A long sandy beach where holiday ‘shacks’ lined the shoreline, the perfect spot for a night’s stay. The silence was complete.   Interesting Read https://www.otago.ac.nz/geology/research/index.html

How is the colour of the water!

http://www.gratisaustralis.com/a-new-microwave-installed/

Today found Bob working on the anchor winch battery. Connected to the house batteries which are situated level with the entrance to the boat, with the anchor winch battery positioned in the forward cabin, it is quite a cable run to connect the two. As a result, there is a lack of charge to the […]

Some more reads. Click on the links below (they are grey, but still work).   Departure delayed has been updated with greater detail http://www.gratisaustralis.com/departure-delayed-2/   The removal of the gearbox wasn’t that simple a task. http://www.gratisaustralis.com/removal-of-the-gear-box/

Whilst the gear box is in being repaired, Bob is replacing parts on the water filter.

The gearbox went in for repair this morning.  

Life is never boring on board……. Click the links below to have a read. http://www.gratisaustralis.com/new-toilets-up-and-running/ http://www.gratisaustralis.com/rigging-checked-and-phone-calls-galore/ http://www.gratisaustralis.com/a-new-washing-machine/

The remainder of yesterday found Bob working on the removal of the gearbox, a process not as easy as one would imagine. Not familiar with the system and how it was interconnected, this was a slow steady process, as one misstep could cause a flood of seawater surging onboard, or a critical part severely damaged. […]

No – one knew the old microwave was turned on, so when Bob and Pete were going through the systems and turned on the power that activated the microwave, on it went. It was pure luck that Pete was passing it by and noticed said piece was in action. By that time, there was only […]

Hand pump toilets are not our favourite, so Bob had been searching for a couple of reasonably priced macerator versions. Just a finger press required, when used the number two and toilet roll becomes slush and doesn’t over time become a rock hardened mass that is nigh impossible to remove from the holding tank. A […]

Operating on the American system, the washing machine was 110vt and 60 cycles, which is an American standard that is incompatible with pretty much everywhere else in the world. That being the case, the decision was made to purchase a 240vt at some stage. Well, that turned out to be sooner rather than later…… Out […]

For those not yet in the know, here is a clue to our current holiday venue.

The rapidity with which the Australian countryside recovers from drought is amazing to see.The dusty dirt bowl we travelled through on our last trip has received some good rains and is already greening.

We’re on the road again. Where do we go? Keep on watching And you will see.

Bob and I both hope you had a most enjoyable Christmas and New Year period. Our thoughts also go out to all those Australians who are currently experiencing the terrifying fires throughout our land. Bob and I travelled through the mountainous New England region early last November and have never seen the like. Where two […]

40 degrees only 60km away, it’s a pleasant 15 degrees cooler here. Looking out at smoke hazed Kangaroo Island. There was also a lovely sail in 20knots

We wish you all a merry Christmas and hope the season treats you well.

We hope you enjoy the read.     http://www.gratisaustralis.com/ieper-and-the-yeper-museum-ypres-belgium/

A midmorning start, this was our last day on the Roubaix – L’Espierres – Spierekanaal. It almost defied belief, but the landscape became increasingly more beautiful: strongly reminiscent of the Midi with its towering avenues of trees that lined the canal sides. Two more sets of moorings at kilometres five and eight were right in […]