Portland 11th May - 38' 20.7" S 141' 36."6 E

We dropped the huge mooring at Port Macdonnell at 7am and headed for Portland, Victoria with the prospect of brisk winds from the north. As it turned out we had a great sail in 12 to 18 knots from the north, so it was warm and comfortable as we crossed Discovery Bay. The speed indicator showed over seven knots most of the time and occasionally into the eights. As we closed on Cape Bridgewater the coast became more rugged and lined with high limestone cliffs and very much more scenic. Dolphins escorted us for most of the way across Bridgewater Bay to Cape Nelson. What a show! They must have been with us for at least an hour and at times we had possibly twenty of them around the boat showing off, leaping out of the water, chasing each other and generally having fun in our bow wave. Amazingly there were also some seals in amongst the mix early on, with their flippers looking like wet flannels hanging off the back end, it was easy to tell them from the dolphins.

Arrived at Portland harbour at 4.30pm and looked about for a place to spend a few days. Peter eventually managed to contact the Portland Council, who run the new marina in the harbour, and was directed to tie up on the outer end of the pontoons. This is a brand new marina, so new in fact that the power has not been switched on yet - unfortunately. Water is available, but it is very cold since the arrival of a cold front and rain, and if we could use our heater it would be very nice. At the moment I have two pair of socks on and am just keeping the toes from turning to icicles. However at $20 per day it is a very nice place to be,

Portland is not generally given a very positive write up in the literature that we have read, but we are most impressed with the place. The harbour is certainly an all weather port with shipping wharves, fishing boat harbour, marina, moorings and extensive boat launching ramps all in the one rock wall encircled area. Only a couple of hundred metres from us several ships are loading woodchips, logs livestock or grain. Peter read that they also unload alumina for a smelter near here. Very interesting.

We have discovered an excellent café for morning tea or lunch called The Blue C Café. Each morning we rug up and bolt up the hill for a nice warm coffee and scone. These are the biggest scones you have ever seen - thickly spread with jam and dolloped with loads of real cream. A bargain at $3.50 and big enough to share. We are not going to lose weight here. Today we went back for Lamb Shank Soup and fresh bread for lunch. We sat in the window, ate soup, read the paper and watched the rain and hail pelt down once again.

  What are you doing with that dead bat Peter? Actually it's a Target umbrella, but is probably less useful that a dead bat. I suppose at $9.99 you shouldn't expect much. We walked to the far side of Fawthrop Lagoon, as far from shelter as you could get, and the rain poured down. Unfortunately the umbrella's performance did not live up to expectations.

16th May Portland Harbour

We are still in Portland having decided to stay an extra day as the weather has fined up and the forecast is for a couple of days of reasonably good weather. After five days of constant rain, diving from one veranda to another between the showers, we thought we should see something of Portland in the sunshine. Today we walked along the Great South Coast walk path to the south of the town as far as Point Danger and the Gannet Rookery around 12 kms or so we estimate. It was a scenic walk close to the port at first then climbing to hug some deceptively steep cliffs just out of town. Of course dark clouds gathered and gave us a shower or two, but not enough to cause too much trouble. On arrival back in town we devoured a late lunch at one of the local cafe's.

While we have been here we have had showers courtesy of the Portland Yacht Club. Peter noticed a sign in their window early on that showers were available to visiting yachties and a contact number was given. Lawrence came and set us up with hot showers. (Thank you Lawrence they were much appreciated.)

The cold, wet weather was getting to us. Our West Aussie gear was definitely not warm enough. By chance we discovered an amazing shop called Portland Disposals on our way up to town. It is one of those places that if you spend some time poking around you can find some very interesting things that you wished you'd discovered years ago. I found some socks. These socks are amazing. They are called 'Heater' socks and at $20 are on the expensive side. (I learned my lesson with that umbrella.) I now have a pair of pure pink pleasure and another gorgeous lime green pair that literally feel like heaters on the feet. No more icicles! We also lashed out and bought Peter some water proof 'Bogs", boots that will keep his feet warm when on shift at night, some warm ski gloves and a brand new umbrella which at $25 is much more robust that the Target one. We are now set up for this cold Victorian climate.

We have found that Portland has some lovely old bluestone buildings, especially around the council complex. Others are scattered through the town and are quite impressive. Here you can see Peter sheltering under the portico of the Courthouse as more rain sets in.

 There was a quaint little cottage in the Botanic Garden. While there was only a few flowers it was still worth a visit and a quiet stroll around the garden.