Gosford 30th July to 1st August

Hooray for the twin tub washing machine! In this life there are a few essential appliances and one of them is a method of cleaning clothes. We discovered that our friends from Eden and Bermagui, Helen and Brian and their vessel Fernaux Explorer were tied up at the Gosford Public Wharf. On our first morning there Brian came along the wharf to catch up and one of the first things he offered was the use of the washing machine. Top loaders are no good on boats - too much water. As the laundromat was at a distance that required us to venture forth with a packed lunch and a water bag we gladly accepted their offer. Friday dawned clear and sunny so I took our mammoth pile of dirty washing and lo and behold an hour later Fernaux Explorer was bedecked with lines of clean, sweet smelling clothes flapping in the breeze. Thanks again Brian and Helen for your friendship and generosity.

Two days before we had arrived in Broadwater, Gosford and took up a courtesy mooring just south of the sailing club premises. We rowed Lily ashore to a tiny beach near the yacht club where we abandoned her, after carefully tying her to a rubbish bin pole, to explore Gosford city. One of the first shops we walked past was a barbers. Half an hour later Peter emerged minus his hair. Actually it looked OK, but his suggestion that I go in there was rejected as I was not keen on appearing with a number 2, even where no-one knows me. I made an appointment at the Milk & Honey hairdressers and an hour and a half later - a new me!

The weather forecast for Tuesday evening into Wednesday was for building southerly winds up to 20-25 knots, so we decided to phone the Marine Rescue Central Coast to organise a berth at the Gosford Public Wharf for the next three nights. RMCC manage the wharf for the local council and in the process earn some much needed funds for their organisation. Many of the berths were empty so we had our pick and Dave from RMCC kindly helped us tie up safely. Chris and Roz on a 47' Boro were our neighbours on one side (what a magnificent boat fit out they had done) and a family of mum, dad and three kids living on an old fishing boat were on the other side. Luckily there was a space of about five berths between each of us.

Who needs TV? Not us! We had the best entertainment from the fishing boat family. The boys probably ranged in age from 11 down to 4. Their antics in a very unreliable dinghy at the end of the day kept us entertained. Dad shouting instructions from the mother ship as the boys conked out numerous times and began drifting towards the rock wall was probably an exercise in how not to talk to kids. Hmmmm! The Moscow Circus arrived and set themselves up on a small oval over the street from the wharf and we watched as they set up the Big Top in the rain. The sound and light show in the evening was interesting.