Beez Neez now Chy Whella

To Shoal Bay

Big Bear and Pepe Millard

Fri 8 Apr 2016 22:57

To Shoal Bay, Port Stephens

We pulled out of berth D22 at 09:40, we had docked there on the 7th of March – for a few days.......... One week sewing, one week stocking up, chores, one week on a road trip to The Red Centre and nearly a week finishing bits and bobs. Sad to leave but much to do before the end of June, Cairns calling. 32.4 miles today with just 1268 left, about right for the Beez sorts her time out.......

Bear set to the tasks of rope retrieval and fender stowage whilst I trundled slowly out into the channel. I was transfixed by a man in a kayak – utterly motionless, then counted the fishermen along the wharf, very quiet today but later it will be a thrumming horde.

Captain called to windward, Madam, to hoist the main just as I passed three of the working girls – Plenty of Melbourne, Mayfield and Carrington both Novocastrians.

There is always something as you leave port after Beez has had a rest.......This time no sooner than I had indeed turned the girl to windward and the main was up, than I heard three bleeps and the wind speed on the dashboard read nil, zero, nudda. Bear fiddled for a minute or two as I did the supposedly remedial two slow circles – boats fix themselves of all sorts during a slow circle........ Nope, not this time. Off we went knowing we were in for a light breeze and motor sailing. I was quite happy as during this little manoeuvre I had been watching a team of working girls helping out the latest chum, just as my friend David Allen was coming in.

‘Farewell’ to the Lady of the Sea for the very last time.

Smashing to go by the Cathedral knowing we had indeed visited and to see no scaffolding up.

I tucked well over to the right as the ‘team’ came at me in an impressive formation, waving as they went by.

David Allen looking resplendent. Goodbye dear friend.

Goodbye Newcastle.

Just as I was laughing at the Isolated Danger Buoy, they always look like a stick man with their hands on his hips - this one in low-slung red knickers, Bear had fiddled, instruction book in hand, when the wind speed leapt into life. Hoorah.

Jiminy was very pleased with himself as he plugged in his IPad to the USB jack he had installed on the arch of the pod. A very handy job I did, even if I say so myself. Nothing like a bit of self-praise.........

It did make for a very lovely picture of the skipper.

A very grey day on a kindly sea. A herd of dolphins slowly passed by but only showed us their dorsal fins.

Point Stephens Lighthouse stands tall and elegant on Fingal Island with a view over the rocks of Fingal Bay. Built in 1862, Point Stephens Lighthouse features a swept tower base and first floor entrance that give a flared appearance. This construction, along with the terrace of Lighthouse Keepers’ quarters within the lighthouse precinct makes Point Stephens unique among Australian lighthouses. Point Stephens Lighthouse is even more unique, in that its location on Fingal Island is occasionally connected to the mainland.