Tuesday 10 January 2017

Customs and immigration are now combined into the ABF, Australian Border Force. Four of them came aboard upon our arrival onto the floating pontoon outside Cullen Bay Marina lock, announced that we were allowed 2.25 liters of alcohol each, 4.5 liters total, and, after discovering we had 8 (considerably below normal ships stores due West Papua ban on the stuff), assessed duty of 800 dollars. Those fun-loving rascals, yanking our chains like that. $228 per liter over limit? 2 or 3 times what the stuff cost even in overpriced OZ? Obviously kidding, right? They weren't. Liquor interests must have a hell of a lobby. We took the fortunately available option of sealing it in a locker until clearing out of the country and pinky swearing to purchase large quantities of the local, overtaxed booze.

Required a pest inspection from Biosecurity and treatment of all salt water intakes to protect the marinas from evil mussels and such. They're all enclosed behind locks due 6 meter tides. Couldn't run the engine for 10 hours, so stayed on the temporary pontoon until today. All marinas also have a requirement for $5 million in liability insurance. My underwriter, the English gecko, sells a maximum of $2M... Lockmaster agreed to let us in anyway. Australia is more trouble than infamous Indonesia.

Wednesday

However, any disgruntlement was quickly dissipated in Coles, one of two major supermarket chains in Australia. Had forgotten how much fresh stuff could be available and how good it could look. Went in for limes (bio guys took everything fresh) and came out spending over $300. We took a vote and entire crew thinks the developed world (including Australia) doesn't suck too much.

Wednesday.. not the next one, the one after that.

Lost some of the intervening verbiage due not saving for awhile then having to reboot computer. Annoying to me, gratifying for you.

Over last 2 weeks have rather successfully eschewed 2 of 3 favorite deadly sins (you know the ones) which has led to reducing list of maintenance projects and making inroads toward the svelte, leonine physique that drives women wild. A disguise will no doubt be necessary with just 2 more kilo, possibly 3. Seems ideal weight decreases as one matures even though preferred meal contains more fat and sugar. It's not fair.

Well, guess it's time to give up and send this crap. No biggie as everyone is undoubtedly more interested in the entertainment emanating from Washington (for the non-cognoscenti, that's the font of all benevolence in the US). Know my heart's all atwitter like the puppy that gets so excited by new people and novel experience that it pees on the carpet. Jan gets very upset, so it rarely happens anymore.

Jack