22-10-09

Our first stop was Roti, an early start 0500hrs then anchor down by 1330hrs bit of a rocky anchorage at the far end of Roti but otherwise quite comfy. I put the fishing line over the side during the day but only got a couple of nibbles, I must be doing something wrong as I saw fish jumping out of the water! Peter had to unblock the salt water inlet on the no.2 generator it was full of weed and polythene bags Yuk.

Next stop Sawa Island early start as per the plan and again at anchor by 1345hrs we finding our C-Map highly inaccurate in this area especially regarding the depths so we have to proceed with great caution when entering an anchorage.We are finding the landscape very pleasing, with hills which quite possibly could be classed as mountains, a pleasant change from the flat areas around Broome. Peter has to clear the water maker inlet today. No fish again.

Suma Waingapu port another quiet day no fish no wind, at anchor by 1730hrs. cannot see the port from our anchorage, fishing boats on the beach.Decided to stay a day here Peter had some repairs to do in the engine room and I hoisted him up the mast to change the anchor light bulb yet again. Lots of fishermen around in dugouts but they are not any bother, we can see the beach and the trees immediately behind but after that the ground looks bare, there is supposed to be sandalwood trees but I fear that they have all been felled and not replaced.

Padar, a smart anchorage 2 tourist/dive boats to keep us company, we are in a huge bay almost completely enclosed so very calm. Woke up to find 13 canoes around us no bother just fishing. Stayed a day here went snorkeling , best since the Abrolhos islands , lovely coral and quite a few fancy fish, vis not excellent but still very nice although everything has a green tinge . Went to look for Manta rays but didn't find any. We were followed back to the bat by what looked like a fisherman but turned out to be hawkers selling pearls and wooden carvings, suckers that we are we bought a string of very "natural" pearls still only approx. 25 $.

Sumbawa, the usual early start with what has become the normal day hardly any wind or sea didn't catch any fish nothing since Australian waters.The sea has gone back to being blue again, difficult to find a shallow anchorage so we had to drop anchor in 40 m of water. We pass a lot of islands along the way so there is plenty to look at; one was a volcano which looked a bit active i.e. smoking.Ashore from our anchorage is quite green and lush, we are at the entrance to quite a large inlet about 12 miles long which looks as if it would be quite interesting to explore. At sundown the fishing boats appeared and anchored all around us at least 40 and more that went further out, all together there must have been 60 boats. The boats were not just dugouts as we had been seeing; these were quite substantial with outriggers that they dropped nets over then lots of lights.

Labuhanhaji, an island off the north coast of Sumbawa.Fishing boats still all around when we started off 0500 this morning but they were just beginning to disperse presumably to go home and sell their fish. Managed to do a bit of sailing today in between dodging fishermen with their nets, more volcanos' anchored 1700hrs today.

P. Lawang, N.E. Lombok, High hills (mountains even) so quite spectacular cloud over the tops and lots of green.

Sorong Jukung Lombok. The wind gradually came up during this morning and was quite strong by the time we dropped anchor, not in the right direction for us to sail of course; it just made the sea lumpy we even had splashes on deck, the first for quite a while.

NOVEMBER

Bali, Sailed for quite a while today passing hundreds of small fishing canoes all very brightly colored. Rolly anchorage but we went for a swim off the boat but I was not too keen it seemed quite murky when you actually looked with the mask.

Bali Marina, bright sunny day sea full of big swells coming from different directions, large surf either side of the harbour, not scary like Durban but quite interesting! The usual disorganization when we arrived at the marina they were not prepared despite our efforts the advise them of our arrival, they tried to put us on a berth not big enough for our own boat let alone Giriz so we ended up out at anchor yet again. Plenty of action ferries, fishing boats, coasters, tugs and even cruise ships so no outdoor showers, back to being normal again, (how can I say that nothing here is "normal" just normal er).

5 days later we are actually docked in the marina with fenders ropes and all such things.Started to do all the jobs we had been putting off Big excitement we had a text in the middle of the night from Michelle to say that she had just discovered that she is pregnant again so we have grandchild no. 4 on the way , hope she is as lucky as last time.

We will be here for some time Simon will come and visit early December so we should be able to get a few things done before then.

We have managed to replace the roller furling on the Genoa taking the old one down and replacing it with our super hydraulic one all pipes fitted etc.

It's lovely to be here we can get ashore without getting wet there is a Carrefour supermarket and we are meeting new people again. Marilyn came to see us with her daughter as they were on holiday here so all very sociable.