Bermagui 28th to 30th June

We have decided to stay an extra day at Bermagui, partly because another yacht tied up alongside us making four rafted up from the jetty and that meant we were boxed in, and partly because this is the first sunny day for quite a while and we intend to make good use of it. Later we plan to walk to Wallaga Lake some six kms along the coast.

This is quite a crowded little harbour and that means, for the first time, we have had to raft up alongside other boats. We are the third from the jetty, the first a large trawler, the second is a large motor vessel being partly charter boat and the home of Brian and Helen, then there is us and until early this morning an older design wooden yacht out from us. Very cosy! Everyone is very polite and the general etiquette is to walk around the front of the mast and not the back to protect privacy. On the shore adjacent to the harbour is a new two storey building which houses the Fisherman's Co-op, amenities for boaties, several café/bar/restaurants, gift shop etc. The upstairs coffee shop has a lovely outdoor seating area where it is very pleasant to sit admiring the view of the harbour whilst sipping your cuppa.

 

Still has surf across the entrance.

 

 

 

 

After a good night's sleep we awoke on our first morning to be greeted by Brian and Helen (Peter met them previously in East Boyd Bay) and they informed us that they intended to take a bus to Bega for the day. We thought this sounded like a good idea so 9.30am found us lined up at the bus stop with half a dozen other people. Peter flashed his Senior's Card and BINGO $5 bus fare for both of us to Bega, 65 kms drive through some very scenic countryside. What we found out later was that this was a return fare. That's value! Bega doesn't have a lot to recommend it, except more shops than Bermagui, but it was a pleasant interlude and we restocked the larder from Woolies and saw a place we have not seen before. On the way back the bus driver (a very friendly bloke) stopped at a roadside stall and everyone piled out and bought pumpkins. Great day.

Yesterday was gloomy and very overcast, almost thunder stormy looking. We decided to catch up with some domestic chores in the morning and then went for a walk along the beach in the afternoon. Again we heard the Bellbirds in the Spotted Gum forest on the edge of town. They sound so beautiful. Helen had offered us the use of her washing machine and dryer (luxury) so I caught up with the washing. Brian and Helen invited us over for roast dinner that evening and we had a wonderful evening on board Furneaux Explorer. Brian and Peter disappeared upstairs for some time and later I found out that Brian had been showing Peter some of his favourite spots up the coast. Local knowledge is very handy. Thanks Helen and Brian for your hospitality and friendship.

 

Peter with the Spotted Gum 'Octopus'

Today is our last day in Bermagui as there appears to be a good weather window for our next foray north to Bateman's Bay. Apparently the bar at Bateman's Bay is trickier than here so we need a high tide and fair weather to cross it. That means we will have to be up at 2.00am to arrive at approximately midday to catch the high tide in. It will be about 40nm and again there is not much wind forecast so I suppose it will be more motoring. At least our entrance here is absolutely calm now, so there should be little trouble getting out.