Mon, 26 March 2001
Not that much sailing going on these days, just hanging out in Sydney Australia. But this is part of the cruising life too, living in a foreign port. Right now we just watched Bob Dylan's performance on the Oscars. Did you know Bob Dylan is in Australia with us? Yep, and he played at Ballina, the little town up the coast where we scooted in over the bar and sheltered from the storm in January.
A week or so ago we survived a night of partying on Saint Patrick's Day, arriving at the local Irish pub in time to join the crowd singing Irish songs, of which we knew none. But anyhow, to fit in we donned green hats, threw our cell phones into the pile on the table and started on the Guinness. It was a good night to turn 55.
We also visited the boat show here and through some classes they offered, had a chance to take some survival training, spending a day in the water climbing in and out of life rafts. It wasn't too much different from what we do out in the islands, climbing in and out of our inflatable dingy, and it wasn't like a real survival situation either, with no dark seas, stormy waves, and sinking ships. I'm glad. The teacher asked us how it was and I told him I hoped that was the last time I ever saw the inside of a life raft.
Also over the weekend there was a significant oil spill in the harbor. Some powerboater had a fuel tank leak and his automatic bilge pump put it into the harbor. We called the Marine Police, who called the Port Authority, who sent over a couple of guys in speed boat, who said it was no big deal.
It's Fall here, the Mangos are disappearing from the Farmer's Market, and the days are a little cooler. We painted some spots on the deck, are thinking about our next trip to the boat yard, and basically, that's about it. Almost all of this reminds us exactly of living in the Marina at Shilshole in Seattle, only it isn't.
Judy & Fred