Saturday 16 March 2024

Summer in Australia

Hi everyone,

We just completed a marvellous month at home in Western Australia.  We flew on Qantas direct from London Heathrow to Perth.  It was wonderful to be home.  We spent much of our time in Fremantle, only a short walk from Fremantle Sailing Club.

Fremantle Sailing Club

The direct flight is great.  Our approach into Perth took us down the coast towards Rockingham before turning east then north to land.  Great views of Rottnest and Carnac Islands.

Inbound to Perth over Rottnest Island

About a week after arriving we gave a Topics Night talk at FSC.  This was the third so far in our series describing the progress of our circumnavigation.  These talks are recorded and uploaded to YouTube here.

Talk at Fremantle Sailing Club

We had several dinners with friends at FSC.  Also BBQs with live-aboard cruisers on Tuesday nights and  sausage sizzles with twilight sailors on Wednesday nights.  Such a great club.

Nicki at FSC

FSC Twilight Fleet

We rediscovered Fremantle during our stay.  Various changes but still the same great vibe.

Just another meal in Fremantle

Fremantle Market

Sail and Anchor pub in Fremantle

While back in WA we both had medical checks.  Visits to doctors, blood tests, skin inspections etc.  This followed on from dental checks in Portugal and new glasses in the UK.  All in preparation for several more years away blue-water cruising.

The public transport system in Perth is very good and getting even better.  We used both train and bus services to get around.

Perth Train

We spent a day in Perth visiting the Apple Store and looking around the new (to us) riverfront development Elizabeth Quay.

Elizabeth Quay, Perth

Elizabeth Quay, Perth

We also visited the Sculpture by the Sea in Cottesloe on two separate occasions.  Lots of interesting sculptures in a spectacular location.

Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe

Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe

Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe

During one of our first visits to FSC I mentioned the difficulty in buying Australian Red Ensigns overseas.  Sailor Isabel is a dressmaker and immediately volunteered to make us two ensigns.  I think she under-estimated the complexity of the task - particularly the Union Jack - but she delivered.  It will be wonderful to fly these hand-made ensigns in future.

New Handmade Ensigns - thank Ladies!

All good things come to an end.  Thanks to everyone who made us so welcome back in Perth.

Boarding QF9 PER-LHR

We're now back in the UK for a few days.  We're collecting an array of new gear for our upcoming mini refit of Zen Again.  We had to buy various 240Vac gear in Europe since they're almost impossible to get in the US.  And over the last two weeks we've been ordering gear in the US for delivery to friends there or to the boatyard where Zen Again patiently awaits us.


Sunday 11 February 2024

Winter in the UK

Hi everyone,

With our big EU adventure behind us we headed back to the UK for Christmas and the New Year with family.  We spent time in Kent and had a nice Christmas with Nicki's parents in Norfolk.

Walking in Cornwall

Nicki prepares Christmas Dinner..

... and The Cake

Chilly mid-winter, mid-afternoon walk

From Norfolk we coached and trained south to Plymouth.  We spent a week there exploring the city.

Mayflower model in Plymouth Maritime Museum

Trying out local ciders

Lovely nautical-themed Gypsy Moth pub

Plymouth Gin Distillery

Just another couple of Sea Furies

From Plymouth we trained west to Falmouth.  We've visited Falmouth several times over the years, including making landfall there on our voyage from Australia.  It's a lovely town.


Accommodation

One weekend we walked the 4+ miles from Falmouth to the Pandora Inn.  One of my n-times great uncles is reputed to have been a Lieutenant on HMS Pandora.  The ship was sent to find and return to England the HMS Bounty mutineers.  The ship was lost on the Great Barrier Reef but a group of mutineers were returned to the UK.  The pub has a lot of memorabilia and a model of the Pandora.  

The Pandora Inn

HMS Pandora model

View of the Pandora Inn

We tried many pubs in and around Falmouth.  Our favourite was The Chain Locker where we had our first pint on arrival in the UK from Australia.  Lots of nautical memorabilia including a poster marking the visit of the Fremantle-built HMS Endeavour replica.

We took ferries across to Flushing and to St Mawes, going for long walks as well as exploring the towns.



Flushing Ferry

One of many nice cloudscapes

St Mawes

St Just in Roselands church

One day we trained further west to Penzance then bussed to Land's End.  Spectacular place.  Had lunch at the Last Inn in England pub.  I last visited the pub while working in the UK in the 1980s.

Penzance

A view from Penzance

Land's End

Breezy & Chilly

Last Pub

We spent a day at Hanry VIII's Pendenis Castle.  It was in use all the way up to WW2.  A battery of naval guns were used in action during WW2, consuming half their ammunition driving off a group of E-boats.

Dry moat "killing ground"

One of the battery of WW2 6" naval guns

Cannons in the grounds

Cannons in the castle

View from the castle

We had a great time in Plymouth and Falmouth.

Heading East

It was time to get on a jet plane and head down-under.  Felt like we were home as soon as we entered the Qantas Club.  It was a long flight.  The view of Rotto on arrival was spectacular.

Qantas Club at Heathrow

Climbing out of the UK

Descending into WA

Great to be home!  Looking forward to speaking at next week's FSC Cruising Group's Topics Night.