Eden

Eden has an enormous wood chip business that works 24hrs per day. Otherwise a very scenic little place. We arrived after dark last night, and were very confused to find a huge loading jetty seemingly cutting off the bay where we wanted to anchor. We had spoken to the coastal rescue patrol earlier who said that there were a few other boats there and that it would be a good sheltered spot. Eventually decided to be brave and edge past the jetty though it didn't look as though it led anywhere. And suddenly there was the bay with 3 other boats and plenty of space. What a relief. Have now updated our chart and cruising guide.

We had a pretty good trip down from Sydney with the wind and varying current behind all the way except for the last 15 miles when it swung south as expected. It sounds as though it will be back to north east the day after tomorrow, so if it looks settled we will attempt the infamous Bass Strait to the Furneaux Group of islands just of the NE corner of Tasmania.

There is a good volunteer system of marine rescue services along the Australian coast. We can log in at our departure point, and our details are passed on to the next station down the coast. By 'logging on' every 50 miles or so, a record is kept of progress, and presumably a search would be mounted if you didn't arrive Also the volunteers have local knowledge, and are happy to give details of anchorages and facilities as well as weather reports.

We hope to go back to Sydney later in the year, so didn't explore much this time. B and B took us to Bondi beach where we had a swim - quite chilly water compared to the warm waters north of Brisbane. Also no surf as it was a calm sunny day. B and B had bought tickets for Mama Mia, the stage show, which was great. All that 70's music is so nostalgic, and it was a lovely razzle dazzle. The other (for me) very nostalgic moment was having a pie and mushy peas at the famous Harry's pie stall in Woolloomooloo. I last had a pie there in 1971!