Friday's weather was horrific to say the least, extreme winds and very heavy rain stopped us from moving to the Marina.
We made ourselves comfortable at the Queenscliff Cruising Club which is located in Sand Island and decided to stay here till approx Monday.
We went into town for a few hours on Saturday and then in the afternoon we were joined by a 48' yacht Aqua Cadabra from Brighton, an ejoyable evening was had by all.
Today Sunday we are just relaxing and ensuring everything is ready for Mondays departure.
Queenscliff History
Queenscliff is a small town on the Bellarine Peninsula in southern Victoria, Australia, south of Swan Bay at the entrance to Port Phillip.
European explorers first arrived in 1802, Lieutenant John Murray in January and Captain Matthew Flinders in April.
Permanent settlement began in 1836. Land sales began in 1853, the same year the name was changed to Queenscliff by Lieutenant Charles La Trobe, in honour of Queen Victoria.
Originally a fishing village, Queenscliff soon became an important cargo port, servicing steamships trading in Port Philip. A shipping pilot service was established in 1841, and its two lighthouses, the High and Low Lights, were constructed in 1862-63
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Well.... its official.... We are cruisers !!!!
We left Hobsons Bay at 9.35am arrived in Queenscliff at 4.00pm
We were beating close to the wind but still managed to reach Queenscliff on one tack, with winds 15-20 knots waves 1.5 metre it was a good start to a long cruise.
Just sitting in front of the wood fire at the Queenscliff Cruising Club, lovely surroundings with kangaroos roaming the grounds.
Moving to the Queenscliff Marina in the morning. Due to weather conditions we will be here till about Monday.
Just a bit of history:-Williamstown is one of Melbourne's oldest and most interesting suburbs, White settlers first arrived in Williamstown by sailling ship in 1835, with 500 sheep and 500 cows. At first, animals and humans alike had to wade ashore. It was not until 1839 that the first pier and lighthouse were buielt {closeby present-day Gem pier.These were built by convicts and made the unloading of ships much easier. Once unloaded, the animals were quickly moved by shepherds to areas of plentiful pasture and water.
William's Town {named after King William 1v of Britian} was officially named on March 29, 1839 and 3 months later the first land auction took place there. At first, Williamstown was the port for Melbourne as ships unloaded at the sea port and goods were transfered by barges up the Yara River to Melbourne.
The first census in Williamstown was taken in 1841 but was far from accurate. The population at that time was recorded as 259 inhabitans { 190 over 14 years, 46 married couples, 110 single men} However it is believed the true population was considerably more. There were 3 hotels and most of the men worked at occupations related to the port eg. carpenters, merchants, customs officers etc. Being a busy port, there were numerous lodging huses and a constantly changing population.
The years 1842 &1843 saw a sever recession in the port philip District and Williamstown became quite deserted. However things eventually started to pick up, the population grew and the demand for real estate increased. Soon prefabricated structures were being brought from England and bluestone streets were being constructed. With the discovery of gold in Victoria in 1851 the rate of new arrivals in the colony increased dramatically, many of them disembarking at Williamstown, but soon moving north to the gold Fields. It was not unusual to sea literally hundreds of ships in port Philip Bay at one time -0ften deserted by their crews sruck by gold fever.
But some people did stay to settle in Williamstown and by 1858 the population was over 4,000. The add to their comforts, piped Freshwater and gas power arrived in the settlement in the early1860's.
History of Hobsons Bay
Prior to European settlement, the Hobsons Bay area was occupied by the Yalukit-willam clan. A number of sites of significance to the indigenous community are located throughout the municipality, particularly along the coastal trail.
The Council is working in partnership with the Aboriginal community to ensure these sites are protected.
Hobsons Bay was one of the first sites of european settlement in Victoria. There are numerous places of significant heritage importance including:
Former Truganina Explosives Reserve;
Altona Homestead;
Point Gellibrand area;
Old Laverton Schoolhouse;
Spotswood Pumping Station (now Scienceworks); and
Many houses and buildings in Williamstown.
These places link the community back to the beginning of european settlement in Victoria and are of state significance.
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Take care my dear friends and enjoy the journey! ♥♥♥♥
Besos Sandra
Xoxoxoxo
Great to see your adventure has now started. All the best,have a great time and keep safe.
Gary and Deb
May 17, 2012, , Hobsons Bay
The purpose of this blog is for our family and friends to know where and how we are also for us in years to come to reflect and remember our journey.
After years of reading other peoples blogs it was pretty clear from other peoples experiences that the first year is the hardest, its then when people adjust to living aboard, the most expensive and frustrating, it is also when you really get to know the strongest and weakest points of your boat.
After a couple of false starts we are back at Shannons house, we decided to come back to land and restore our confidence and pride and wait for the next weather window and resume our journey with a clear outlook.
We believe that the motor problems are over (certainly hope so) and look forward to the next chapter in our lives.
We take this opportunity in thanking our family and friends for their kind messages, emails and phone calls, its really appreciated.
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Things are sent to test us, to prove our mettle ... I believe you guys will pass whatever is sent your way to test you, with flying colours! ♥♥♥
May 12, 2012, , Melbourne
Here I sit upon the boat
And Ines asks "will it float?"
Cause in the morrow we will take flight,
In the early morning light!
So I ponder here and think
And now look over and see my drink.
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Gary and Deb
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a gray mist on the sea’s face, and a gray dawn breaking.
I must down go to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way, where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
Happy sailing Steve and Ines! Looking forward to reading of your adventures on the blog!
Wishing you fun, excitement and fair weather on your marvelous adventures.
Bravado
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Part of the process of getting ready for our trip was to find a good home for my beloved Charlie. This would have to be one of the most painful things that I had to do in my life.
It had been 6 and half years ago that we got him from the pound, he was in a separate area to all the other dogs and I was advised by the pound lady that he wasnt for sale as he had not been temper tested. I asked her if I could at least hold him, he was so scrawny and trembling from fright, as I picked him he soon started to settle a little and put his little head on my shoulders. The lady was amazed at the transformation and told me that yes I could adopt him.
Took him home and he wanted to be constantly in my arms this was quite hard for me at first as it was like having a baby again and I was really out of practice! In no time Charlie made himself very comfortable and become a very loved member of our family. He became my shadow. would look at me with those big brown eyes and transmit so much love and affection that he had me wrapped around his little paw.
A few weeks ago I was given the contact details for "Paws" a dog re-homing organisation in Sydney, after talking to the lady she mentioned that her sister Kathy might be interested in fostering or adopting Charlie.
The drive to Sydney was awful, not only terribly long and hot but also because I was giving my baby away.
When Kathy came to pick him up , she had an engraved name tag for Charlie. I knew he was going to a good home, she had owned a couple of King Charles in the past and she was very aware of their loving nature.
As it turned out... Charlie didnt just go to a good home he went to a fantastic loving family who love him just as much as I do. I have been told that he is well and truly settle enjoying sleeping on lounges, beds. going on daily walks and watching the world go by from the front door.
As much as I miss him I couldnt had hoped for a better family. For this I will be forever grateful to Kathy and her family.
This experience proves that you can successfully re-home dogs (even older ones) and when the times comes that we are back on land I am pretty sure that I will be involved in some way in re-homing dogs.
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How wonderful to read that you were able to find such a loving home and family for Charlie! Now you will be able to sail away into the sunset (and back again!) with the knowledge that Charlie is as safe and as loved as he was with you.
Wishing you both many, many happy and adventurous days ahead my friends.
Good luck and may good weather lead you all the way
Julie x0x0x0x0x
Theressa xo
