Port Fairy 20th May 38' 23.2" S 142' 14.5" E

After our fine day in Portland we decided to move to Port Fairy so let go the ropes and sailed out of the Portland Harbour at 8 am. The sail was uneventful in dull, occasionally showery weather. The only interesting feature on the way was Lady Julia Percy Island which we passed quite close to the north side. It's a very stark, rugged piece of rock with vertical sides which looks like someone has cut it out with a giant scone cutter and plonked it in the ocean. Locals are proud of their island. It's the only one they've got.

Entered Port Fairy via the Moyne River at 3 pm. What a magnificent, secure little harbour. It reminds me a lot of some of the scenery along the River Thames in England. Actually there is a very English feel about the whole place.We motored past boats moored against the wharf lining the banks and found a small marina of pens where most of the yachts were berthed. One bloke there told us to raft up with a fishing boat across the river while we contacted Max the harbour master. This done Max gave us permission to dock in a space a little further back along the wharf. A couple of locals helped us with the ropes and instant friendships were formed. We are in boaty heaven!!!

For the last two days we have walked all over this beautiful place from the seascapes of Griffith Island, which you can get to via a manmade causeway, to the historic streets of this old town. There are some lovely historic buildings here and I enjoy just walking along the streets ogling peoples houses and gardens.

We have had good weather so far and it is just delightful sitting in the cockpit watching the world go by. On the weekend many people walked along the wharf next to us and stopped for a chat. Today is Monday and very few visitors meant we had a nice quiet day after all the buzz of activity on the weekend. Next to us on the opposite side of the river is the boat launching ramp and we watched the little stink boats go out in the morning and then arrive back with their catches of tuna in the evening. They were accompanied by a seal who entertained us all with its antics with a piece of fish donated by one of the fishermen.

We have made some good friends already. Kev is on an old wooden Collin Archer designed boat called Astrid Nelson which is tied up behind us. He has offered to keep a good eye on Rene when we go to Townsville on 23rd May. Doug owns a huge catamaran (40') which he built himself over the past two years. It is immaculate and like a house on water. We are going to miss this place and the friends we are making here.

Port Fairy 23rd May

Well I am now 60!!! How did that happen? I had a wonderful, memorable day here in this lovely little port. Thank you all the people who sent good wishes via email, text message and phone calls. I won't thank you individually in case (being 60 now) I miss someone out. We have met the most welcoming people here - I think I said that somewhere before. Early on we found that friends of ours from Albany knew sailing buddies here. Well John & Joy caught up with us and we have had such a good time with them. Joy asked me to a cancer fund raising morning tea yesterday and to meet some of her friends. The food was beautiful and they raised somewhere above $1800.00 which was a great effort. Later in the day John took Peter and I for a drive over to Warnambool as he wanted to visit Bunnings. He showed us the town, beaches, river etc. Not having a car we usually don't get to see further than 'shanks pony' can take us so it was great to see a bit of the countryside. On the way there is an extinct volcano and the crater is quite impressive.

Later that evening we went to John and Joy's house for dinner with their friends Marie and Bob. We took the Bollinger champagne that Eddy gave me to share for my birthday. Well it was a merry occasion and a very nice meal. John and Joy's son makes extraordinarily yummy Timboon ice-cream (part of his business) and we sampled Raspberry and White Chocolate. YUM! Thank you Joy and John for making us so welcome and for making my 60th birthday a treasured memory.

Now we have to leave Port Fairy for just over two weeks to go to Karin and Paul's wedding. I am s-o-o-o looking forward to that. We have at least half a dozen people watching our boat so we think it will be in very good hands while we're away. Must go now to catch the bus to begin our journey to Townsville.