Di Welch

DiJohnstravels

Di Welch

We love our Australian country and sea. We have travelled many thousands of kilometres in the beautiful outback of Australia, into quite remote areas. Sometimes not seeing anyone for some days or weeks! The sunsets, history, fauna and flora are just what our gorgeous Australian country land is about. Sitting around the campfire, even in 45 degrees heat, is magical, watching the sunset and then engulfing the majesty of the stars!
We often follow the old stock routes, the Murranji Stock and the Humbert River area are our favourites. One day when we're too old for the camper and the remote outback we'll do the Australian coasts!
Not only do we love our Aussie land but also our water ways and sea. So if we're not outback you might find us blogging about our water ventures.

Paynesville & Marley Point Overnight Race

Oceans and Seas » Pacific » Tasman Sea March 13th 2018

Birthday roast

DiJohnstravels

After leaving Barrier Landing we headed to Ocean Grange, a lovely cruise in via some tight channels. Again a pretty spot on the lakes, we had some lunch, a walk over to 90 Mile Beach then decided to move onto Duck Arm for the night. Duck Arm is another favourite location for us so we were looking forward to revisiting after a few years. Swing moorings are available throughout the arm but unfortunately all the mooring lines on the buoyes were no longer attached. This meant that John needed to reverse the boat close enough to the swing mooring so that Di could reach out and thread a line through the mooring eye - then John kept gently reversing whilst Di held on to allow the mooring whilst walking up to the bow so that the ... read more

Barrier Landing

Oceans and Seas » Pacific » Tasman Sea March 7th 2018

Barrier Landing

DiJohnstravels

We've spent the last 3 days at Barrier Landing just taking in the tranquility of this area. There has been a few boats come & go during our stay here, a few of the yachts that will be doing the Marley Point Overnight Race over the weekend, left this morning to start their two day journey to Marley Point. Yesterday we walked along 90 Mile Beach to the Entrance - the bar. A good walk on very soft sand that took about 3 hours in all. The sea was flat, just prefect for a jet ski to come out through the Entrance for a fast ride on the sea. The dredger remained doing its thing & the internal dredgers at the crossing of the entrance were also busy as we could see the sand being pumped ... read more

Memorial plaques on Barrier Landing jetty

Sadly no Tassie

Oceans and Seas » Pacific » Tasman Sea March 5th 2018

Refuge Cove

DiJohnstravels

So on the following day, Thursday 1st March we all hiked up to 3 pip rock to get sufficient signal for the weather forecast to be downloaded and of course phone home, check messages & emails. The weather was ok for tomorrow but then another change would mean we would need to wait at Deal Island until about Tuesday. John phoned Mike to see how the Searay had gone on the sea trial - it was mid afternoon but the sea trial still hadn't taken place. After considerable discussion with the other members John & I decided not to continue with the Tassie crossing, we remained sceptical that the Searay would be seaworthy by tomorrow. We would leave the cove tomorrow and spend a couple of weeks at the Gippsland Lakes. The other large yacht also ... read more

Recovery rest day

Oceans and Seas » Pacific » Tasman Sea February 28th 2018

Bat Cave Refuge Cove

DiJohnstravels

The swell had subsided overnight, but remained a bit rolly this morning. This is not what we wanted in the cove. The cove has 13 boats anchored, all waiting for the next front to pass which is expected to hit around 11am. Everyone slept until late morning and the day was spent waiting waiting for the weather to change once again. Photo caption: "Holy cow Batman, the bat cave!" Late in the morning probably closer to lunchtime we ventured over to Heatwave, the catamaran with us for a coffee. Whilst we we there the Brighton catamaran broke anchor and took off straight for us. The speed was incredible, we all thought it had its motor going, fortunately Andrew started his cat and moved forward about 2 feet and the wayward catamaran pulled up about 2 feet ... read more

QCYC to Refuge Cove

Oceans and Seas » Pacific » Tasman Sea February 28th 2018

DiJohnstravels

QCYC to Refuge CoveWe were up at 3.45 (Tuesday 27th Feb) & all ready to leave dockside by about 4.30. Following some kaos on the wharf from a Brighton boat, behind us we were able to be on our way.Only 4 of the 13 Brighton boats left (stating weather as the reason) & sadly one of our yachts pulled out last night. Richard was disappointed but was the right decision for he and Ruth. Our group's catamaran joined "Kate" & "Imagine" from Queenscliff marina. We joined the convoy of Brighton & QCYC yachts proceeding out through the heads, tootaling via 4 Fingers West Channel. Going at those 5 knots was interesting, however thankfully John decided almost at the washing machine that Imagine needed a few more revs so we quietly slipped passed one the yachts for ... read more

Bass Strait adventure begins

Oceans and Seas » Pacific » Tasman Sea February 26th 2018

Fabulous book

DiJohnstravels

well after sitting waiting for 3 days now for the weather to change it looks like tomorrow we will venture through the heads to Refuge Cove. The last 3 days have been long, windy and at times boring. We have 6 boats in our group, one yacht left Friday night from Westernport to beat the weather, they've been at Refuge Cove since Saturday waiting for us all to arrive. The other sports cruiser will leave from Port Albert on Thursday and we'll meet them "on the way, somewhere to Deal Island". The catamaran is berthed in Queenscliff marina whilst the other two yachts arrive here at QCYC on Friday. Certainly the few days we've had with them has been terrific, getting to know them and lots of laughs. Should be a good cruise. The plans are ... read more

Day 1 - QCYC

Oceans and Seas » Pacific » Tasman Sea February 21st 2018

image

DiJohnstravels

We arrived at SYC about 11.30, the wind was still blowing a bit so after we had organised the last few things on the boat we decided to have a coffee. Finally we were off, a rather uneventful trip to QCYC except for two interesting situations. Firstly we crossed the bow of Sea Shepard, an imposing ship with all its gear & the skull & crossbow. She was travelling at only about 2knots it was difficult to tell for awhile if the ship was moving. When we'd past we noticed a large amount of smoke coming from the funnel - not normal & the speed or lack thereof go us wondering was everything ok. It got too much for John he radioed them to see if all was ok ...... The reply came back, "All good, ... read more

Weather determines it all in boating

Oceans and Seas » Pacific » Tasman Sea February 20th 2018

DiJohnstravels

Isn’t boating fun, you plan a trip & then the weather changes so we are delayed. Yesterday & today although the sun is shining, beautiful day the winds are not favourable for us on the bay. Yesterday a gale warning & today strong wind warning. At home it’s just a beautiful late summer day! Lucky we don’t need to be at the bottom end of the bay until Friday - so with more pleasant conditions tomorrow for the bay we’ll head off then. A nice day to rest & enjoy home before our trip. ... read more

Trip preparations!

Oceania » Australia » Victoria » Doncaster May 18th 2017

DiJohnstravels

This morning John and I sat and had a coffee and to discuss how long this next outback trip might need to be and which way we would go. So it looks like we will need about 6 weeks to do this round trip. We need to get to Gregory National Park, NT - this is the Humbert River area, where many of the stock years ago commenced the long journey south east to market. Although we have skirted close by it about 4 years ago on our way from Arnhem Land to Canning Stock Route and of course last year when we did the Murranji Stock Route, but we ran out of time to get to Gregory National Park. This trip will allow us to explore the Gregory National Park and on the way home ... read more

Joined	May 18th 2017	Trips	1
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