The Australian Crawl

I had a wonderful belated 60th birthday celebration while Megan and I were back in Australia. I really appreciated catching up with old friends, and it made both of us realise just how many loyal and caring friends we had. Since then, we've been swanning around Australia, catching up with these friends. Craig and Lesley are a couple we first met in Turkey, when we were still new to our boat. They were very helpful in getting us up to speed, and have stayed good friends ever since. After several years in the Med, they have recently shipped their Bavaria 'Shirley Valentine' back to Australia, and have bought a water side home in Hope Island, Gold Coast. That's their own dock below! We were privileged to be taken for a jaunt in Shirley up the unspoilt Broadwater on the God Coast.

Shirley Valentine, tied up to Craig and Leslie's own dock.

Leslie and Megan, catching up on cockpit time

Craig still thinks you have to rub the kettle for the genie to come out.

Shirley Valentine, sailing on the Broadwater

Some of the anchorages on the Broadwater

Chris and Kim are also great friends. Chris and I were old teaching comrades at Casino High School. Chris left his position and went to teach in a private and exclusive school outside Istanbul, Turkey. We visited them when Pavlov was in Turkey, and they came and spent some time sailing around the Bay of Twelve Islands. Two years later, they visited us again in Greece, and we spent a wonderful two weeks sailing around the Ionian island with them. They were kind enough to host us at their home outside Casino.

Chris and Kim on their porch 

Their lovely property outside Casino, Northern NSW

Chris and Kim love adventuring off-road in deep Australia, and we had the good fortune to be taken into some wonderful off-road country high up in catchment area of the Clarence River.

Kim scanning the Upper Clarence

There's gold in them there creeks! 

Campsite on the river bank

Information board outside Tooloom Falls

Toolroom Falls

Wonderful camping spots in a pristine riverine environment

That off-road look ... 

A remote and unspoilt paradise

We also spent time with Julia and Tony, sharing some wonderful musical evenings and re-living some of the high points of Australian rock and roll. Geoff and Jenny, another teaching couple, took us out for a memorable breakfast in Lennox Head.

Geoff, Megan and Jenny in Lennox Head.

Realising that we have all these special friends back in Australia has made the thought of returning quite palatable. We felt quite adrift when we first started thinking about how we'd swallow the anchor and return to Australia. Megan and I looked around Gosford and similar areas so that we could be closer to Megan's children. But we both felt alienated and 'detached' from these environments. We actually felt very connected with friends and family in Ballina, so that will be the site of our eventual return. We are even contemplating building a house on a block of land we found at Angel's Beach. But for now, we are leaving Australia again, and we're both excited by the thought of getting back to Italy and Pavlov. Next stop is Hong Kong.

Oh, why the Australian Crawl? We've been 'free styling' with our friends in Australia, reminiscent of the travelling ‘pub crawls’ of Australian legend. It was an Australian, Richmond Cavill, that developed the fastest free-style of swimming, which came to be known as the Australian Crawl. I do so hate it when I feel impelled to explain my own obtuseness!!