We made it all across the Pacific Ocean !!!

Labels: 58 - We made it all across the Pacific Ocean !!!

We made it all across the Pacific Ocean !!!

The 9th of April 2019 we crossed the Panama canal and found ourselves in a whole other Ocean to play! Today the 6th of November 2019, we spot a hint of Australian land and find ourselves on a continent again! So we have been cruising for 205 days over the Pacific Ocean! The 6 day trip from New Caledonia to Australia was ... well ... In the first two days we did 400 miles or half of the distance. Then we we're happily cruising under spinnaker until the rudder got caught in something and the boat turned 180°. The whole pink sail against the rigging ... at night ... aaargh!!! We managed to get her filled up with air again and took her down to be sure no wholes were made. Off course that slowed us down and to make matters "perfect", we had the wind on the nose for the last 24 hours! So finally we needed 4 more days for 400 miles!!! Hmmmm I wonder if Madame Ocean just wants to keep us a bit longer 😄

We were warned during the Down Under Rally presentations: "You will not spot land until the very last miles!". It's so true, you check and double check the gps as you're anxious to arrive 😏

Check out the last 3 miles: a hint of land:

Convinced: we see land! But mainly the entrance to the port is well indicated, as to assure you, you're on the right course 😅

The welcome committee:

And Louise is already searching for Skippies!

Voilà our first meeting with Australia, through the entrance port of Bundaberg.

We arrived just in time for the welcome party from the Down Under Rally. It's like it was all timed perfectly 😏 Plenty of nationalities, all the same rally flag. This is a true hearth warming feeling. Different than when you arrive in a new country all on your own!

Ok so a Bundaberg arrival at two pm. Biohazard was done two hours later. We had time to shower and were holding our first drink at 6 ! A bit more information on the clearance for those who are still coming to Australia. It's very easy in Bundaberg (but then we heard the same from our friends in Brisbane 😌). The officers are very nice and understanding. Off course the boat was spotless and we meticulously followed the steps all the way up to cleaning the vacuum cleaner from A to Z! Immigration came the next day, which is quite unusual, but I guess they knew we were not going anywhere but to the party 😂

As an introduction to the country we've received a very nice ceremony! The girls were impressed with the sound of the didgeridoo and ancient "telephone". Geoffrey and I immediately wanted to see Crocodile Dundee again!

Louise and Anna made new friends. And oh for a change they are ... French! Actually they're Tasmanian with a French dad 😏

8th November 2019. Geoffrey and I have distributed the tasks. He will go to the explanatory seminaries about sailing in Australia and I will occupy the girls 😈😎 So first task: look for kangaroos!!! The signs are there and we do actually find them! Just sitting in the park. You will notice the photos are blurry, but they'll get better, the more kangaroos we see 😇

That was a 45 minute walk in extreme heat (not used to it anymore!). So day two was a project in the shade. We made a banner about Australia to thank the rally organisers. The moms liked painting too!

Every day is closed by a party, jam session or movie. We were happy to linger at this very nice jam session. The girls just loved it and were more awake than mom and dad!

What's nice and spontaneous is, that sometimes the text needs polishing when kids are present 😅

9th November 2019. We're almost at the end of welcome week and decide to leave the marina for a visit of Bundaberg, the town. Quite pretty actually!

So weird to see all this christmas preparations again. We are so not ready!!!

And back in the afternoon for the Mud Crab Race. You buy a crab that has to race. The money is well spend as it is given to the Bundaberg volunteer marine rescue organisation. And it is good fun too! Louise won a bidding and even though our crab was too hot, intimidated and didn't move a millimeter, we got to taste him afterwards 😗😊

10th November 2019. Off course we need to get serious work done as well. It's laundry time. And what a better place to do school work?!

Followed by an "empty your boat of clutter sale".

And then the final party before we get out in the Australian land, all on our own 😍😌

Just behind the bar are two huge kangaroos! Their jumping around the gardens!

14th November 2019. Now we have a week of projects before my mum arrives for what's going to be the start of a two month visitors moment 😌 Project 1: engine maintenance.

The girls have an other idea on work:

15th November 2019. It's not all "work" either 😏 Visit of the Botanical gardens and Hinkler park. One of the pioneer aviators.

The house of Mr Hinkler was taken brick by brick from England before demolition and rebuild here.

A jump back in time!

Play time in this very nice museum and tribute!

17th November 2019. Project 2, 3, 4, ... Check the spinnaker for damage from our last passage. It's been blowing 25 knots for the last 2 weeks, so we'll have to do it inside! Luckily we have a large cockpit, but still 130m2 is A LOT !!!