The beginning of the end was probably
"what a bunch of soft sausages" lobbed across the bows via
email late at night right before the 2017 Coffee Cruise was due to
convene. Plans for six sausages and the owner of two melons to meet
at Tathra at 9 am for a pre-trip coffee were suddenly cast into
disarray. Sausages were flying everywhere in splinter groups that
bore little resemblance to the original plan. Two sausages did get
in their kayaks and found themselves camped in a quiet lagoon, one
sausage decided to stay away altogether, and four other sausages went
(unintentionally) 4 wheel driving. It was looking more like a Chaos trip than a Coffee Cruise.
Packing the kayaks for another day of cruising, PC DB
Day two things settled into a pleasant
routine of easy cruising north along the scenic coastline, punctuated
by lonely camps on deserted beaches, and stories; lots and lots of
stories of bravery, heroism, and the occasional buxom female.
On the third day, we packed camp in an
easterly wind and paddled north across a surprisingly lumpy sea to
Bermagui. I found it a long 16 km and judging by how stiffly
everyone else staggered out of their boats at Main Beach, I was not
the only one. After a long rest, we headed south again, pulling into
a quiet beach and setting up camp on a gum shaded grassy field
overlooking Montague Island.
Sausages at sea, PC DB
We had perfect sailing conditions on
our fourth day and ran down-wind easily passing rocky headlands and
small surf strewn beaches to a sheltered camp in a warm lagoon. I
passed the afternoon wandering in an unexpected rain shower along a
deserted and wind-stripped beach.
Lonely beach, PC DB
And, finally, the end. A calm morning
on the water, some spilling surf to land in, and, of course, for the
sausages, the admiring gaze of bonny ladies on the beach.
Sailing, PC, DB
Watch the video here.
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