Kalamatta

Sold in the book as a friendly, efficient marina with power and water on each berth, we thought we'd spend a few days here collecting spares for the boat, getting laundry done and the girls doing what girls do when in a big town...

The marina was quite full and very tight. No room to anchor and Med Moor, Jack's first experience with a 'slime line' . If you are new to this blog and confused by these terms, you'll need to go back to early posts for the full explanation.

A very loud harbour master who clearly had little experience with catamarans. We found ourselves having to overrule just about every bellowed command in order to get in without damaging ours or other boats. Once we finally got him to understand what we were doing, he capitulated and started to listen.

Tied on, bikes off, power and water connected, air con on... Time to check out the town, that from where we stood did not look very inviting.

I rode for miles through very shabby neighbourhoods wondering 'what the!' Where is everything/anything. Miles.... Finally crossed a cycle track, many more miles until I hit the big piazza/mall. Very impressive, but fashion was not why we were here. A chandlery or fishing shop please??

I returned to the boat hot, sweaty and disillusioned, not to mention the very saw bum!

When it cooled down a little, Sal, the kids and I headed off again and we did discover a tiny chandlery managed by a very helpful person who directed us to all the places we needed to go. We found a huge jumping castle and 'carny' park for the kids and they had a blast. Pizza and home having decided on a big re provision shopping trip in the morning and then, outta there.

The supermarket was miles away, but Sal managed to pursued the boss to load up not only the large pile of groceries, but her bike, take her to the butcher, wait while she shopped there and bring her and all her shopping back to the boat!

By 12:15 we had it all packed away or refrigerated, paid our dues, cast off and left... So much for the planned 'few' days in Kalamatta...

You have probably got the feeling that there are not too many photographs and not much to be said for Kalamatta.... And just in case you were wondering, this is the home of the Kalamatta olive. Duh!

'