Clarence River Cruise - Step 5 - Brushwood to Ulmarra

Although the City of Grafton is just another 6nm away we think we'll call it quits now that we've reached the heritage listed village of Ulmarra. Obstacles to our progress include a road bridge at Grafton plus overhead power lines. We need 19.5m clearance. Although people have encouragingly proposed that we attempt to pass beneath them closest to the river bank, and claim that we'd slip under just fine, we're not messing with it. We're content with the distance traveled.

 

Carolyn noticed our track went inland and wondered if we'd suddenly been loaded on a truck.

As we've gone further upstream the water salinity has decreased and we're floating on only slightly brackish water. Further upstream at Grafton the salinity was recently tested and proved to be sweeter than most acceptable domestic tap water! The Bloke is hoping that the freshwater will terminate the critters that might be adhering to our below water surfaces. He won't be swimming to check on account of more warnings of shark nurseries!

Crew of Zofia aboard Marilyn.

Photo courtesy of Brenton Walker - SV Promise II

Our plan was coming together nicely. Our vision was to celebrate The Bloke's birthday at the Ulmarra Hotel. We ticked the box and were accompanied by Brenton, a cruising contact first established in 2014 in Port Lincoln (and with several touch-points in between). It's a relatively small community, and yachts keep playing tag up and down the coast.

View of the upgraded Ulmarra jetty.

 Do you think planners have allowed for the once-in-a-100-year flood event?

 Cute little ANZAC Memorial Park on the riverbank and next to the jetty.

Just one of many lizards supervising the Blokes Birthday lunch.

Ulmarra Hotel - A classic country pub.


J's Garden Cafe.
The best coffee in town!