Why are we waiting?

Waiting is what we seem to do a lot of. Normally it's waiting for the right winds. Not too much and not too little but just right. We sound like Goldilocks! Then there is the swell. We don't like that to be too high. We've mostly experienced it from the South West and we are traveling eastwards, so we are less worried by its direction but the height is definitely an issue. Big swells aren't always accompanied by strong winds. A growing swell is generally a precursor to bad weather coming. There is a saying that 'swell is indicative of wind elsewhere'. If we are going in to or out of an anchorage/port or through a narrow channel, the tide needs to be just right too. In summary we like winds to be less than 20 knots and swell to be under 3-4 metres. We hope to pass through constricted seas with the tide rather than against it and into shallow areas when the predicted water levels will be sufficient to keep us floating (over 1.6 metres) rather than standing on the bottom (or worse).

Evidence of a 'marching sea' beyond the calm offered by the groyne 

protecting the head of the Moyne River

If one waits long enough, a suitable 'weather window' generally presents and it's just a matter to being able to predict when that might be AND have everything in readiness to depart during that 'weather window'. We look intently at the weather forecasts and then the skies, sea state and barometer to confirm the forecasts. Once we have the general weather picture we assess the duration of our next passage (distance from where we are now to where we want to go, divided by a notional speed of 5knots) PLUS we check the tides that will allow safe departure and arrival. We want to arrive at a destination in daylight too. If necessary, we might plan to stand off at a safe distance before going inshore to anchor or into a port. We're not asking for much to align ....... are we?

All that said, we don't always make plans to depart a new location with the very first 'weather window' that presents itself. We might have yet other reasons for waiting. The duration of our stay here in Port Fairy is a prime example of 'other reasons' to linger. Firstly, the Bloke might not have exhausted his Sausage Roll research (bad news so far in Port Fairy), we may have more sights to experience, a postal delivery or even more importantly, more people to catch up with.

We have had overnight guests in Ken and Colleen who we had last seen in Wirrina, SA. An 80th birthday brought them to Hamilton which is a regional centre not too far away. Port Fairy was only a small detour and the Bloke and Ken still had unfinished business to complete. Their earlier catch up after some 30 years had been aborted due to Ken acquiring a particularly nasty dose of the flu. Now back in general circulation, Ken and the Bloke solved of all the worlds problems with the insight that only the consumption of 4 bottles of red wine can give. That seemed to settle matters nicely.

Next an email from Perth friends, Kit and Renate, as to the possibility that we might be near Apollo Bay was resolved in the affirmative. Although we didn't have plans to be in Apollo Bay, we could best that with the assurance that we'd wait for them in Port Fairy if they'd make a small detour on their car trip from Mt Gambier to Apollo Bay. Mission accomplished and a fabulous meal was enjoyed by us all at The Stag restaurant. We had hoped to go to the oldest Inn in Victoria but sadly The Merrijig is closed on a Tuesday and Wednesday. Dinner was preceded with 5ers on board Zofia. Kit's brother Nick, from the UK was included in the touring party, so the fun just escalated.

The Stag Restaurant - 4 1/2 stars on Urbanspoon.

Renate about to enjoy her prosciutto wrapped chicken.

 Kit's brother Nick.

Just ignore the bottle - nothing to do with me!

 The Bloke with Kit and Renate the morning after.

Not sure if we needed a pill.

What next?

Well, we missed an exceptional weather window for traveling half way across Bass Straight to King Island this week. That's OK though, Kit and Renate were worth waiting for plus it means we'll be here waiting for the arrival of the Doctor duo of Jonathan and Wendy from Port Lincoln. No problemo.

After that though, we must be on our way south. Our friends the Sandow's, newly moved to Hobart, are waiting.  Zofia is booked for her annual 'lift' and I have a plane to catch from Hobart to Perth at the end of November. Another episode of waiting of an entirely different kind will be coming to an end... tick-tock, tick-tock .... the much anticipated wait for grandchild number 4.