Bloke to the Rescue

A late Sunday lunch at the Waterfront Cafe at Church Point was enjoyed in the company of Martin and Carolyn. Luckily we'd booked, as it's very popular and the 3pm sitting was the best we could manage. Since it was as nice a winters day as you could imagine, our seating on the waters edge was very pleasant.

Carolyn and Martin were pleased with the oysters

The Waterfront Cafe looking festive as we motored away

We arrived to collect the 'tinnie' from the Commuter Wharf just in time to hear a despairing cry ~ "Oooh, nooooo"!! A lady had knelt down to unlock and untie her her boat from the hitching bar and in the process, dropped the padlock into the water complete with both the padlock and boat keys! Dilemma. How to get home? All the little motor boats and runabouts here are the equivalent of a car for mainland people. It's not as if you can call the RAC to come and help. The light and temperature were completely unsuited for a quick dip to try and locate the padlock and keys from the sea bed below. "No problem" chirped The Bloke, "I'll tow you"!

The Bloke saving a damsel in distress

Oddly, this wasn't the first rescue mission during our time around Pittwater. Twice now, The Bloke has jumped into our tender to tow kids back to their parent's boats after they'd been hooning about (and being annoying which is probably why we'd even noticed them) and then had a problem with the outboard motor, finding themselves suddenly drifting off with the tide. In both instances, the kids have been between 10 and 12 years of age and not wearing a PFD of any sort. When delivered back to their parents, they'd not even noticed their children missing, let alone that they were in distress. And even if these supposed responsible adults didn't indicate any gratitude for his efforts, I think The Bloke did a great job!