I'm going to see if I can blog briefly. I'm not sure if it's possible, but here goes.
Today's adventure was all about sailing - both by wind and motor. We received a most welcome and wonderful invitation to join a family we have met through Colin's class for a day of sailing at the Port Melbourne Yacht Club. At the same time, we were waiting to see if we might hear from Mary and Stan Neal (Peter's parents) who are on a cruise and scheduled to dock in Melbourne on the very same day. As luck would have it, we did make contact with the Neals, and the cruise ship dock and the yacht club are practically side by each. Thus we were off to Station Pier to sail with friends and to see friends who were sailing!
The yacht club is right at the foot of the city and is nestled in a very pretty part of Melbourne we had yet to discover. We drove down with our host and his son and were very soon at work unloading their boat and setting up an umbrella on the beach. First up to sail were the two dads along with Colin and his friend. We had a wonderful sail tacking out into Phillip Bay. Colin took his turn hiking out over the rail as the wind began to pick up. We skirted the jetty where the Neal's boat was tied up and then turned for home with the wind at our backs. After a beer and a bit of a lunch the dads returned to the sea for a really wild sail with big surf, big wind and unbelievably, a playful seal as a companion. What an amazing few hours on the ocean and literally minutes from downtown.
After few more nibblies and a bit of boogie boarding we thanked our gracious hosts and headed down the boardwalk to rendezvous with the Neals at 3:30. After no more than ten minutes of walking we stumbled upon them at the foot of Station Pier. What a neat feeling to turn the corner and see familiar faces from back home. They looked relaxed and well and no different than the last time we saw them for the August firework show back on Lake of Bays a few years ago. We found a dockside cafe beside the pier and spent an hour or so catching up and trading impressions about Australia and hearing about their amazing cruise. Like our hook up with the Blairs last month, it was again fun to speak about things from the same perspective and use the same "language" to describe what we were seeing. By all accounts they are having a wonderful trip and we dreamed of climbing aboard their impressive ship for a few days of leisure and great eating/drinking.
Their ship was setting sail for Hobart, Tasmania at six so once we had drained our lattes and the boys had downed a Margherita pizza - just because - we exchanged hugs and handshakes and headed for home. This was a great day for many reasons, but mostly because we were spending time with friends, from near and far.
Today's adventure was all about sailing - both by wind and motor. We received a most welcome and wonderful invitation to join a family we have met through Colin's class for a day of sailing at the Port Melbourne Yacht Club. At the same time, we were waiting to see if we might hear from Mary and Stan Neal (Peter's parents) who are on a cruise and scheduled to dock in Melbourne on the very same day. As luck would have it, we did make contact with the Neals, and the cruise ship dock and the yacht club are practically side by each. Thus we were off to Station Pier to sail with friends and to see friends who were sailing!
The yacht club is right at the foot of the city and is nestled in a very pretty part of Melbourne we had yet to discover. We drove down with our host and his son and were very soon at work unloading their boat and setting up an umbrella on the beach. First up to sail were the two dads along with Colin and his friend. We had a wonderful sail tacking out into Phillip Bay. Colin took his turn hiking out over the rail as the wind began to pick up. We skirted the jetty where the Neal's boat was tied up and then turned for home with the wind at our backs. After a beer and a bit of a lunch the dads returned to the sea for a really wild sail with big surf, big wind and unbelievably, a playful seal as a companion. What an amazing few hours on the ocean and literally minutes from downtown.
After few more nibblies and a bit of boogie boarding we thanked our gracious hosts and headed down the boardwalk to rendezvous with the Neals at 3:30. After no more than ten minutes of walking we stumbled upon them at the foot of Station Pier. What a neat feeling to turn the corner and see familiar faces from back home. They looked relaxed and well and no different than the last time we saw them for the August firework show back on Lake of Bays a few years ago. We found a dockside cafe beside the pier and spent an hour or so catching up and trading impressions about Australia and hearing about their amazing cruise. Like our hook up with the Blairs last month, it was again fun to speak about things from the same perspective and use the same "language" to describe what we were seeing. By all accounts they are having a wonderful trip and we dreamed of climbing aboard their impressive ship for a few days of leisure and great eating/drinking.
Their ship was setting sail for Hobart, Tasmania at six so once we had drained our lattes and the boys had downed a Margherita pizza - just because - we exchanged hugs and handshakes and headed for home. This was a great day for many reasons, but mostly because we were spending time with friends, from near and far.
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