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Leg 14 - Australia (Part 2): (November 2006 - May 2008)
Resting in Bundaberg:
Much of 2007 was spent in Atlanta with the ever growing family. One of the difficulties of long distance
sailing is separation from loved ones for extended periods, and it was a real treat be at home for much of this
the year. Children and grandchildren have very full lives, and it amazing how many activities can be
compressed into any given day.
Much of 2007 was spent in Atlanta with the ever growing family. One of the difficulties of long distance
sailing is separation from loved ones for extended periods, and it was a real treat be at home for much of this
the year. Children and grandchildren have very full lives, and it amazing how many activities can be
compressed into any given day.
Tasmania:
I did make one trip back to Australia to check on DreamWeaver, do some maintenance, and catch a plane
for a brief trip to Tasmania. Somewhat like the south island of New Zealand, Tasmania is a special treasure
with a rich history and some wonderfully pristine areas. Much of the early history revolves around the
"transfer" program of the British who regularly sentenced criminals (some for so minor a crime as stealing a
loaf of bread ) to prisons on Tasmania. One such prison was Port Aurther, which today, because of its
setting, could be mistaken for an abandoned resort. On closer inspection though (the buildings, grounds
and history have been preserved as a national park), the incredible conditions of the convicts is shockingly
apparent.
I did make one trip back to Australia to check on DreamWeaver, do some maintenance, and catch a plane
for a brief trip to Tasmania. Somewhat like the south island of New Zealand, Tasmania is a special treasure
with a rich history and some wonderfully pristine areas. Much of the early history revolves around the
"transfer" program of the British who regularly sentenced criminals (some for so minor a crime as stealing a
loaf of bread ) to prisons on Tasmania. One such prison was Port Aurther, which today, because of its
setting, could be mistaken for an abandoned resort. On closer inspection though (the buildings, grounds
and history have been preserved as a national park), the incredible conditions of the convicts is shockingly
apparent.
There is much to see in Tasmania - the lovely town of Hobart with its 200 year old harbour, the beauty of the
Freycinet peninsula, the impressive central mountains, the quaint town of Queenstown in the SW (home of
many of the mineral miners and timber "piners" who pioneered this region, and the fertile north and northeast
regions.
Freycinet peninsula, the impressive central mountains, the quaint town of Queenstown in the SW (home of
many of the mineral miners and timber "piners" who pioneered this region, and the fertile north and northeast
regions.
2007 was strictly a maintenance year for DreamWeaver and she spent the entire year in storage at the
Bundaberg yard. On my trip there however, I did get to visit with some good sailing friends, Guy and Anika
on s/v Street Legal (newly arrived) and Chris and Jim on s/v Twelfth Night. We shared some of our
adventures over a bottle of wine and dreamed of upcoming adventures in our next ports of call.
Bundaberg yard. On my trip there however, I did get to visit with some good sailing friends, Guy and Anika
on s/v Street Legal (newly arrived) and Chris and Jim on s/v Twelfth Night. We shared some of our
adventures over a bottle of wine and dreamed of upcoming adventures in our next ports of call.
We re-floated DreamWeaver in May '08 and set off for the Coral Coast of Queensland, and our planned
rendevous with other boats for our trip through Indonesia. I sailed along to Cairns where I met Mark
Gearin, an old school chum and my crew for this year. Together we enjoyed our rather brief time along the
Queensland coast before heading through the Torres Strait enroute to Darwin.
rendevous with other boats for our trip through Indonesia. I sailed along to Cairns where I met Mark
Gearin, an old school chum and my crew for this year. Together we enjoyed our rather brief time along the
Queensland coast before heading through the Torres Strait enroute to Darwin.
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