It’s a Tree (not Sea) Change

Back in February 2020, we began planning for our usual overseas adventure.  It always takes a few months to organise ourselves.  The Galley Slave had found some great fares for our flights to the US and consulted the Cap'n.  “I’d wait,” he said.  “Things don’t look good.”  So here we are at the close of 2021.  Still waiting.  Still not looking particularly promising…

That’s not to say, of course, that we’ve been idle.  The Cap’n turned his hand to maintenance of his “home fleet” and those many outstanding home repairs (long neglected) that go hand in hand with living in a timber shack in the land of termites.  The Galley Slave began a major photo re-organisation project.  It’s finally nearing completion in 2021.  (I know, I know, she’s leaning towards the OCD type.)  However, with a gentle slide into Autumn and cooler weather this year, it was time to take a (sanity) break and tame the garden.  She, meanwhile, hit the garden shed, her quilt room in the garden, before winter sent us both back inside to sit by a warm cosy fire.

View over the Hawkesbury River
(and the Cap'n hard at work scrubbing bottoms)

After 12 years of summer seasons and some 25,000 nm on the good ship WJ3, it was rather nice to take time out to live in our local community, to spend time with our boys and get to know the grandkids better.  Lockdowns (within the confines of our local government area) had put a bit of a muzzle on any travel ambitions.  Even a 20-minute drive to the local supermarket added a real thrill to our week – it was outside the 5km limit!  So, to otherwise amuse ourselves, we’ve undertaken some big clean-ups inside and out, replaced a few bits of furniture & the barbie, ripped up a deck or three (ehem, still “under reconstruction”), put up a pole to fly the flag and otherwise enjoyed our life on the river.

Stuck on the mudbank!  Our trusty Cap'n & neighbour Chris
doing a bit of rescue work in the tinnie, yet again...

Fortunately, both boys have remained employed in steady jobs, although one moved out into country NSW, to an arborist’s job in Bathurst.  Managing to successfully combine raising the littlies, study and work, Miss V finished Uni and almost immediately found a great job in Gosford.  Under her watchful eye, Dancing Queen, Miss P, has just finished her second year of school (and home schooling with school closures) and possible sailing apprentice/crew, Master D turned a big “4”. 

Celebrating a significant birthday with a floating picnic
(Monty tied down to protect the food!)

A bit of tree trimming, Bathurst style

We’re beginning to wonder how we ever found the time to go sailing.  WJ3 sits quietly in the boatyard in Deltaville, just metres away from the beautiful Chesapeake Bay, on the North American east coast.  She is being well looked after but must by now, feel somewhat neglected.  Our long-term plans change by the day, dependent largely on inviting travel doco’s on the telly.  We’ve become such couch potatoes!  The Cap’n though, still dreams of completing his 1975 circumnavigation...  In the short term though, it’s really back to just pottering about in a boat, and any boat will do for now. 

Sailors in the making

Merry Christmas to all and here’s hoping for a much brighter Year in 2022.