Aussie Hospitality

It has been a trying week. First, my radar breaking loose from the mast on the way into Scarborough. Then getting hammered in Morton Bay by the thunderstorm. Discovering that almost all my dinghy fuel had sloshed out during the storm. Getting some dinghy fuel and a crew member from the VMR in Scarborough. Heading down to Brisbane only to have the steering fail. Going all the way up the Brisbane River to the Botanical Gardens and finding no place to anchor. Heading back down the river until we found an anchorage about 1 1/2 miles from the dinghy dock. Ryan getting sick and having to drop him off so back to solo sailing. Then finding out that the nearest place to purchase fuel on the water was 3 1/2 miles away. And realizing that I might not have enough fuel in the dinghy to make it.

Enter the Aussies. First, the nearby marina agreed to receive my repair parts. (Remember that with XO on board I can't go into a marina.) No worries!

As I was standing on deck this morning I noticed a beautiful boathouse across the way - the Graham Fowles. It belongs to the Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie.) I dropped them a note explaining my problem and asking if I could land on their dock. Within 1/2 hour I got a call from their rowing director. He waved to me (it is really that close) and asked if it was a good time for me to come over. I said yes and by the time I had crossed the river, dodging two catamaran ferries in the process, he had fuel waiting for me on the dock. He asked if I needed further assistance with the steering etc. And we agreed to meet tomorrow.

I returned to Reboot much heartened. Of course I had to dodge two catamaran ferries on the way back. They are very strange. Several of the boats will go whipping by me while their helmsman avoids eye contact. A couple of them slow down, wave, and try to make it easy.

Nice to know that the boating community looks out for its own.

Fair winds and following seas :)