First of all let’s address the title of this blog entry. I announced to Mum (while she was pottering in the galley) that in my mind I was working on a blog entry detailing all my lessons learned while on the boat. She replied “Is it really lessons learned or is it just lessons seen until they are followed through with?”. Some banter back and forth followed this comment ;-). Hmmmm. Mum has struck the deep question about the relationship between the translation of knowledge to life behaviours. My quick reaction to her comment was likely due to the fact this hit on one of my characteristics (?and a difference between me and THE mother?): I love observation and theory building, and can be fascinated by learning/understanding even if I don’t apply it to my own circumstances!
So onto some of the things observed on Family Affair. Are they lessons learned? Well time and my choices on whether I WANT to apply them will probably only tell…….
These are not in order of importance
#1A- Time and Tide shall wait for no man
Not the only proverb to be understood on a deeper level during my visit to Family Affair….
Our boating this year has been on the Capricorn Coast of Queensland ie at the latitude around the Tropic of Capricorn on the East Coast of Australia. The tides up here are a big deal and the difference between getting easily into anchorages or grounding your boat on a sand bar etc etc. Even I read the tide time timetables and have been forced to consider the impact of the moons cycle on the magnitude of tidal difference . I was on the boat during the full moon and thus saw how DRAMMATICALLY the tides could change and how the scenery I went to sleep to was completely different to what I woke up to!
* insert a photo*
#1B- The Mosquitos at Yellow Patch – shape your days activities even more than the tides (once you have arrived) and lead to questionable fashion choices
First of all lets reinforce Yellow Patch is a wonderful place to visit (see glorious photo below) ; you just need to visit with a DEEP respect for the BIGGEST (and possible slowest) Mosquitoes I have ever seen. The Mosquitoes were so big I could look out one of the boats stern windows , at night, and clearly see a mosquito (known as Skipper Mosquito) , sitting on top of the Helm as if he was planning to stage a mutiny and sail us away. We could actually hear the swarm of mosquitoes coming from the Mangroves to the back of our boat, before they arrived. And when the hundreds did arrive, you continued to hear them until all our lights had been turned off.
* photo of yellow patch*
Of course, because the family affair is skippered by THE Peter, we were very well mosquito proofed inside…but any trips outside after were planned with military precision.
The previous posts photo of Dinghy Woman (paste in link) has lead to some questions about why on earth I am dressed that way on a clear, sunny morning. The answer is really three fold : THE MOSQUITOS (covering as much as the body as possible was the best protection and the mosquitos were out early morning and after sundown ); it was really cold (and thus the wind-break jacket); and a the tide was REALLY strong and our dinghy trip was going to be a LONG one ( ~ 30 minutes) and thus even though I
#2- Staying 17 days on Family Affair is much better than staying only 5 days
It has been observed that many Australians now take their leave in little chunks rather than taking the 4 weeks together. Research has found that if it is possible (of course its not always) than longer stints of leave have a better ‘re-creation’ effect.
In 2005 I visited the boat for the first time (link website) and squeezed in a 5 day stay in the Hervey Bay
And I got to see A LOT more: Gladstone Marina and Gladstone itself; The wonderful yellow patch on Curtis Island; Great Keppel Island; Middle Island (off Great Keppel Island); Keppel Bay Marina, Yeppoon; Rockhampton etc
#3 A Good Skipper is invaluable OR is there any limit to the talents of Peter?
Now note this statement is said in awe and wonder.
Peter is the skipper of the Family Affair. He is the force that gets us from A to B with style and safety all in an atmosphere of friendly, focused good nature. I believe given a piece of string, wire, wood and maybe a pair of pliers he could fix anything. It is hard to actually sum up how much he does and how it adds to the comfort of being on board.
What was not appreciated at the beginning of this voyage was that Peter is an accomplished mosquito Ninga. That is someone, you can with at least 90% effectiveness on first attempt, kill with only the use of his hands, mosquitoes with stealth and speed. Mosiquito Ninga Peter has his own theme music, Of course this is…”Kung Fu Fighting”……
#4 Do Not underestimate the Joy that comes with a well stocked pantry and the value of a top class First Mate.
The Mother as Peter’s Partner is the First Mate. She is in charge of assistance to the skipper, overall cleanliness and order of the vessel and also arranging (and in most case) cooking the meals. We have eaten VERY well. Its one of the major bonuses of holidaying with Mum.
In the starboard hull several cupboards and one pantry contain food. All sorts of wondrous food. When you plan the meals for the day you can go for a shopping trip on the other
My fridge and pantry sometimes at home, as a sole house occupant, run a bit sparse…I like looking at provisions thinking of the 16 things I COULD make for dinner tonight.
#5 Travelling on large, well fitted out catamaran is a great way to experience some of the outdoors/nature in SUPREME comfort.
I have seen some wonderful things in the natural world. While sailing we have been visiting by a pod of around 6 dolphins who have come to check us out and play for a while. At Middle Island
#6 Technology is a wondrous thing and I have a newfound respect and wonder for all forms of energy generation (electricity and renewable sources)
We may have been on a boat, but as you can tell (by the blogging), we have been on the internet, we have had our mobile phones, we have the ipod playing through the speakers, we all have our digital cameras, and at night we have TV (and in most cases reception for it….). Even in remote places, we have light, gas cooking, working plumbing, fresh water, electric toilet…..and with Honda 2KBA 240 volt generator at the flick of the switch we have power to run microwaves, toaster, and charge up all our electrical devices!
But the Family Affair is also an eco-friendly energy generator . We of course have solar panels charging the batteries, there is wind generator off the back of the boat and there is….the SOLAR heated showers.
Yes, I know most of you know about solar heating a bag of water for a shower on a boat. But, when you combine this with the skills of the skipper and one specially shaped piece of wood- you can have that shower…..in the shower. Here are photos of the reach, and turn on the shower operation. Then you have a couple of minutes of shower heaven. Seriously, its made me think about how much water I waste in the shower when this little bag does the trick (on most days I estimate I would need 20 bags to wash my hair).
#7 Travelling on public transport when visiting place gets you to meet people and learn LOTS about the character and nature of a place.
I always do this when I travel. We used the buses quite a bit at Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast
#8 I really am NOT interested in Rugby League and this is a Disadvantage in Queensland
I think Rugby League is the one sport I don’t like. It dominates the TV sports news. We were lucky and got several AFL matches on TV.
#9 Travel sick medications do help with sea sickness (But don’t take more than recommended!)- so does ginger and so does just trying to sleep through the travel
I slept A LOT during the actual sailing. This seemed to cut out most travel sickness. I can handle the ROCK of a boat, I can’t handle the ROLL.
#10You can get good TV reception in really strange places (and visa versa)
We got great reception in the remote anchorage of Yellow Patch…but its not so good here in the marina.
#11 Mullets are SCARY fish and not to be messed with
There are at least 40 or so BIG Mullets (fish) that live at Keppel Bay Marina . They hang out in packs (not schools) and I am sure normally street gang rules apply. They look mean and ugly. I have met SCAR MULLET- he is a large 50cm plus mullet with a a huge flesh wound scar on his head. He has had a nasty scrap and won.
The mullets also like scaring you when you do the long walk to the toilets at night. They actually leap out of the water in front of you and make huge splashes behind you…..
#12 Shopping in good country towns is great.
I had great experiences in well valued unique shopping in both Yeppoon and Rockhampton.
#13 You can get really good tea in regional Queensland
Yay!
#14 It is still possible with a little travel to have a pristine island all to yourself in Australia
*picture*
#15 A stitch in time saves nine……
Lets finish with another proverb as spoken on the deck by the skipper.
The mother and Peter are always on the go, doing stuff. The work ethic on board is strong. A little may have rubbed off…..
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