Sailing around Australia; Different but the same.

Cronulla Marina, Port Hacking,  Sydney NSW.

30/4/2015  Different, but the same

Our sailing around Australia adventures aboard Easy Tiger have reached a major milestone this week with our arrival in the Sydney Metro area, a place called Cronulla on the edge of Port Hacking.

Leanne and I both feel sort of amazed, sort of bemused and a bit surreal to think that in 17 months   together (530 Days) we have sailed 2,954nm from Mandurah WA to Sydney NSW.

In that time have become so used to bush covered cliff tops, deserted beaches, sleepy country towns with a few boats bobbing around the anchorage and friendly locals saying hello.

Rounding the headland into Port Hacking revealed a whole new world.

Every vantage point on the steep cliffs is taken by buildings, presumably homes and every square meter of waterway taken up with moored boats, leaving just a narrow transit channel up to the Cronulla Marina.

At the marina we were met with the now familiar warm welcome. A couple passing on their dinghy noticed us pushing against the wind to get on to the jetty. They gave Easy Tiger a helpful shove with their dinghy and then introduced themselves, followed by an invitation for dinner and use of their washing machine.

Once tied on and signed in at the marina office, we met Geoff and Marina. They are from Perth and have sailed their new catamaran from South Africa to Perth and now around to Sydney. They have two boys and two dogs on board, so certainly a full house.

Last week we walked the bush trails around Jervis Bay. If we saw anyone else there was time to stop for a g’dday. Our first morning in Sydney, we walked out of the marina gate, straight into the entrance of the Cronulla Train Station. Rush hour was on. I had forgotten how it was to be in a stampede of people all wanting to get to work on time.

We’ve also been used to strolling along country roads, alerted to oncoming traffic by the sound of approaching vehicles. During our stroll in Cronulla we had to wait, often for several minutes for a break in the traffic to cross the road.

So here we are, in suburbia. It is sort of nice being in amongst activity and life. Maybe there is only so much peaceful tranquility one can bare. Sydney is certainly different to that, but there are the same good natured friendly people here as well.

We will have a go at immersing ourselves into a bit of city culture. To start off we were supposed to be hosting my Aunt and Uncle today, but rain and bad weather has put that on hold.

Maybe it’s telling us that we are better off tapering in to the change in our environment rather than crashing in overnight.

We have become quite accustomed to deserted beaches and bush walks.

Only other occupants of the bay today. Wonder if they'd like to drop in for a sundowner.

Easy Tiger on the mooring at Jervis Bay

The opposite of Jervis Bay, Cronulla

The view from our Starboard hull at Cronulla Marina