We enjoyed our stay at the Tamar Yacht Club, sleeping in and eating out. I thought I might get a bit of exercise and ride my folding bike (that we’ve been lugging across Bass Strait and back) to the shops to get some cheese to go with the champagne we’d planned to have in the evening.
Great idea, but sadly the small grocery store in the little town of Beauty Point has shut, along with the newsagent. Things seem pretty tough in these country towns these days.
The champagne was intended as a deferred birthday celebration, but we also used it to toast the arrival in France of the 3rd place Golden Globe Race finisher, Uku Randmaa. We’ve been following this solo non-stop round the world yacht race since last year and were glad we had an internet connection on Sunday night to watch him arrive at the finish line. We greeted all the entrants as they sailed into Hobart for the half-way gate and are excited to see the remaining sailors finishing their long journey.
Part of our plan in stopping here was to be able to go to our friends’, John & Majnun, anniversary lunch at Joseph Chromy Vineyard restaurant. We had it all planned that we would take the local bus into Launceston, about an hour ride, and then taxi to the restaurant another 10k away. But Sunday night at dinner in a café, the waitress mentioned that Monday was a public holiday (Labour Day – not something we retirees remember!). A quick check of the bus website showed that there would be no busses running, so a round of phone calls and we managed to book a taxi for the whole trip – yikes! We’re so glad we made the effort, because it was a wonderful afternoon, catching up with old friends and enjoying a magnificent meal. And a bonus was a lift back with Trevor and Brita – Thanks!
This morning we got ready for an early departure tomorrow – we did laundry, topped up with diesel at the nearby Port Dalrymple Yacht Club’s floating fuel dock and motored all of 3nm to the public pontoon at George Town. It’s closer to the mouth of the Tamar and quicker to get off in the morning, but it is busy with a constant stream of locals who use it as a fishing platform. We went for a quick walk around town, shared a pastie for lunch and then did some serious relaxing all afternoon while the wind whistled in the rigging.
Leaving the Tamar Yacht Club
George Town
The wind is supposed to die out overnight and we’ll be off early to head towards Banks Strait and the east coast.
