Just relocated ourselves across the Bay to the eastern side to hide from the predicted Easterlies and Northeasterlies.
We are anchored off a surf beach so yes, we do have some roll. Will see how we go. It's a nice prospect of a few days without shore duties of any kind. Heaven!
| Live Track - Past 90 days | Distance Sailed to date - 15,383Nm |
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Sunday, January 5, 2014
Ppssssstt. Can you keep a secret?
No matter who one speaks to here in Bremer Bay, they all say the same.... "Don't tell anyone! It's our secret"
It's 2 1/2 hours from Albany and probably 6 hours drive from Perth. With those sorts of stats, Bremer Bay has probably managed to stay off the radar for Perth people. It's a 50km detour too if your traveling between Albany and Esperance so you are really not going to arrive here by accident. It is a Mecca for farming folk in the Great Southern district though, and we've been told that families and whole communities up stumps and spend their summer and Easter breaks here. Easter is the best of the two times apparently.
This helps to explain why we have seen so many 4wheel drives and big boys toys on every bit of white beach for the last 50-60nm. Farmers love their toys!!!
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| If the farmers can have their toys, we can have ours. Big Ted on radio duty. |
The Bremer Bay Caravan park accommodates some 1,100 - 1,300 people who influx at this time of year but you'd hardly know so many people were here and around. The reason is the number of bays and beaches on offer. If the beach isn't attractive for any reason there is always another more protected one, or a large freshwater lake where you can waterski. Not much waterskiing occurs far off the shore in the Bay - probably a homage to the knowledge of the great white sharks that live off the seals, sea lions and whales that come into the bay. Can it be true or is this just to scare people away? I'm voting for erring on the side of caution thanks.
To illustrate how keen the locals are to discourage outsiders, one only needs to attempt buying a postcard. On offer are jokey cartoons that happen to have "Greetings from Bremer Bay" on them. You'll probably find the same ones with the words Bremer Bay substituted with 'Bondi', 'Byron Bay' or 'Tangalooma' on card stands around the country. There are also the whale tail and pelican post cards but again they could be from anywhere. The only card with a photo that is even remotely unique is an awfully bad and unattractive snap of Fisheries Beach that certainly does not scream 'wouldn't you like to holiday here and aren't your friends so very, very lucky to get here'.
The reality is that Bremer Bay is absolutely gorgeous! The water is almost iridescent turquoise and crystal clear. The blue even reflects onto the underside of the sea gulls wings so that they look blue too. It's just outstanding! (Will try and get a photo). The sand is white and squeaky. The fishing is great too (We just haven't got our fishing fingers primed yet).
Glad we didn't miss this little hide away.
Winds are shifting easterly tomorrow and will be strong, so the blue dot will move off to Peppermint Beach on the other side of the Bay both to duck for cover AND experience more of its outstanding beauty!
The watered down truth
Captain Steve volunteered to take us girls into shore so we could shop, investigate washing options and any possibilities of obtaining fresh water. I was the next on board the Easy Tiger dinghy before calling in on Urchin to collect Maree. I would estimate the ride at no more than 2 minutes. News of my dip was composed and published before we'd even reached Urchin and gathered Maree. The Bloke was in hysterics. Not laughing with me I feel, but at me.
The next morning at scones and tea/coffee ahead of a laundry offensive, I was presented with the silly chequered hat and green jacket for the most recent awesome/ silly or noteworthy deed. The scope of acts is very broad. The Bloke had earned it for his spectacular 7 KGs and was happy to pass it on to a clown head. I was rated as awesome on the basis or keeping my head and hair dry even when falling off the back of the boat. LOL!
But enough levity, there was the washing to be managed, this being the first opportunity since Albany. Leanne's strategy was just to tackle the smalls as Easy Tiger had sufficient clean linen to last until Esperance. My thoughts were more along the lines that if I was to spoil the day with any laundry at all I might just as we'll do the lot (i.e. 4 loads). I was dropped at the beach with my 2 sailing bags and the fold down trolly together with Maree who despite planning to follow Leanne's plan ended up doing 4 loads too. The Bloke took off in the opposite direction with his rubbish run. This is when I met Val another very friendly local, curious at the presence of 3 boats and particularly 2 catamarans. The occasional yacht passes through but never cats! We'd been seen by her and her husband Richard when we were still at Little Boat Harbour. Dave the farmer from Bordin, for whom I'd performed my slow motion splash the day before had also seen us there. On the spur of the moment I invited Val to come aboard Zofia for drinks in the evening at 5pm. A phone number was scribbled on the back of a scrap of paper. "Just call when you arrive at the beach and I'll send the Bloke in to pick you up."
Maree and I spent the next 4 hours washing and drying and unwittingly upsetting the self appointed Caravan Park washing line Nazi in the process. We even scored foot in mouth disease. We muttered between ourselves that the complaints were ridiculous, everyone knows what their own kit looks like..... A lady that was in the wash house through all the finger wagging delivered at us, unexpectedly and blandly revealed that the complainant was her mother! Ouch, what a howler! We're only new to this. Did you know there is a law that forbids you to touch other people's washing? If it's true, it probably exists to pick up perverts stealing knickers. Having had to make the switch from 'lingerie' to sturdy and serviceable laundromat compatible undies I'd be flattered if anyone would want to nick my nicks!
Back on the beach, mission accomplished, Maree called in B1 to be the boatman. It was clear that there was too much for 1 trip - 2 of us, 4 kit bags and 2 fold-up trollies. B1almost got pooped coming into the shore by the little breakers that kicked up and the boat wasn't even carrying any cargo at this point. We had already waded out up to our hips to assist B1 get back with the cargo of washing. Lots of surge and one last small wave unbalanced me. The backpack I was wearing had shifted my centre of gravity and wooshka! I fell backwards up to my armpits in water A G A I N - for the second dunking in 24 hours.
The crowd on the beach roared with laughter and thanked us for the spectacle. We reminded them that while they had fun watching us, the watching was reciprocated from our boats. I still had my green jacket of awesomeness in my backpack - luckily still dry, so to fill in some time asked for one of the beach crew to be a model. Some family from Boyup Brook has a holiday snap of Maree plus a sodden me and their Mum modeling the green jacket and silly hat! That'll take some explaining if they don't press delete quickly enough.
Getting back to the boat, I hastily changed out of my dripping clothes and finished restoring all items to the boat before it was time for Val and Richard to arrive. Meeting open and friendly people is a joy and this boating lifestyle does facilitate new friendships. Luckily they had called earlier to accept and confirm the invitation. The Bloke none the wiser to plans at the time they phoned, made the best of the situation and had asked them about the town water supply. A great question as it turned out because they arrived with 25l of rainwater and the offer of more. We can't understate our gratitude!
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| Water on the brain perhaps (Thanks Maree) |
The next morning at scones and tea/coffee ahead of a laundry offensive, I was presented with the silly chequered hat and green jacket for the most recent awesome/ silly or noteworthy deed. The scope of acts is very broad. The Bloke had earned it for his spectacular 7 KGs and was happy to pass it on to a clown head. I was rated as awesome on the basis or keeping my head and hair dry even when falling off the back of the boat. LOL!
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| The Bloke, the silly hat and the green jacket, oh and Big Ted! Geez the Bloke was happy to pass this kit on. (Thanks Maree) |
But enough levity, there was the washing to be managed, this being the first opportunity since Albany. Leanne's strategy was just to tackle the smalls as Easy Tiger had sufficient clean linen to last until Esperance. My thoughts were more along the lines that if I was to spoil the day with any laundry at all I might just as we'll do the lot (i.e. 4 loads). I was dropped at the beach with my 2 sailing bags and the fold down trolly together with Maree who despite planning to follow Leanne's plan ended up doing 4 loads too. The Bloke took off in the opposite direction with his rubbish run. This is when I met Val another very friendly local, curious at the presence of 3 boats and particularly 2 catamarans. The occasional yacht passes through but never cats! We'd been seen by her and her husband Richard when we were still at Little Boat Harbour. Dave the farmer from Bordin, for whom I'd performed my slow motion splash the day before had also seen us there. On the spur of the moment I invited Val to come aboard Zofia for drinks in the evening at 5pm. A phone number was scribbled on the back of a scrap of paper. "Just call when you arrive at the beach and I'll send the Bloke in to pick you up."
Maree and I spent the next 4 hours washing and drying and unwittingly upsetting the self appointed Caravan Park washing line Nazi in the process. We even scored foot in mouth disease. We muttered between ourselves that the complaints were ridiculous, everyone knows what their own kit looks like..... A lady that was in the wash house through all the finger wagging delivered at us, unexpectedly and blandly revealed that the complainant was her mother! Ouch, what a howler! We're only new to this. Did you know there is a law that forbids you to touch other people's washing? If it's true, it probably exists to pick up perverts stealing knickers. Having had to make the switch from 'lingerie' to sturdy and serviceable laundromat compatible undies I'd be flattered if anyone would want to nick my nicks!
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| NY Day in Dillon Bay - all dressed up to catch anything but a fish - Thanks Maree |
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| Zofia at rest at Dillon Bay - Thanks Maree |
Back on the beach, mission accomplished, Maree called in B1 to be the boatman. It was clear that there was too much for 1 trip - 2 of us, 4 kit bags and 2 fold-up trollies. B1almost got pooped coming into the shore by the little breakers that kicked up and the boat wasn't even carrying any cargo at this point. We had already waded out up to our hips to assist B1 get back with the cargo of washing. Lots of surge and one last small wave unbalanced me. The backpack I was wearing had shifted my centre of gravity and wooshka! I fell backwards up to my armpits in water A G A I N - for the second dunking in 24 hours.
The crowd on the beach roared with laughter and thanked us for the spectacle. We reminded them that while they had fun watching us, the watching was reciprocated from our boats. I still had my green jacket of awesomeness in my backpack - luckily still dry, so to fill in some time asked for one of the beach crew to be a model. Some family from Boyup Brook has a holiday snap of Maree plus a sodden me and their Mum modeling the green jacket and silly hat! That'll take some explaining if they don't press delete quickly enough.
Getting back to the boat, I hastily changed out of my dripping clothes and finished restoring all items to the boat before it was time for Val and Richard to arrive. Meeting open and friendly people is a joy and this boating lifestyle does facilitate new friendships. Luckily they had called earlier to accept and confirm the invitation. The Bloke none the wiser to plans at the time they phoned, made the best of the situation and had asked them about the town water supply. A great question as it turned out because they arrived with 25l of rainwater and the offer of more. We can't understate our gratitude!
Thursday, January 2, 2014
She's fallen in the water
We have just arrived in Bremer Bay, a beautiful spot, which we intend to sample for a few days. Well the locals were giving us a lot of attention and we must say the "Natives" are friendly. The "Polish" princess always likes a chat and on scooping up a local who was passing on a surf ski, she decided an extended discourse was required. So she had better capture this one by grabbing his paddle. Note to self when leaning off the back of Zofia, the swim ladder is not fixed to the boat, so always grab the hand rail. You guessed it, in she went, wet all the way to her armpits. In true princess style, however, she emerged with DRY hair. How does she do that? We have no photographic evidence of this event other than the clothes drying on the railings. You do however know, that the Bloke only speaks the truth - so IT DID happen!
Leg 8 - Dillon Bay to Bremer Bay 14 NM hop
The bags under the Blokes eyes tell it all. We need some rest and to be gone to a quiet haven. Bremer Bay here we come!
We motored to the point and the attractively named "Sparkling Island" - not making it up, refer to your chart. Then in a gentle breeze sailed around into Bremer Bay with both sails up and the promise of rest- well a little bit anyway after the anticipated SW blow.
What a gorgeous surprise. This our NEW most favourite bay.
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| Sparkling Island - it's grey because it's early! |
We motored to the point and the attractively named "Sparkling Island" - not making it up, refer to your chart. Then in a gentle breeze sailed around into Bremer Bay with both sails up and the promise of rest- well a little bit anyway after the anticipated SW blow.
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| Getting around the point |
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| Bremer Bay opening up before us |
What a gorgeous surprise. This our NEW most favourite bay.
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| Entrance to Bremer Bay boat harbour - a bit out of town but tucked up behind a rock wall. |
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| Play time at Town Beach. Lots of big boys toys here. Look at the colour of the water! |
What's rolly going on?
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| Contented Cat people - Steve and Leanne |
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| B1, man of mystery |
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| KG's for breakfast that's something to purrr about |
The day had been very, very rolly at Little Boat Harbour albeit not windy. The far off beach was a car park of 4 wheel drives assembled to enjoy NY day. We wondered how anyone could actually get out of their vehicles it looked so tightly packed. We were amused to observe a Winebago style vehicle creep down the steep dirt track approach, stop at a lookout point and then decide to attempt joining the throng. Half way down they lost their bottle and reversed back up the hill and beat a strategic retreat. We are easily amused.
Dinner conversation rehashed weather forecasts, predictions and readings of the Western Australian Cruising Guide. Our expectations based on descriptions of anchorages had proved illfounded. "Rolly". What does it mean? Rolly as compared to...? Rolly for whom? Let's look for somewhere less rolly even is there is no scale equivalent to a Beaufort or Richter Scale. Little Boat Harbour had lost its charm.
Back at the boat after dark it just got worse. We decided to sleep in the saloon instead of our cabin to escape some of the hull slap. But wait, now some really strange noises. Heck! The Bloke was on deck quick smart. He's got quite a bit more nimble since leaving his desk job. Flash lights looking, looking, looking into the darkness. No moon. The only light coming from everyone's anchor lights. The cats are further out and together resting facing in the opposite direction to us. What the?? and those strange noises.... well they were the anchor buoy slapping one side of the hull and our dinghy pushed up against our hull at midships instead of streaming behind us. With our deck light on (no amps spared on this occasion) we could see our pennants sagging limply from the burgee halyard. We were sitting in a pocket of ABSOLUTELY NO WIND doing a "Quindalup shuffle" drifting around the clock with no particular place to point and rolling around like drunken sailors in the swells curling around the point.
Pah! Morning would not come fast enough. We'll shelter from the predicted coming SW 30 knot winds in Bremer Bay just the other side of the headland and sample another anchorage, not caring if it's "rolly", it's got to be less rolly than this!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Happy New Year everyone whereever you are!
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| Selfie - NYE |
The Bloke and I wish you every best wish for 2014!
May you enjoy good health (OR many, many well days -at least) and huge contentment this year.
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| Cheers! |
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| Last sunset for 2013 |
Love to you all!
From the Bloke and me. xXXx
Enjoy this clip and you'll understand our stupid poses in earlier posts....
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dsM5wk62jvo
Some people you might know and if you are missing, send us one of yourself:-
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| Ship of fools? - Thanks Steve for this BBQ photo taken at Two People's Bay |
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| Roger, Jill, Isabella and the little Gorski Men |
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| Mum |
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| The Bloke |
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| The Bloke and the General celebrating Spirit of the Regatta award at Geographe Race Week 2013 |
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| You're such a crazy cat Brit! |
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| Happy New Year Anthea! |
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| Bottoms up Bullet! |
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