Motoring towards the Soldiers Point Marina- Port Stephens
Many cruisers abhor marinas and the costs associated but they are necessary evils. There is almost a perverse pride in being so self sufficient with water, power and laundry facilities that they boast at how rarely the call into one. Well that's not us. We don't have a water maker or washing machine just to begin with and sometimes it's just divine to not be keeping half an eye out on the weather, the tide, power and water consumption. It's not a sensory base load we even notice until we are alongside. At the Soldiers Point Marina however, the sense of relaxation was heightened and we both declared that every corpuscle seemed to have relaxed.
Jetties adorned with baskets of petunias
The Bloke, ever the romantic, chose to coincide our sampling of this singular East Coast delight with our 39th wedding anniversary which was also the 2nd anniversary of arriving in Streaky Bay after a 5 1/2 day passage across The Great Australian Bight. So much to celebrate.
In addition to the usual facilities which were all absolutely first rate, Soldiers Point Marina offered a number of treats which were most theatrically delivered. It was so much fun staying there that we barely wanted to leave for any part of the day in case we missed out on any fun. Staff were mildly surprised that we didn't take the boat out at all. As stay-aboards we were there for a holiday. We can sail about any old time. We had arrived to have a break from all that.
The Bloke ready for sunset with the sundowner bubbles, yesssss!
Oh yes, and we bought some local oysters @ $10/doz un-shucked, direct from the producer.
We've used all manner of bathroom facilities in the past 2 and a bit years. They range from Eco camping ground blocks with drafty (it was mid-winter) coin-operated rainwater showers on Kangaroo Island through to concrete rainwater drum-tanks fitted out with a WC and shower booth on King Island. Until now, the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron held the top star position with respect of quality of bathrooms but floor-to-ceiling marble-clad suites are the new benchmark. You really do get what you pay for.
Could be at the Ritz!
Friendly, happy sand endlessly accommodating staff, clad in Hawaiian shirts or fun dress-ups, leave you in no doubt that you are welcome and your comfort and enjoyment is paramount to them. It's not hard to see why this Marina wins awards year after year.
Coffee and the paper delivered every morning.
Cocktails in the afternoon.
Don't mind if I do Darrell!
A petrol whipper-snipper motor drives the blender to make your Pina Colada
If it's hot, icey-poles are delivered in the middle of the day on a ride-on esky.
What a hoot!
Our routine marina chores of refueling, taking on water and re-provisioning were greatly simplified. All water is filtered. The Bloke went crazy with the water hose and hardly drowned the internals at all. Shopping at the nearby Salamander Bay shopping centre was a breeze. "Take the Lexus, we want you to be comfortable". Whooot! The Bloke trailed me with an ever fuller trolly around Aldi, Woolies, Coles, Target, Big W, the pharmacy and Post Office in 'almost' good humour while I piled in as many 'heavy items' as I could without being ridiculed. He even voted to flirt with a mystery Aldi brand of beer which we've jokingly named 'Unkel Shwester Larger' but looks hauntingly like a carton of James Boag or Cascade beer. We are $10 to the good on this purchase and it's subsequently been declared a winner by the Bloke. The week's tariff just came down!
Our new wheels - for this week anyway!
Honoured to get a mention and delighted to hear you had such a fun and relaxing time at SPM - these pictures bring back fond memories - what fun! Loves to you both x x
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