

Going to Heritage landing for the night he informed us.He showed up there as we left and quipped about diesel burning,gin drinking sailors.He had binos around his neck looking for some bird.Evidently quite enjoying himself.

We arrived at St Johns falls at about 4.30 to find four boats rafted up and two anchored out.

Biggs reckoned we would fit at Warner's Landing between La Vida and Montague.We backed in and had a foot to spare.

A quiet night with a good meal,turned in about 9.30 with the crew gassbaging for a while longer.

Cheroz had not been up here before so was suitably impressed I believe.

View from Warner's Landing.

Monday The run to Strahan.

Some of the fleet got away about five am.

We were up a bit after six ,no real hurry for us.The yachts had an overnight passage for the over 100.mile trip.Their plan was to arrive at Macquarie Heads at daylight Tuesday.They plan on an average of six knots with a bit up their sleeve.

The trip down past Stack Island inside Hunter Island was calm with a very light headwind and the current behind us.

We were the last away at six thirty.After the engines were warmed up we were up to cruising speed of 18 knots.A bit mean really as we soon gobbled up the ones in front of us.

We passed the last one Bomoh ,Beautiful S&S sailing under full sail in the Hunter Passage.

Passing out between the islands the open sea was a taste of what was to come for the next few hours.There was about a two meter Swell with a slight slop on top .Fortunately the south wind had abated over night and there was a light offshore breeze to steady them.We thought maybe a current running up the coast which would not please the smaller ones.

  

We soon were off Cape Grim which still looked Grim but quite a bit more friendly than when I was here last with the Farmers.Missed the second episode and have had no reports yet.

Mary came on about 8am to check up on where we were ,we reported in at Ann Bay ,going well,the sea starting to go down and the wind building a little for the blow boats.

We worked off shore a couple of miles because of the waves,there are some shallower areas inshore and the waves break well off.

We arrived at Sandy Cape at about ten thirty for brunch.We had been eating a bit too well and elected to cut our steaks in half the night before ,the butcher being very generous with the size.

Cheroz said we will have a steak sandwich with the lot. ,sounds good ,they were really good meat.

I went down to the port side bathroom which had been sounding its bilge alarm on the way down,bloody thing has caused me some pain,first in Melbourne and now here,I rebuilt the little tank which catches the shower drain when the float switch failed and it over flowed before.

Had a quick look on the way down I see water in there again.The bilge alarm has a silence button which only works when you push it.The buzzer is designed to be a noisy thing and it is!

Dissmantled the tray to find the pipe which sends the water to the tank had broken,well at least the mechanical side of things was ok.Pumped it out and left it for Strahan to fix.

The conditions under Sandy Cape were perfect,on a good day it is a truly memorable place,the white beach and dunes , green  vegitation and blue water .A lone albatross had been hanging around and was now sitting in the water quite close to the boat .We remembered our old mate Bill who recently passed away.They say old sailors souls live in these birds and one can see why on days like this.

We were sheltered from the waves and the breeze had died off getting ready for the NW change predicted.

Well we had had an hour and a half off.Mary came on at 12 to take position reports,we could hear some boats but I think we were too far away for her to hear us.

We up anchored and got away,the waves now considerably less so I worked out round the cape and headed for the Pieman River .The seas were breaking right across the entrance as usual ,we stood off and Cheroz got out his video camera to record the experience.

We then then moved down to Conicle Rocks.The plotter says Conicle Harbour,I know it is a popular place with Ab divers and they do lay there but a harbour?rather cheeky I think ,like Temma and Granville,can you have a harbour which can only have foam in it at times,must be joking.They probably thought name would stick as in calm times it is good.

It looks so forbidding I have never been interested in going there,one Ab diver I know teased me once ,why didn't you come in when you went past.

We slowed down and debated where the entrance was but we saw what we thought were a couple of options but it is still a mystery to me.Migh have to do some work on it,a mud map would be handy.

Set a course for Hells Gates and arrived at 3.30 to a low tide so not much current.Some cloud so visibility good.Cheroz on the flybridge recording and the other two making sure I went the right side of the red piles.

Ben had a track on my small plotter so we had a backup.

Arrived at the Strahan wharf and tied up beside a fishing boat for the night with the assistance from a fellow off Huntress 111. I will have to thank him when I catch up.

Sent a text to Mary to confirm our arrival and just managed to hear Steve on the six thirty sched.

We had a celebratory Beer.

Went over to Hammers for a quiet one which soon was not quiet as Troy Grinning was there with a couple of mates one was Randall Morrison who is part of the legend of the west coast,the other one we think was one of the legends from Waratah,kept saying the Lamb roast is on,I better get going or it will be spoiled,he might have made it but it would surely be well done.

We got the true story of the delivery of Toby's new boat ,Calypso ,from the mainland ,sounded like an epic voyage ! What else would one expect with Toby,Ron,Guy and Troy on board.I don't even have to imagine the chaos as I got the truth.A memorable voyage indeed.

Returned to the boat for a chicken curry and watched Garry Kerr's Flinders Video after a good day,said good night to those still at sea,I recon a couple would gladly pay my fuel bill to be here !

Turned in at ten.

Brunch at Sandy Cape.

Beautiful Strahan.

Sunday A day of waiting

The high tide was about 9am.Biggs and Mike went out to pull the pots in the dinghy.A very nice cray in the first one only about 2 meters off shore,the bottom being very narrow here.The second one a blank.

Had a leisurely breakfast.No real hurry to do anything today,South wind so no one going anywhere .

We decided to try and get closer to the point to get out of the roll and managed after a couple of tries to find a quiet spot.

Cooked the cray to Biggs satisfaction.

The crew went ashore after lunch to have a look for some Abs,Rod had told Biggs you can pick them up at low tide up there.They managed an entree for tonight's dinner.

Had a talk to Mary at Smithton Radio who offered to keep in touch with the fleet on the run south tomorrow.Steve now in Strahan and too far away to be of any use.

Went out and downloaded the weather,the forecast getting better all the time especially south of Sandy  Cape tomorrow.The south wind all ready dying off.

Not much else happend as the wind gradually died off.We up anchored and reanchored Behind the fleet.

Had a steak meal and after turned in about ten.

A quiet spot

Saturday.A quiet day.

We had a quiet night,the change came through early morning.Cheroz woke me when the anchor alarm went off.Just the boat moving as I had plenty of chain out.Reset it and went back to bed.

By about eleven am the wind had swung around to the NW and blowing right into the nook.

We suffered it for a while but had to move eventually over to Shepherds Bay across the channel.

Some boats already there,the rest in Chimney Pot having moved from Coulomb earlier on.

We moved over while having lunch,the crew crays and me leftover lamb and new bread.

Cheroz now honing his skills.Watch out when he gets home,the bread king is coming !

We anchored in a day anchorage close to the shore under the northern cliffs to get out of the leftover roll.

Down went the lines,not even a bite.The only thing biting was the March flies.Flights of them.Cheroz has a theory a squirt of fly spray around the door frame will keep them out,I hope it does not take the paint off !

Biggs and Mike put the net in and then went over to a Blue boat in the bay which I recognized as Slanchivar from Wynyard,they were cleaning a heap of Australian Salmon they had caught in the net,glad to get rid of some as they had too many,a few other boats got some too.

I remember years ago he joined the Circ up here,was a fisherman I seem to remember,we bashed our way down to Ann Bay tacking into a stiff south wind ,after a couple of hours of crashing and banging he appeared out behind a rock off Cape Grim.Local knowledge there,still do not know how he did it.

We now had bait for the pots.Later on Bruce the owner came over to say hello but I could not remember his name before now.They are a week out and have been around but we have not seen them until now,shows there is more than one way to skin a cat up here.They are off to Flinders next and then Port Davey by the east coast,good to see him again as I had heard he was unwell a couple of years ago.

Just put my pot in he said ,chuck your buoy up on the rocks,you can get it when the tide runs.We would never have thought of that.

Biggs managed to do it with one but not the other,too much surge he claimed.Slack water high tide at about 9 in the morning so should be ok.

The forecast SW change slowly came through with lightning and some rain,we put the squid lights on but only managed one small one.

Put the Bee Gees on and then Rod Stewart while having a good roast chicken,ended up a bit late after repeated requests for Maggi May at full volume.I hope we did not keep the rest of the bay up.

Only about ten boats left now,looks like Monday is the day for the run south.We may  move out to the outside of Hunter island today .I have considered Woolnorth Bay but some how it does not seem to have any advantages .

About ten left in Shepherds Bay.