Newcastle to Crowdy Head

 25th April, Anzac Day. Beautiful, cool, clear morning. Up at 0600, away by 0710. Great sail to Newcastle in 20-30kn WNW, 50 nautical miles in 8 hours. So far since leaving Tassie we have traveled 1089 nautical miles. We tied up at the public jetty next to Glenshiel and shared dinner with Jed and Jude on Sorcerer. The public jetty was very civilised and everything was easily accessible from this area. Our first priority when we arrived in Newcastle was to get the computer fixed. Everything was slowing down and then the night we arrived in Newcastle it just gave up all together and would not even turn on. We found a Mac shop and after a full investigation the computer was found to have had a dead hard-drive. We had a week to fill in while it was being brought back to life.

We had to wait off the entrance for this one to come through before entering

 Glenshiel and Sorcerer tied up at the public jetty

 Team Temperley

One of the highlights of coming to Newcastle was to catch up with our great friends, the Temperleys. The children have all grown like weeds since we last saw them and John and I spent a great few days with the family and having lots of laughs with the three very talented (each scored a goal at their respective soccer matches!) Temperley children. The few days also included two lovely meals at the Temperley household with Jed and Jude. A good time was had by all.

Merewether walkway

Merewether Cafe

Merewether Baths-hard to tell where the baths begin and the ocean finishes

Paddleboarding at Blacksmiths Beach, Newcastle

John on his way to New Zealand!

The house in Collaroy Street, Newcastle that my Dad grew up in

I couldn't believe this...mummy boot camp...run up the hill...

...and leave all the babies crying in the car park!!

Newcastle Cathedral (my Dad sang in the choir here when he was very young)

Gallipolli Flag

This flag was presented to the 13th Battalion Australian Imperial Forces by the Ulster Association of NSW.  It was used to mark the position of Battalion Headquarters at Liverpool NSW, Broadmeadows Victoria, on HMAS Ulysses, at Gaza, near Cairo, Egypt and at Gallipolli from the landing to the evacuation. To the memory of the 15 officers and 385 soldiers of the 13th Battalion AIF who gave their lives at Gallipolli. It hangs in the Cathedral.

Now there's a good idea!

Sea-run mullet caught by locals on the full moon just off the beach at Shoal Bay-Port Stephens

View south from Tomaree Head, Port Stephens

View North from Tomaree Head

Evening coming into Seal Rocks (had a very disturbed night here with lots of swell in the anchorage)

Sugarloaf Bay, Seal Rocks

Bridge joining Tuncurry and Forster. We were tied up on a couple of poles.

Historic Crowdy Head lighthouse

Crowdy Head Harbour (Sorcerer tucked up at the fishermans wharf at left in photo)

Crowdy Head (there were about 8 lights on the jetty and there was a pelican sitting on every one!)

...and on to Camden Haven...