relaxing on board

Some things make you so mad, one of them being writing up a blog and after all your effort losing it. Then I look at the up side and think of all the things I should have put in and start again.
So here goes with a bit more information that perhaps makes it a little more interesting than just sailing up and down the coast.
As we had planned on not returning from Rockingham until Wednesday we decided to stay on the boat for another couple of days and just relax here, catch up on some cleaning and just enjoy doing not much at all.
Tuesday was 38degs and not really conducive to doing a lot of chores, so we just relaxed and in the evening got into the dinghy to go around the corner and have a swim. Well, most people had the same idea and each cove was pretty well taken up and the waves were crashing onto the shore, so we decided not really a good idea to take the dinghy in as there is a lot of rock around this part.
We headed back into the marina and went for a bit of a nosy around and found Red Cloud in her pen and then as luck would have it, John McConnell was on his boat doing some cleaning. We hadn't seen him for quite some time, so stopped by to have a chat. He invited us on board, gave us a cold drink and we caught up on his news and swapped stories. Then it was back to M2 to pick up clothes and shower gear to go over and clean ourselves up. Frank decided it was to hot to cook anything on board so after our showers we went to "The Boat" and had a lovely meal of fish and chips and salad. After dinner we wandered back to the boat and decided it was a good idea to have a nice early night, so by 9.30 we were in bed and asleep.
I woke early and sat up on deck enjoying the peace of the new day, the water was like glass and not a drop of wind to disturb it.
I went for a walk and decided to have a coffee at the Waterfront. They were just opening, so it was lovely just sitting there sipping my coffee in the quiet and browsing through the paper. It's amazing after a week on board, the world seems to be far away and all the dramas and happenings haven't impacted on us one little bit. It would be the good side of not having tv on board, not listening to the news at all much and just being right away from it all.
As it was a lot cooler today I felt more like getting into the cleaning, so while Frank had a snooze, I started giving the head a clean up. We had planned on going  home tonight, but I have decided to stay on and do a lot more cleaning and tidying up. Frank is on sea rescue radio all night, so he will go home to do that and check everything is in order and my fish are still alive. It will be rather nice staying on board on my own and as someone said to me once, doing that and spending time on the boat on your own will make it feel more like your home. So it will be interesting to see if that is how it feels. I think I already feel quite at home here and would be happy to stay on indefinitely. It beats vacuuming, washing and ironing and scrubbing shower recesses at home.
Frank was sick of getting filthy feet from the teak deck, so for two weeks he worked on it sealing the teak with International Everdure two part epoxy wood sealer and, because Everdure does not contain UV protection, two finishing coats of Sikkens Cetol Marine oil varnish were applied. The only concern was whether the Cetol Marine would fully dry, but because it was done in the warm weather the oil seems to have evaporated off giving quite a nice looking finish. This process means that another coat will need to be applied at about 6 monthly intervals. This process was undertaken because of the extreme UV and heat in WA.
So now that is done we can clean up the cockpit cushions and not have them get so grubby from stepping onto them from the deck.
Of course this now shows up the gunnels and so another job is staring us in the face.
Gradually we are installing power points so that while we are in the pen or have the generator going while anchored we can use our electric appliances instead of relying on gas.

Rockingham

Back from a wonderful weekend at Rockingham with the cruising club. Beautiful weather for the whole time we were there, so enjoyed swimming, did a little fishing, walking on the beach, coffee with our friends and a wonderful meal organised at the club by Grant and Anne Pitman.
Our daughter, husband and son came with us and spent one day, then sadly we had to say goodbye to them as they had to return home.
We were going to stay on until Wednesday, but the weather bureau forecast high winds for Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday, so as we would be sailing back on our own we decided to leave on the Monday. Very nice of hubby to consider me and not want to scare the living daylights out of me. As most know, I am a wimp when it comes to sailing, don't like just the two of us, I always want someone else with experience to come along, then I can go and hide my head if it gets hairy. So on Monday morning we pulled up the anchor and set off. Most of the club were leaving on that day as well because of work commitments, so it would have been rather lonesome on our own.
There was absolutely no wind, so the iron sail roared away from Rockingham to Mindarie. Of course as we reached Mindarie the usual happened and up came the wind.
With me on the helm, Frank dropped the main and I motored into the marina with palpitations, knowing that I had to put this 12 ton boat into the pen. The first time in three years that I have done this, so very nervous.
I have to say, it was a copy book penning and hubby was extremely chuffed at how well I managed it. The palpitations settled down after a few minutes and I could breathe again knowing that she was in and secure.
Des, on Coconuts came in shortly after, so he joined us for a cuppa and then Gary and Rebekah who own an older Bavaria came up and had a look over M2.
Then it was off to the showers and wallow in the beautiful hot water, clean hair and feeling fresh again.
Cooked steaks for dinner with vegies and just relaxed after a glass of white to celebrate our achievement.