End of the Road - BUT not for us!!!

The signpost at the End of the Road.  Bet you didn't know it was signposted!
We are here at the bottom of Tasmania .. at the marker of the end of roads in Australia. 
After this only water, Macquarie Island (if you find it/hit it) and Antarctica... it is remote and stunningly beautiful here.

We are in Recherche Bay at the bottom of Tasmania.  The vistas - everywhere you turn to look - are breathtaking.  Our anchorage is a protected bay within the larger bay called Coalbins and from the boat you can see the opposite shore or the expanse of water stretching out to the North. 

Right now the westerly winds are blowing.  At times they're much lighter than you would expect coming off the southern ocean and then in the next minute the wind gathers strength to whip up the water surface and leave the boat pulling left and then right against her mooring line.  We are waiting for those unpredictable and often fierce westerlies to settle down and for a change to more favourable wind speeds and direction.  Our plan is to move out into the Southern Ocean early in the morning and around the coast to a place called Port Davey/Bathurst Harbour.  Every time I think about it I get that tense, almost sick, feeling in the bottom of my stomach.  That feeling comes to me when I know we're sailing to a new place.  You would think after making it all the way down here I wouldn't get that "stage fright" feeling .. but I do, in spades.

Once we move around to explore Bathurst Harbour we will be out of contact with the world through phone or the internet.  The only contact will be via either limited VHF radio coverage or HF radio coverage.  The area is a true National Park treasure and, supposedly, one of the most beautiful places on our planet.  If you would like to find out more about the area, or see a YouTube video on the national park click here to go to a link .

As I say each time I sit down to blog ... "the past few days/weeks have been soooo busy" .. and since I blogged last it's been no exception.  We've been to some amazing places and seen some grand sights and now, to get in as much as I'd like to and not be too boring, I'm just going to post pictures below ....

This is the outside of a large "shed" in the bush which is the home of THE WALL.
The Wall, when finished, will be a collection of 100 sculpted panels of Huon pine with scenes representing the pioneer spirit of Tasmanians, the clash of cultures with Aboriginal people and the plants and animals that define the bush.
The art is simply amazing, in fact words don't/can't do it justice.  The artist is Greg Duncan and he's been working on this for over 10 years now.  What he can create out of wood is almost too real to be believed.  You can't take photos inside the building but to get a taste of what it looks like and more information click here to go to the website

On the way to The Wall we stopped to have a look at one of the hydro electric plants on the way.  These plants are built differently to hydro plants I had seen previously.  Instead of a major dam driving the turbines this plant - and many more like it - have water coming from canals, rivers, etc in the bush.  The water cascades down steep slopes .. as you can see from the photo .. and hit the turbines at great speed.  Fantastic sight!!

The day before we left Hobart we had to completely restock the boat.  What you can see here is probably 2/3rds alcohol - one can't run out of wine or beer now can one - but there are more food bags behind.  I promise.  Thank goodness we still have our car or we would have needed 10 trips back and forth to the stores!!  All stocked we took off yesterday morning for the southern ocean.

Leaving the Derwent River - Hobart - in the early morning we passed a cruise ship on the way in to Hobart city.

The cliffs on the Storm Bay side of Bruny Island.  They are huge.  You can just see a tour boat at the bottom to get an idea of how massive and high the cliffs are.  We were lucky .. the wind was very calm and we could get in relatively close to see the sights!



More fabulous and ancient rock formations on the way down to Rescherche Bay.  This island was so worn the fast tour boats could just go in behind it and peak out through the tunnels. 

The far beach in Rescherche Bay,

The mountains of the rugged South West coast.  That's where we headed .. to the bay nearest to these mountains.
It looks like Middle Earth doesn't it?

Here in Rescherche Bay they used to practice whaling.  There used to be a population of over 100,000 southern right whales here at one time.  Whaling brought that population down to almost extinction.  Now there are only a couple of 1,000 still coming here in their migration.  This sculpture is life size of a young whale calf.  So sad we drove these wonderful creatures to the edge of extinction. 

So tomorrow we're off into the southern ocean and around to Port Davey.  I won't be able to blog for a week .. maybe more ... but when we're back there will be lots and lots to share!

WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL

The spectacle of the Hobart Wooden Boat Festival.  Certainly the best boat show we've EVER been to! 

Every day since my last post has been busy ... up early with somewhere to go, someone to meet and someplace to see. 

As usual it's been great fun & rewarding on many levels.  But the bummer of all bummers has been our persistent head and chest cold which has slowed us both down a bit.  We've still kept going, probably the reason why we can't seem to shake the damn things. 

Lately at the end of particularly long day I say to George, "that's it, I'm taking tomorrow off and staying in bed!".   Then the next morning that wish appears to be THE most ridiculous thing.  "I can't miss that!", rings in my head as I roll out of the v-berth and we get ready to cough and sniff our way through another action packed day.  There's too much to do and nothing short of pneumonia can stop us!

The highlight has most undoubtedly been the Wooden Boat Festival held over 4 days this past weekend.  The literature for the festival describes it as an ... exciting celebration of our nation's rich maritime history and one of the world's most anticipated events.  I'll admit to not knowing exactly what to expect when we were planning our trip down here.  The thought of a hanging around a boat show every day for 4 days didn't particularly seem exciting and I just didn't understand how varied, beautiful and enticing wooden boats can be.  As we've been here hearing about the show and talking to our friends Bruce & Thelma - who own a beautiful and well loved wooden boat themselves - I started to get a better idea of the "specialness" of the show.  But, as they say, nothing can prepare you for the first time with the real thing!!!

In addition to the sights of the Festival I've had a chance to meet many people - some are women sailors who have circumnavigated the planet (I admire their courage and ability so much) - who've become internet friends through blog posts or through sailing specific Facebook groups.  We also met two famous world cruisers who have been sailing together around the world and around Australia for a total of more than 40 years.   Here as some photos of all the activity ....

The opening day of the Festival there was to be a sail past of participating boats and we took our boat out to see the parade from the water.  I thought they would all be waiting just outside of the entrance to the Derwent River and that the sail in would be rather staged.  It was nothing like that!  As we progressed down the river to where Storm Bay and the opening to The Channel meet the river there was nothing.  Then, after going a little further, there they were - the Fleet - on the horizon.  So many yachts coming with their colourful sails up and sailing proudly towards Hobart. 
Wow!  It was really something to see. 

Out in front of the grand parade were the tall ship replicas .. so impressive under full sail.

Then came the larger cruising type yachts all varnished and gleaming ...  
 moving, living monuments to the artistry of wooden boat building.

With just our head sail out we turned to mingle in with the fleet as they approached the show docks in Hobart.
This was the bit that made me nervous!  As all the yachts approached central Hobart and with helicopters overhead everyone sailed on display backwards and forwards across the bay to show off their boat.  This meant lots of in close sailing with the afternoon breezes getting up.  George handled the boat perfectly.  Me, I'm happier where there's lots more room around the boat.  I am not - in no way - a racing sailor.  Never will be.

Back at the docks in Hobart.  The Festival featured all sorts of wooden craft from tall ships, to shore traders, rowing boats and motor boats.  All were loving cared for and the owners welcomed visitors aboard to have a look inside their pride and joy.  There were dogs on boats and kids everywhere, buskers and performers, street theatre and demonstrations .. the saying "something for everyone" certainly applies here.

A view across the docks from the bow of our friend's Bruce and Thelma's beautiful wooden yacht - Tui of Opua.
 

Hobart has been a major surprise this trip.  The things to do and see since we've been here have been exceptional but, like I said earlier, I think the Wooden Boat Festival has been the highlight so far.  Not to be outdone the social life has also been in high gear as well.  It is surprising but the number of people you meet just shuffling up and down the docks through the crowd is amazing.  Great atmosphere and terrific sights .. this is an event to put on any bucket list.

At the start of this Tasmanian adventure I was introduced to two very supportive Facebook groups ... Tasmania Cruising, set up by Jack and Jude Binder the well known world cruising couple; and Women Who Sail Australia, a forum of women just like myself who are cruising around this continent on lakes, rivers or the ocean.  Each group provides a forum for posting achievements, thoughts, and questions relating to sailing ... and in my case in Tasmania.

I can unequivocally say that each forum provided us - me, in particular - with good information and support in taking on this sailing venture.  We followed up some of the people at the show and went on their boats.  I loved meeting the skipper of the magnificent yacht 'Kintail'.  He was so welcoming and shared his experiences of the area.  He's yet another new friend to meet up with on the water somewhere between here and our home port .. both boats live in Pittwater, NSW.   We also met Jack and Jude at the signing of their latest book at the Boat Books stand ... again great people, honestly welcoming and interested in how others see this cruising thing.

On Sunday some of the Women Who Sail Australia group who are down here for the show got together for a glass or two of bubbly and an afternoon lunch.   It was wonderful to be able to put faces to so many of the supportive comments over that site.  We had a blast.  Linda Flylink Anderson, who wrote about her experience circumnavigating the globe in her book 'Sailing in my Sarong, Around the World A 30-Year Dream' joined our lunch as did Jude.  For awhile Jack joined us and Linda's husband and my husband but they all left us for the time necessary to have a great female lunch session .. which is sooo good for the soul!!!

Ladies who sail, also Lunch!
The girls having fun.  From the left around the table .. Jude, me, Linda, Madelaine, Judy and Julie.
Excellent afternoon spent laughing and sharing.

There're many more things I can share and rave about ... like our wonderful dinner with Di, John, Nic and Peter and drinks with Bev and David.  But you get the picture .. all good with great people. 

Today George and I are doing what we tried to do during the show ... rest.  A lot of our RPAYC group are out exploring the fabulous cruising grounds of Tassie.  Bogart left this morning for Port Davey as did a number of the people we've met here in the marina.  Port Davey is our next destination but we're going to spend a bit of time getting well first. 

As usual... more later.  And to everyone reading this a very big THANK YOU!

THE WEATHER ... having fun in spite of it.

At our "picnic" with the Derwent Sailing Squadron on Sunday. 
The cold and the wet wasn't going to stop us hardy sailing types from drinking and eating!

This morning we woke to a calm marina bay, glassy water conditions, bright sun and flawless blue sky.  As I walked from our boat to the shower stalls people were standing out on their boats or on the walkways smiling and everyone commented on how wonderful the sunshine felt.  This beautiful morning seems like it's been a long - long - time coming ... and everyone, including me, is well and truly OVER the wind and the drizzle.

Normally I try to only accentuate the positive when writing this blog but I have to have just a little whinge first up about the weather.  The wind has been the predominate factor in this whole Tasmanian adventure but the grey skies have also contributed to the growing frustration factor.  There's been a very deep low off south-eastern Australia and it has meant wind and rain for a lot of the coast from northern New South Wales down to the southern tip of Tassie. 

Here we've had grey skies day after day but, for me, the westerly wind has been the killer.  George and I have been lucky with our anchorages and with our trip back to the marina last Monday but so many of our boating friends have been caught out in uncomfortable conditions.  Even here in the marina the wind is a part of everything you do .. or try to do.  It is annoying.  However, all the wonderful local people - on and off the water - say it will stop now.  February and March are the months when the wind starts to behave and the sky clears.  Summer will come.  Any day now.

Enough of that.  On to the fun bits!!!

Australia day celebrations in the little township of Nubeena!

Over a week ago we left Port Arthur for the little township of Nubeena.  We sailed back around the impressive cliffs of Cape Raoul - on a much calmer day - and up the western coast of the Tasman Peninsular.  The little community of Nubeena sits beside a sheltered inlet called Parsons Bay.  We liked it a lot and stayed there a week.  It was very comfortable in the south-westerly winds. 

As we pulled into the bay, being careful to avoid the large fish farms all along the passage, we heard from our friends on 'Bogart' ... they were on their way around from Norfolk Bay to join us.  Hooray!  And then, as they arrived we saw 'My Way 2' coming in as well.  Double Hooray!  Even if the weather kept being bleak we would at least have some good social time.  What we didn't expect was a full on Australia Day celebration the next day on shore.

Australia Day - for those elsewhere - is the official national day to celebrate being Australian.  Originally established to recognise the arrival of the first fleet ... Australia Day is meant to celebrate community and diversity in our nation of immigrants.  However, as a footnote, to date the day doesn't pay homage to the original owners of the land unfortunately.  But, me personally, I LOVE Australia Day and the way it brings communities together .. and usually out on the water.  Being in Nubeena for their day was such a surprise, privilege and so much fun!

Part of the celebrations in Nubeena was a cruise out of the bay on a replica tall ship.
There were also kids kayak races and a sailing regatta. 

During the day on land there was an excellent art fair by local artists in the civic center/high school.
And starting at 5pm they had a Taste of Tasmania in the sports ground with
food & wine vendors PLUS a terrific Aussie Band.

The day there and night in the sports ground was FANTASTIC.  The next day we all walked to the local pub which was a good piece away and a very welcome walk to stretch the legs.  'Bogart' left that evening to return to the marina in Hobart.  Unfortunately they had to cross Storm Bay in winds forecast to blow 15 to 20 knots but, just like most of the conditions we've been experiencing, instead they battled 40 knots plus of  hard driving cold winds.  'Southern Belle' and 'My Way 2' stayed behind to wait for a better forecast a couple of days later. 

We had all noticed a small restaurant on shore called Lucky Ducks.  Our lunch, on the last day in Nubeena, was excellent.  Good menu, food and a great wine list.  Happy.

So, the past week we've been back in the marina.  Most of the RPAYC boats and crew are here as well and we've been enjoying what I consider the absolute best part of cruising - socialising!  There's been drinks on board, meeting new people and dinners out.  The best of times ... so good to be with the larger group. 

Last Friday night we all went to the Moonah pub not far from the marina.  I suggested the venue - sight unseen - after looking around on line for someplace that could take our group of 18.  Unfortunately as we were driving up to the front of the pub we noticed there was also a large group of very serious looking bikers arriving as well!  Would this be Bikers vs Sailors?  No.  They went to the public bar and we went back to the very respectable looking dining room.  Fun was had by all .. the food was remarkably good.  And each group - although we only really met while ordering food - were very nice to each other.

And finally ... sorry about the length of this post but I've been so lazy about posting that there's so much to tell! .... Yesterday our group were treated to a BBQ on the beach by the members of the Derwent Sailing Squadron.  We were all looking forward to this.  The DSS people have been very generous with their time and with inviting members of our group to join in their activities.  They had promised free beer, oysters and salmon and a great day out months ago.  Unfortunately the day was bleak weather wise.  Rain, drizzle, wind, cold ... you name it we just about had it all.  In spite of the prevailing wet stuff the BBQ went ahead.   I had a great time, although at one time I thought it was the coldest I had ever been - in my life.  George woke up with a cold and a bad cough so I went in the car with Peter & Debbie.  We decided not to brave the conditions in the boat.  I'm so glad I went - and that the event happened.  As usual the people were good to meet and, again, apologised for the weather and promised February and March would be much much better.

The fantastic beach and bay where we had the BBQ. 

This coming weekend the wooden boat festival starts in Hobart.  The festival has become one of the major attractions for Tassie and we're all looking forward to it.

And a final note on the weather.  George and I are having a wonderful time.  At the end of it all the weather doesn't matter.  It's the people, the joy of sharing good times - and bad.  And it's the place.  Tasmania is just beautiful.  Nothing has disappointed. 

Lucky lunch, Seasick journey, Dramatic cliffs and Convict history

Enjoying a traditional Devonshire Tea on the veranda of the Visiting Magistrates House in Port Arthur. 

The wild westerly weather of last week finally loosened its grip on Sunday across south-eastern Tasmania.  The forecast for diminishing wind strength and a welcome return to sunshine came - finally - after pretty much 5 days in a row of stormy conditions.  We decided to take the car back to our home marina in Hobart from our handy Port Huon base and after discussions with Bruce, plus an hour or so on the computer, we knew how and where to catch buses to get back to the boat.  There would be much walking between buses but we planned our times well so there shouldn't be any rushing around.

We arrived at the marina with a few minutes to spare which gave us about 15 minutes to say hello to two of the RPAYC club boats that had arrived over the past couple of days.  As usual it was a genuine delight to catch up with boating friends and listen to their stories of crossing Bass Strait.  It's these shared experiences that act like glue gradually binding long lasting friendships.  Plus it's good to laugh about the challenges of sailing - we've all been through shit times, and magic times, at one point or another!  

It turns out the 'Mixed Nuts' crew were planning a drive down to Huonville that morning anyway so they offered to give us a lift.  Then when the 'My Way 2' crew joined morning tea we decided to make the trip together and catch lunch on the way.  Lunch ended up at the Kermandie Pub next to our little Port Huon Marina.  Afterwards the people at the Pub gave us all a tour of their B & B facilities - which were terrific and perfect for visiting family members - and then everyone came down to check out the marina.  Turns out they all liked the area so much we just may try to work out a group rendezvous there while we're all in Tassie.

The Kermandie Pub lunch crew.  That's the little Port Huon marina behind everyone.

Monday morning 'Southern Belle' departed the marina on the high tide.  Our first destination would be the facilities at Kettering to get some fuel - our first fill up since we departed Pittwater (that seems so long ago right now).  At Kettering, while waiting for the bowser, I met Eva one of the wonderful women in the facebook group 'Women Who Sail Australia'!  As we motored slowly up and down the channel we waved and called out to each other.  I wish we could have spent more time there and met each other face to face.  The WWSA group are such a friendly, knowledgeable and supporting collection of women from all over Australia and other countries who are out sailing around now or have sailing in their blood.  I'm hoping to catch up with Eva and some of the others in the group while we're down here.

From Kettering we planned to travel the 35 or so nautical miles to Port Arthur at the bottom of the Tasman Peninsular meaning we had to cross Storm Bay - another infamous body of water down here.  The Bay was pretty calm but, due to the preceding days of strong westerlies, there was a fair amount of rolling wave action .. which I wasn't prepared for!  Living on the boat while down the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, in Port Cygnet and Port Huon - with no waves at all - had not prepared me for the movement of the ocean again.  I became nauseous pretty quickly which increased to that horrible feeling of impending violent "pukesville" and stayed at that extreme level for the whole of the crossing.  I. HATE. THAT. FEELING.  If I had thought about it I could have started some medication the previous evening but I didn't consider needing it.  So I endured the sickness all the way around the cliffs of Cape Raoul which I had wanted to see so badly.  I did manage to sit up long enough to take some OK photos of the dramatic cliffs.

The dolomite cliffs as you approach Cape Raoul.

The "organ pipe" pillars of the Cape.  You can see the size of the rolling waves as we approached.  Pukesville!

Rounding the Cape ... what a sight!

And here we are in the beautiful and solitary Port Arthur .. as I write this we've been here 4 days.  The next day after our Storm Bay crossing I was really knocked out.  After being that seasick I think it takes a day for the body to get over it.  George and I just stayed on the boat reading, doing chores and napping.  Then yesterday and today we spent walking over the penal site of Port Arthur.  As we learned ...

"The Port Arthur penal station was established in 1830 as a timber-getting camp, using convict labour to produce sawn logs for government projects.  From 1833 Port Arthur was used as a punishment station for repeat offenders from all the Australian colonies."

While beautiful and quiet today, this place was one of punishment and cruelty for so many men.  Many of those sent here were barely teenagers originally convicted of something as minor as stealing a hanky.  Then transported to Australia where they re-offended in some way thus ending up in Port Arthur.  In contrast to the virtual slave labour and mistreatment of the convicts, the overseers and military hierarchy enjoy a normal - even great for some - life on this site.   As George and I sailed past the cliffs of Cape Raoul and into Port Arthur we reflected on how those convicted men would have thought they were entering Hell itself .. many never to return.

The familiar view of the penitentiary building ruin from the water.
We were anchored just around the corner from this view. 

The view from the hospital ruins on the hill of the main area.

Tomorrow we head back north a bit to the town of Nubeena.

A busy week at Port Huon

The small and very sheltered marina at Port Huon as seen from the Kermandie Pub up on the hill.
It is hard to make out 'Southern Belle' in the photo .. she's on the left just opposite the incoming channel. 

It's Saturday afternoon here in the little marina at Port Huon, George is fast asleep enjoying his afternoon nap and I'm trying to blog while listening to the most recent wave of howling wind and driving rain outside the boat.  

The weather has been like this since yesterday afternoon.  You can see each wave coming.  First - for about 10-12 minutes - there's sun .. bright shining sun in a flawless blue sky with white fluffy clouds.  Then, coming in from the west, the grey starts to build along with the wind and soon it consumes everything in its path and we're hit with 30+ knots of wind and driving rain.  We get slapped with 10-12 minutes of that and then it's gone again. 

Last night it felt so good for the boat to be tied securely here in our little berth, to be warm and snuggle up together in our cabin safe from the wind and rain.  But as the night progressed and we were woken several times by gusts pushing 'Southern Belle' up hard against the side of the berth and even tipping us over a bit .. I admit I wished for it to end.  It hasn't.  The wild westerlies have continued all day today and the forecast isn't for any change until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest.  Our friends on 'Bogart' are out in this at anchor and they've been on our minds all night & today.  We've been in touch and they're fine .. I'd like it a lot if they were here with us right now.

In spite of the last 24 hours of changeable weather, this past week in Port Huon has been choc full of friendship, events and adventures.  In fact we've been so busy I haven't had time to blog or do much in the way of catching up.  There have been so many highlights  and we've enjoyed every minute being based down on the river.  I want to show you as much as possible so I'll do it in pictures .....

Monday we joined our good friends Bruce and Thelma - the couple sitting opposite me in this photo - for the weekly dinner at the Wooden Boat Shed/Living Boat Trust in the little town of Franklin.   Earlier that day Bruce drove us in to Hobart to pick up our car for the week.  The weather wasn't looking the best for sailing so we decided to base ourselves here to see more of the area.   

The dinner is held by the members of the trust and it gives an open welcome to visitors.  The beauty of the event is everyone pitches in to get the dinner on the table - visitors and members alike.  Everyone shares in the chores from erecting the tent, to finding (their shed is more a workshop than a clubhouse) and setting up the tables and chairs to helping in the kitchen ...everything done by whoever volunteers. 

George and I had a good time.  The food was good, the people were a great mixture of cruisers, wooden boat enthusiasts and characters. The atmosphere was excellent.  Many thanks to Bruce and Thelma for taking us!! 

These are some of the beautiful hand made rowing boats - with a long history in this area - they lovingly construct in their workshop.  The dinner that evening had to wait until they could get a coat of varnish on one which will be a feature of the Wooden Boat Show coming up this February in Hobart.

On Tuesday we drove to Hastings Cave - about 50 or so kilometres from Port Huon.  This is the parking lot where you join up with a forest path leading to the cave entrance.  The trees were HUGE!

You can see how big some of them were - mind you not that many were this big
because the area had been logged quite a bit.  It was cold ... and we were warned that inside the cave the temp was 9C or lower so I've got about 3 layers of clothes on!

A shot of the roof of one of the chambers in the cave.  Unfortunately my camera and flash is too pokey to show how spectacular the different caverns actually were. 

On Thursday we boarded the ferry for the half hour ride over to Bruny Island with a lot of other holiday makers. 

We didn't really give ourselves enough time to see Bruny ... we thought since we had done some of it on the boat that would be enough but, like so much of Tasmania, there is so much more to experience.  This photo was taken at the top of the lookout at the Bruny Island "Neck" .. which is the narrow spit of land between N & S Bruny.  The lookout is pretty amazing.  You climb nearly 300 steps to the top and look out over the ocean and The Channel.  The wind was blowing hard up there!  I didn't have my hair up for this photo .. the wind was whipping it up that way!!  That night we drove back to the marina and had dinner with Bruce and Thelma on their boat .. A good day and night. 

And yesterday we drove into the town of Geeveston to try the famous little Sushi restaurant there that  Bruce and Thelma told us about.  The chef is very popular and is asked to prepare sushi for visiting dignitaries in Canberra at times.  He's only open for lunch on Friday and Saturday.  We arrived just after noon and he was just about sold out .. closed before 1.  When we got there the line was out the door waiting for his sushi.  And I have to say it was the best I've ever had .. and George, who usually won't eat sushi even liked it.  Supposedly, we heard from a person in line, the BBC are even preparing to do a documentary on him! 

That's our week.  Tomorrow we're going to take the car back to the Hobart marina, ride the bus back down here and hopefully go sailing on Monday when the weather breaks.  I'm ready to get moving again but certainly don't want to move out of here until the westerlies settle down.  We've heard that a few more of the RPAYC boats have arrived so it will be good to catch up with them somewhere.

And on a final note .. the rainbow over the river yesterday at the end of one of the rain waves.  Beautiful.

I Love a Festival!!!

Street performers in Cygnet ... rousing drums and great dancers.  Everyone driven to move with the beat!!

All the sounds, scenes and atmosphere at the Cygnet Folk Festival meant I had one big smile on my face for the whole day we were in town.  All the ticketed performances were sold out way before we were even aware the Festival existed, but that didn't matter ... the performers on the street more than made up for anything in the halls we may have missed!

'Southern Belle' made the trip around to the Port of Cygnet with ease.  George and I just pointed her in the right direction, turned on the autopilot and motor sailed for the couple of hours needed to move from our overnight mooring in Great Bay.  The day was another exceptional one - Tasmania in all its natural splendour again - with light winds and plenty of sun.   As we travelled across another large expanse of perfect water and beautiful scenery George and I commented on the absolute lack of other people or boats .. as far as the eye could see there were only 2 other boats.  If this was Pittwater (our home port) on a Friday in early January there would be power boats, sail boats, ski boats, jetskis and all other manner of marine craft.  But here ... nothing.  Just wide open spaces.  Another reason to love, love, love Tasmania!

We arrived at the Port in the early afternoon and motored around the already moored/anchored boats to find a space to drop our anchor.  The "Port" of Cygnet was, at one time, a major shipping bay for the produce of this area.  Today it is just the end of the bay ... a place to drop anchor or pick up a mooring and then go ashore at the little Port Cygnet Sailing Club, leave the dingy and make the 2km walk into town. 

As we were lining ourselves up to anchor we drove around the back of a lovely yacht sporting an American flag ... we wondered who they were and if they had sailed it all the way here from the USA.   It wasn't long until we met them.  While doing the odds and ends required to straighten up from our day's leisurely cruise I heard a shout and a dingy approaching.  It was the couple off the American boat coming to invite us for "Sundowner Drinks" at 5!!! 

I've said it before, this is the part I like about cruising the most!  Meeting new and interesting people.  It turned out they were on the lookout for us .. Peter & Sue on Celay had met and socialised with them in Eden while waiting to cross Bass Strait and they are also well known to our good friends Bruce and Thelma!!  This cruising world is a very small and connected.  That night we joined them on their boat along with another cruising couple we had met in Airlie Beach in 2013 ... another night of laughs, stories and good times.   Everyone was here for the Folk Festival.

Early the next morning we got ourselves together, climbed into the dingy and made our way to the Sailing Club for the walk into town.  The day was great .. and the big event for the afternoon would be back at the Sailing Club for 2 hours of singing and a sing-a-long of Sea Shanty songs.  Here's some photos of the day .....

Main street of Cygnet for the Festival.

Free music in the park with a different performer every 30 minutes.  The best thing about sitting in the park - other than the music - was people watching!  There were all kinds of people from everywhere - young, old, bikers, hipsters, hippies - complete entertainment.

One of the street bands .. these guys were great!

We just happened to be walking past the town hall where we could hear fantastic drumming going on inside .. then, all of a sudden, the performers burst through the doors banging away with their whole audience streaming out behind .. all dancing!!!  You just had to follow them on to the main street!  They had everyone dancing.

Just some of the performers leading the crowd at the Sailing Club in the sing-a-long of Sea Shanties.
 Perfect end to a perfect day.

After saying goodbye to the people we had met the previous night and during the day we made it back to the boat and pretty much collapsed.  It was a big enjoyable day at the Cygnet Folk Festival .. just one more thing that should be everyone's itinerary when visiting down here!!

The next morning we pulled up the anchor and moved further up the Huon River.  We had a great sail for the 3 or so hours it took to get to the last anchorage available to our boat.  The rest of the river, while still wide, can be shallow so we'll stop here.  Our friends from Lake Macquarie - Bruce and Thelma - live in the little Port Huon Marina on their boat.  We anchored off last night due to the tide and George went to get them in the dingy for drinks and dinner aboard Southern Belle.  Tonight we're joining them for a dinner at the Wooden Boat Shed up the road in Franklin. 

More tomorrow!