Tuesday 15th July

A beautiful blue sky and sparkling waters greeted our late awakening in Fame Cove on the northern shores of Port Stephens.
The Admiral and Sparrow had been at it long into the night before and the state of the saloon only confirmed that there had been a lot of talking, a little planning and there might have been a bit of drinkin’. The chart of Port Stephens had been used as a plotter. For the vision impaired they had used items around the boat, such as tea bag for Tea Gardens ….Lemon for lemon tree Passage and so on (refer to photo 4).
Then they emerged, and it was with red eyes hidden behind sunglasses and a good dose of disprin that they embraced the day……………..slowly…………. oh so slowly and quietly.

We decided to do a short voyage of discovery and set out for Soldiers Point and then onto Salamanda Bay, cruising along the foreshore before turning north and heading up the “Teabag Passage”.

Negotiating all the shoals and fish traps kept us all on the alert as we approached Schooner Channel. Lateral marks had been changed so all hands on deck to guide us safely up into Corrie Creek. Alarms suddenly going off telling us that we were at the shallowest point of the creek with 1.3 meters under the keel between two Port Markers, but our fearless leader pushes on through and anchors at Hawkes Nest.

The creek was quite wonderful with lots of Pelicans (one of which we shot because we thought it could have been annoying the pope) sunning themselves on the banks and effortlessly gliding past us skimming inches above the mirror calm water before planing into a perfect landing and bursting into flames. Black Swans were spotted (well some were ) and a myriad of other bird life as we motored past oyster leases and mysterious mangroves which could have hidden Crocs if we had been further north.


Of course we headed off to the Tea Gardens Pub some couple of miles up stream and under the Hawks Nest Bridge as soon as T S was anchored and the Admiral was sure of her safety. A quick pint at the pub and then heading off to Nelsons Bay to pick up a courtesy mooring for the evening as the sun slowly sank in the West.

Dined on fantastic roast beef and veg prepared by the emerging talent of the cruise Miss Lizzie.