Autumn already!

Me thinks this post should be written from the present time backwards as Christmas seems an age ago and it seems like lots has happened....nothing awful soooo here goes.


March
We just spent a couple of short days (12-4) working/volunteering on the Australian Volunteers International (AVI) Stand at Womadelaide. It was about passing on our AVI experience to potential volunteers which we found a positive and fun process. In addition it enabled us to see some great WOMAD acts (complimentary day passes) and catch up with KI mates. Breabach, the Scottish trad band was excellent as was Dub Inc, a full energy French reggae/fusion/rock with Tunisian overtones. We also enjoyed Ana Brun, Sam Lee et al & Thelma Plum

In the modern "old fashioned" photo booth with the obligatory shut eyes!

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Arrived back from Darwin on Saturday....we are now fleet owners (again) having purchased a Sparhawk 36 foot Cat Ketch......a bit radical...carbon fibre unstayed masts and a canard winged keel. She is a bit of a project boat having got freshwater damage to interior woodwork but she should clean up OK....we have decided to rename her Goshawk. She is being trucked down to Adelaide in early April.

Soon to be SV Goshawk, our new boat

Break Free is on the market. She has been a great home but we would like to build a new house on the farm so to recoup some cash from the sale will be useful. So if anyone is interested in a Adams 13m set up for cruising.......

Beginning of March
So we could see the boat in Darwin did a campervan relocation from Adelaide  ($5/day plus fuel for a 4 berth)....brilliant fun, no hassle, cheap and comfortable...the highlights.....the sunsets, Simpsons gap, Alice Springs, Swimming at Edith Falls and Litchfield National Park, more sunsets, the desert starry nights, the Devils Marbles and to see all the GREEN from South Australia all the way to Darwin was amazing. Did you know they have eight foot high grass in the Northern Territory?

Desert sunset

Coober Pedy hawks

a few of the Devils marbles

Amazing tall grass at Edith Falls

The top Edith Falls...the bottom was closed because of flood waters & crocs!

Litchfield Park, NT swimming holes

Ants swimming at Litchfield

Cathedral Termite mound at Litchfield

January/ February
Brisbane to Adelaide on Break Free
Sailed down the east coast spending a few days around Sydney where we picked up our crew  Rex. We made friends with Rex in Majuro when he was delayed with a flight for a few days. It was really nice having him aboard. He is good company. He sailed with us to Tasmania via Flinders Island on a lovely downwind sail. On the Sydney leg with the East Australia Current and a following wind we sailed, for us, a record 188nm 24 hour run.
We all climbed Strezlecki peak on Flinders. Rex was a great fisherman while aboard and while we went exploring on Maria Island Rex caught dinner, yum.....Went to Hobart via Dunalley Canal definitely worth doing. In Hobart we tied up next to Constitution dock on the public pontoon really handy for exploring Hobart. Saw a great acrobat display by a French yachting couple....the performance is from the deck of their boat....
Sailed south on the D'entecastreaux Channel to  Kettering and Cygnet....met lots of friendly yachties. Caught up with friends Crystal and Girwyn at Port Huon, they are nearly ready to launch their lovingly self built  yacht, SV Lucy after 5 years of sweat and toil.

 Cygnet, near Hobart

Tassie Seals

 We experienced a cold front with winds over 40 for 2 hours with a period of 60 and then 70+ knots in Port Huon and dragged anchor into another Adams 13. The most wind either Ants or Jane had ever experienced. Sailed to the southern most street in Tasmania and I went the furtherest south I have ever been. Lovely walk to .......... sailed straight to Portland as the weather was right and time was catching up with us. Couple of days in Portland then onto to Kangaroo Island....went home for just 6 hours and then up to Adelaide where we picked up the Relocation camper van for the drive up to Darwin.....

Back to KI now to be at home for more than a day or two (but if someone wants to look at Break Free plans can change).

On the way north.....

Only ACT to go now

Somewhere near Tennant Creek

The wet season