No boating today!
December 10th 2006 18:24
No boating today as the tide was so low my tinnie was aground at the end of the wharf. It was blowing pretty hard so it was a bit to dangerous to row out to my yacht in the bay. I took comfort in the fact that I had a car and could do some cruising with it. I packed my hand spear, mask, snorkel and fins and headed out to Mannering Park.
I had anticipated the park to be quite sheltered with a sandy beach falling into deep water where I could spear some flathead. And I could have except for a new boat ramp that had been put in and now because of the well sheltered spot it was a haven for rev heads in speed boats. good luck to them but they were not going to get an opportunity to run over this spear fisherman.
Next I went to Swansea Bridge and here the sandy bottom reflected the blue of the sky and the dazzling colour of the water had to be seen to be believed. Lovely long sandy gutters where flathead could hide and bury themselves in the sand to await their prey. Problem here was the tide. At the narrowest point of the estuary the tide was running at around five knots which for this little black duck is much to strong. I bite the bullet and decide on a cheap club lunch sitting over the water.
I have written before aboout the number of clubs and restaurants we have on the lake front all angling for our business. I decided on the Belmont 16' skiff club. I am on a diet so I decided to order from the meals set up in the Bain Marie. I chose a Frenched pork chop with a mango sauce. Not having my glasses on I did not notice that the chop was also stuffed with chestnuts. I had greens on the side. If the sauce had not been so wet the chop would have been as dry as the Sahara. The nuts tasting like coarse sand. Two wedges of lemon squeezed on the greens and a smothering of salt and pepper made them palatable but at $15 it was rip off meal. Better value was a small caraf of riesing for $5 to sit and listen to a guitarist and sax player blowing jazz over the lake while the skiffs out racing was another entertainment.
Not entirely satisfied that I had had enough to drink or entertain myself I went to the RMYC in Toronto where another half caraf ($12) assisted me to converse meaningfully with some sailing compatriots with some soft rock and roll played in the background by band "Twin Fin". Here I could feel the awsome power of the noreaster as it blew off the lake. In the distance my yacht was heaving and bucking on its mooring and one yacht actualy broke its mooring and ran aground. I declined to be a resue boat driver in these conditions and with me full of local riesling as well. The local NSW Maritime investigated the yacht and rang the owner to arrange a tow. Much smarter than me getting involved.
After several coffees I came home to make Goulash for dinner and half a bottle of red to top up the blood alcohol level as at this point I was going nowhere. I was pushing up ZZZZZZZs by very early evening. Ah what a life!
I had anticipated the park to be quite sheltered with a sandy beach falling into deep water where I could spear some flathead. And I could have except for a new boat ramp that had been put in and now because of the well sheltered spot it was a haven for rev heads in speed boats. good luck to them but they were not going to get an opportunity to run over this spear fisherman.
Next I went to Swansea Bridge and here the sandy bottom reflected the blue of the sky and the dazzling colour of the water had to be seen to be believed. Lovely long sandy gutters where flathead could hide and bury themselves in the sand to await their prey. Problem here was the tide. At the narrowest point of the estuary the tide was running at around five knots which for this little black duck is much to strong. I bite the bullet and decide on a cheap club lunch sitting over the water.
I have written before aboout the number of clubs and restaurants we have on the lake front all angling for our business. I decided on the Belmont 16' skiff club. I am on a diet so I decided to order from the meals set up in the Bain Marie. I chose a Frenched pork chop with a mango sauce. Not having my glasses on I did not notice that the chop was also stuffed with chestnuts. I had greens on the side. If the sauce had not been so wet the chop would have been as dry as the Sahara. The nuts tasting like coarse sand. Two wedges of lemon squeezed on the greens and a smothering of salt and pepper made them palatable but at $15 it was rip off meal. Better value was a small caraf of riesing for $5 to sit and listen to a guitarist and sax player blowing jazz over the lake while the skiffs out racing was another entertainment.
Not entirely satisfied that I had had enough to drink or entertain myself I went to the RMYC in Toronto where another half caraf ($12) assisted me to converse meaningfully with some sailing compatriots with some soft rock and roll played in the background by band "Twin Fin". Here I could feel the awsome power of the noreaster as it blew off the lake. In the distance my yacht was heaving and bucking on its mooring and one yacht actualy broke its mooring and ran aground. I declined to be a resue boat driver in these conditions and with me full of local riesling as well. The local NSW Maritime investigated the yacht and rang the owner to arrange a tow. Much smarter than me getting involved.
After several coffees I came home to make Goulash for dinner and half a bottle of red to top up the blood alcohol level as at this point I was going nowhere. I was pushing up ZZZZZZZs by very early evening. Ah what a life!
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Comment by Anonymous
Comment by TomN
Boat Heaven
Cheers
TomN