Sunny Qld -not !! Yamba- Southport

Sunny Queensland- not !!
     Here we are in Southport and it's freezing-but at least we missed the terrible weather down south-we knew when to leave Port Mac.!
    Since the last news we have had a much more relaxed time-getting used to being retirees.The job in Yamba took longer than expected because freight bypasses the town so it took an extra couple of days for the additional prep products needed to properly treat the condition of one mini keel which had a surface problem before applying the antifoul. Now Two XS has a very clean bottom and adds more speed to our trips.It was pretty weird living 20 feet up a ladder for 6 days especially when it poured for the last 24 hours,making paint-drying a nightmare.
    While we were in the area waiting for suitable sailing conditions we became well acquainted with Iluka across the river and were lucky to find Tony at Crystal Solutions,an amazingly well-stocked electrical,electronics,computer store,who not only sorted out our Gps-laptop link,but improved our tv reception by personally installing a set top box etc-on boat service!He took heaps of his own time but insisted he just wanted to see us properly set up to head off again.
    Decided to see a bit of the Big River so we headed up to Harwood,and were at the right place at the right time to meet up with a group of Yamba Yacht clubbers,who welcomed us by inviting us to join them at their evening BBQ.What a great group and a fun night. Next day we accompanied them as they had booked the Harwood Bridge opening for their annual upriver sail to Lawrence.   We continued on as far as Ulmarra, a heritage village,which had a great wharf but a pub with no food-they had served 120 lunches and were out of supplies.
     Next morning we set off back downriver calling in at Maclean where we had been marooned in the pub during a flood in the 60's on our way back from the Gold Coast.The town hasn't changed much.The shops were right next to the wharf so we were able to stock up very conveniently without having to carry stuff for miles and then load it into the ducky and back to the boat.We caught up with the Yamba group back waiting for the bridge re-opening and sat and enjoyed the perfect weather that we had had all weekend while the storms were raging down south.
    The next few days were not as good and we stayed at Iluka in the bay waiting for good winds.We finally sailed out of Yamba on Sat, arriving in Ballina and mooring conveniently on the town jetty. just on low tide so had to wait around for about 1.5 hrs-but the whales turned on a great show for us,leaping and diving quite close.The bar crossing was very tense as waves roll in sets from both angles towards the river opening so you have to time and count, then gun both motors,but we made it with no trouble.Next morning going out we got through ok but turned north too soon ,and caught a bit of a breaker tilting the boat up-a few minor breakages in the galley and Bodi's eyes grew a bit wide.
     We had estimated 12 hours to Southport but had such a great wind we were flying at up to 12.5 knots,averaging 6.7, that we did it in 9hrs and it was still daylight as we arrived.We have made Bums' Bay our anchorage-along with about 6 other big cats and yachts-close to Nara and Seaworld.Yesterday we took ourselves across the Broadwater and anchored amongst boats on Southport Yacht Club buoys-not appreciated!       Well it was very convenient to Australia Fair and the P.O. to collect our mail , but we did not approve of them moving Two XS away from their moorings! Today we spent time onshore buying a trolley to carry back gear because our arms are stretching too much.We've caught up with a few people here and are planning to set off again through the back channels towards Moreton Bay probably on Friday 22nd weather permitting of course.The trouble is,we're becoming so relaxed we sometimes don't even know what day it is-poor old retirees!