May 2000 Newcastle to Southport

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So we had a few days in Newcastle to sort a few things out and then get on  our way. Well a few days turned into a week. That's OK these things are normal. Then a southerly change came through and we thought it was prudent to wait until the front went through and go behind it. A low developed in the Tasman Sea and stalled and got deeper.

End result - we waited 10 days for the seas to abate to an acceptable level to go. It was a very cold wait. The fisherman weren't going anywhere either so there was no pressure for us to move off the Fish Co-op jetty. The upside was there was a 'mini-school' for the girls being run at Stockton for three days and we were able to go to this and meet some of the other distance education parents and children.

So here we are waiting at the Fish Co-op all day...And all night.

Liz taking Reflections out of the harbour with 25kts of westerly behind us...  and a huge coal ship coming up astern...

Anna tucking down into a warm comfortable position















We stopped over in Trial Bay (South West Rocks) for 2 nights.

Just over 24 hours sailing.

We had a nice day out visiting the Gaol.  
Leaving Trial Bay for a day sail to Coffs Harbour.

Early morning motoring and snacking in calm seas and pyjamas.











School work goes on..  Though uniforms are not strictly adhered to...

Passing Byron Bay lighthouse.  Note the automatic fishing system.

These dolphins were spraying us with their blowholes they were so close.
We arrived at Southport late in the evening after a 26 hour trip from Coffs Harbour.


We anchored in a bay just off Sea World.  What a bizarre place,  amphibious buses going past, helicopters and seaplanes buzzing overhead and the fake volcano at Sea World flaring up every 15 minutes.

That's all folks - now we're off to Movie World.