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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Gippsland Lakes - Some Early Hospitality

Most cruising yachts seem to skip Lakes Entrance and the Gippsland Lakes beyond the formidable Ocean Bar. They seem to rush on past to tick off the Gabo Island waypoint that represents the 'corner' to reach either the East or South Coast, depending on your direction of travel.

Meeting Phill and Leanne on the jetty at Portland cemented our travel plans for the Victorian coast. On a mini break, and only recently 'boat owners' of a Roberts ketch called Mad Hatter they were looking over the yachts at the Portland Marina. We were returning to Zofia, came around the corner, and there they were, giving Zofia a proper looking at. They didn't need to be asked twice to come on board and were finally 'poured' off many hours later, having convinced us that the 350 or so square kilometres of the Gippsland Lakes, accessed from Lakes Entrance was a 'must do' destination after we'd done with Tasmania.

Mad Hatter

Easy Tiger had Lakes Entrance on their desirable destinations list for a long time too especially since Steve has Victorian family connections. Having met the crew of Saphire en route (who's family had a holiday property in the Gippsland Lakes waterways) Easy Tiger's reasons for being here had been mounting. Adding momentum for us ALL getting together, Saphire arrived to Lakes Entrance to the same jetty and on the same day as us and Richard, the skipper, remembered us from Wirrina!

Once the bad weather blew through, it was possible for Easy Rider to head north for Sydney in gentle conditions and for Saphire to re-locate up to the family jetty in Chinamans Creek. An invitation for a BBQ lunch followed.

Isobel showed us around their holiday playground 
with Chinamans Creek and jetties down the hill.

Various classic boats like the Couta boat having its gaff rig hoisted 
 or waiting for their owners to get into holiday mode in Chinamans Creek.

Leanne admiring a Hydrangea bloom as big as her head.

Another beautiful wind vane to add to those I've admired.

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