#75 NOW November 13, 2005, 0615—UTC +10 hours (Queensland, Australia Time) East Coast Marina, Manly Harbor, Brisbane, Australia Temperature 74.3 Greetings! Each spring the flowering Jacaranda trees provide a bright blue canopy over the parks and streets of Brisbane. The renewal of spring is now giving way to long hot days of summer and the blossoms are gently floating to the earth. It’s time for me to head South. I have been very impressed with Brisbane (population 1,653,000). This is a very modern city, with its skyscrapers, busy streets, chic restaurants, and peaceful parks. There is a wide river that lazily meanders through it, providing scenic river walkways with places to relax and watch the children at play. From my boat in suburban Manly, it is a 10-minute walk and a 30-minute train ride to Queens Street Mall in the heart of Brisbane. This pedestrian only street, packed with modern stores and shops of every kind would make any women’s heart beat just a little faster and her purse a little lighter. Last week I went into the city and checked in with customs to obtain my cruising permit. This will allow me to cruise the entire East coast of Australia and Tasmania. My present plans are to leave towards the end of this week down through the maze of islands at the South end of Morton Bay. This delta area, made up by the confluence of three rivers, should provide a wonderful cruising area. Eventually, I will exit this inland waterway via the Gold Coast seaway and proceed on down the coast. Friday, I had the boat pulled and the cooling system drained and flushed. I installed new zincs, and then spent most of the day cleaning the barnacles off the props and other underwater appendages. It is amazing how tenaciously they cling and how much they can destroy the boats performance. But, eventually they gave way to my scrapper, wire brush, and sandpaper. I then coated both props with Lanocote. This is a lanolin/grease mixture that should help retard growth. It was a messy job that had to be done. I think I am gradually adapting to the Australian way of life. I now walk on the left side of the sidewalk, and I go up the left escalator and down the right one. This left and right thing becomes much more critical when you are driving or stepping off a curb looking the wrong way. I am even getting into the lingo and say “G-Die” when I pass someone. I haven’t quit gotten around to calling everyone “mate.” Somehow referring to a big burly Aussie as “Mate,” just does not seem right. Maybe that will come in time. This week I will be finishing little things around the boat and perhaps take another day in the city to explore some of the older historical sites. Then it will be time to stock up with some fresh fruit and veggies, fill the water tanks, and get under way. I pickled the water-maker before I left for the US, and plan to keep it that way until I leave Australia. The water here is very good. So, life goes on at a much leisurely pace and I look forward to slowly making my way down to Sydney by Christmas. Life is a Cruise, Larry -- Larry Rick Done Dreamin' Nordhavn 40 #33 Site: http://gricknet.homedns.org/Dads%20Web/doneDreamnHome.htm

On Nov 13, 2005, at 6:13 AM, by way of Georgs Kolesnikovs wrote: > I think I am gradually adapting to the Australian > way of life. I now walk on the left side of the > sidewalk, and I go up the left escalator and down > the right one. This left and right thing becomes > much more critical when you are driving or > stepping off a curb looking the wrong way. I am > even getting into the lingo and say “G-Die” when > I pass someone. I haven’t quit gotten around to > calling everyone “mate.” Somehow referring to a > big burly Aussie as “Mate,” just does not seem > right. Maybe that will come in time. The big question for Larry is, "have you gotten used to drinking instant coffee?" (My wife just spent a week in Melbourne and it was three days there before she found a place where she could buy a "cuppa" made from ground coffee beans instead of what she described as bad tasting instant. Of course she didn't know what a Cuppa was, at first, and it took a while to learn about a "long black" and a "flat white", too. Oh the hazards of travel! -- Speak softly, study Aikido, & you won't need to carry a big stick! See my photos @ <http://homepage.mac.com/dflory>