So finally after 3 months in Sydney and a really great visit with my sister and family it was time to head north. Thank you for having me and I had a blast.  I had been waiting for the Queensland border to open to avoid the mandatory 14 day quarantine requirement and finally the borders were scheduled to reopen July 10th.  Mike Cox from Brisbane flew down to join the crew(Noel and I had met Mike and Helen last year on our way down the coast whilst on their boat Nika) of myself and Dave my brother in law and finally D day came, Monday July 6th 0700 departure to Newcastle, motor sailed most of the way uneventfully arrived at 1600 hrs 59nm approx. 10 hr trip the anchorage was unbelievably calm.

It was an overnight stop only and left the next day to Port Stephens only 33 nms (6hr trip).  Again motor sailed uneventfully and picked up a primo mooring buoy outside D’Albora marina. The wind was all over the place and not particularly in our favour so we sat tight in Port Stephens for a few days and explored.

Dave and I walked a lot found a great view point look at Tomeree National Park and a long hike into the interior part of Fingal bay back to Port Stephens.

Along the way we found the tax men waiting for the
fishermen to pay their dues!!!  The pelican school of easy meal.

Whilst waiting for our weather window we noticed a low forming south and expected to cause some high wind damage and large swells, so we decided to head for Port Macquarie as it looked like Sydney/Newcastle area were going to be hit head on, so off we went with the wind in not so favourable direction but thought we would make a dash for it.  What an uncomfortable sail that was 15hrs of battling wind, current and motored constantly for 15hrs, put in at Laurieton for the night and decided to do the last 15nm to Port Macquarie the next day arriving Sunday July 12th on a high tide across the bar entrance which was nice and calm, yeah!  Knowing we are here for a week for the low to pass we have entertained ourselves well, trivia night at the local RSL, lots of great cooking by our star chef Mike on board, honestly I think we could charge people for the dining experience we have had with Mike onboard, and his many star qualities are naps!

We took a walk out to the seawall bar entrance today what a difference. We now have to wait out this low and big seas to abate until we can leave which will look like this Sunday all going well, so 3 more days to entertain ourselves, off to the koala park tomorrow, headland walk on Friday and lots of hots showers and laundry whilst in the marina here.