Another great day on the water
October 7th 2006 23:27
">I had an interesting day yesterday and it was all to do with boating as usual. I had to make my way to Palm Beach from Lake Macquarie for a meeting and looked at alternatives to driving all that way which would take around 2.5 hrs. A train to Central then bus would be around 3 hours. What I did was drive to Ettalong on the Central Coast then caught the ferry to Palmy. Wow what a great day and what a great way to be on the water.
The day was sunny with a balmy temperature. Absolutely ideal for boating. I drove to Ettalong and as I was early for my ferry stopped at the new services club for lunch. Amazing new style of club with a huge resort facility attached. Listened to jazz on the deck as I ate lunch. I wandered down to the public wharf to wait for the ferry. Dozens of kids were taking advantage of the warm weather and diving off the wharf to show off and keep cool.
The 30m catamaran arrived to pick us up. I say us, as by now all the passengers waiting, were becoming great mates, talking, chatting and eyeing each other off. Warm weather and the holiday spirit seems to do that to people. The cat arrived on time and was hauled up the wharf by the string of the deckie and her powerful motors. Great seating arrangement with plenty of room inside and lots of outside seating and deck space. I am guessing that once she had negotiated the snakelike channel to the mouth of Broken Bay she opened up to around 24 knots and we were at Palm Beach within 30 minutes. A little swell and chop as we crossed but very comfortable.
It was great to see the race yachts out from Royal Prince Alfredo Yacht Club and what I assumed was those from RMYC Broken Bay as well. Plenty of people out cruising and playing on the water as well.
After an hour-long meeting and a well-deserved ice cream I was on my way back. The swell had picked up a bit and the strong nor-easter was pushing the out going tide into a good chop but the cat just dug her shoulders in and with clouds of spray flew across the bay and had us back in Ettalong, again in 30 minutes. A great trip and well recommended to any one who wants a little time out on the water. $8.60 return for pensioners and seniors and around $17 return for others. Much cheaper than owning your own boat!
The day was sunny with a balmy temperature. Absolutely ideal for boating. I drove to Ettalong and as I was early for my ferry stopped at the new services club for lunch. Amazing new style of club with a huge resort facility attached. Listened to jazz on the deck as I ate lunch. I wandered down to the public wharf to wait for the ferry. Dozens of kids were taking advantage of the warm weather and diving off the wharf to show off and keep cool.
The 30m catamaran arrived to pick us up. I say us, as by now all the passengers waiting, were becoming great mates, talking, chatting and eyeing each other off. Warm weather and the holiday spirit seems to do that to people. The cat arrived on time and was hauled up the wharf by the string of the deckie and her powerful motors. Great seating arrangement with plenty of room inside and lots of outside seating and deck space. I am guessing that once she had negotiated the snakelike channel to the mouth of Broken Bay she opened up to around 24 knots and we were at Palm Beach within 30 minutes. A little swell and chop as we crossed but very comfortable.
It was great to see the race yachts out from Royal Prince Alfredo Yacht Club and what I assumed was those from RMYC Broken Bay as well. Plenty of people out cruising and playing on the water as well.
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