Report Number 7

Thursday 8th.Unfortunately I was notified this morning that my mother, who is living in a nursing home, had to be admitted to hospital for a blood transfusion. My sister was able to accompany Mum for the 3 days and although she is very unwell she has improved considerably and is returning to her nursing home tomorrow (Sunday). I may well need to return to Sydney sooner than expected.Left the beautiful Laurieton about 1.30 pm and arrived at Port Macquarie about 4.00pm. (I did remember your advice Lou about the bar at Port Macquarie, but we did the homework and we felt OK about the bar - fortunately the crossing was smooth and uneventful). Port Macquarie! Suddenly both of us realised that we really were on our big adventure. All the way so far we had used a book (Cruising the NSW Coast) by Alan Lucas to help us. It covers every city, town, village, hamlet and bay on the coast and shows the best approach from North and South, potential dangers, moorings, anchorages, facilities and points of interest for each. So when we reached each landfall it all looked and felt very familiar. We have another of Alan's books - Cruising the Coral Coast - which will take us up the Queensland coast. WELL!!!! Not only was our mooring next to their yacht, BUT ALAN AND HIS WIFE PATRICIA CAME TO VISIT AND HAD AFTERNOON TEA WITH US!! The gurus themselves who have been sailing up and down the coast for 40 odd years also took us for a walk on Saturday morning through bushland at Port Macquarie. Any other news (except Karen's Mum) pales into insignificance beside this, however we did have quite a good trip from Laurieton to Port, staying in closer to the coast, almost within jumping distance rather than swimming distance. Charles at Laurieton had given us some advice about the bar, so we had little trouble with it (thanks, Charles!). We bought fuel when we arrived at the marina, organised a mooring and met David O'Brien who manages it - a more pleasant and helpful person would be hard to imagine. Had dinner at a Thai restaurant close by which was very, very nice then back to Jess. Friday was fine and sunny with a cool breeze. We went for a walk, had a look around and did a few odd jobs. Warwick wandered around the chandlery at the marina (BIAS it aint!). Seafood dinner at Scampi's restaurant because it was the second Friday of the month and that's when the BWMYC have their meeting dinners. Saturday dawned fine and clear for our 7.30 am walk with the gurus who are both delightful relaxed and entertaining people. We walked through the bush along the river and through a flying fox colony and then sat in a coffee shop for an hour or so chatting - and drinking coffee. We returned to the marina about 11.00 ish and then the weather turned cold and wet - real hot cocoa weather, so we stayed inside and did catch-up things.The weather forecast indicates that we may well be staying in Port Macquarie until around Tuesday next week when we will then head off to Trial Bay for another stop and then Coffs Harbour. But, as usual, actual travel arrangements will be made as conditions arise.LoveKaren and WarwickPS. Thanks to those who have replied to our emails. One of these days we will find an internet cafe close to our mooring and actually reply to you individually. Meanwhile, keep those phrases like "navigational wizardry" and "marine mastery" rolling in. Be assured that our egos are big enough to handle them!