Sydney 25 April 2007

I'm freezing! We left Townsville 2 weeks ago in bright sunshine and a pleasant 30C only to be greeted as we arrived in Sydney last Sunday by torrential rain and 15C. We are staying with friends who live along the same foreshores where we built illywhacker years ago in the peace and quiet of our old "creek", protected by the shade of overhanging trees. There were just a few boats anchored in the creek then - it was a beautiful place, the most noise came from screeching cockatoos, laughing kookaburras and the occasional "plop' of a fish jumping. Many of the trees have been replaced by packed-together, ostentatious housing. The waterway is jam-packed Now I remember why we left 11 years ago! The plan is to move to an ex-yachtie friend's house while they drive around Australia in a caravan. Next best idea if sailing becomes too hard I suppose!