It's not the first time I've left a job without having anything else lined up for when I return, but it is the first time I have no plans of returning...
After packing ROAM with all I need for the adventure a month ago (including; clothes, guitars, surfboards, computer, camera...) I have been living a pretty sparse life, which feels a little like camping in an empty house.
It has been a pretty difficult month watching the first leg of the trip, the crew looked like they had an epic time crossing Bass Strait with our mates Benn, Rozza and Joel keeping Mick and Liss company, I was just at home biting my nails counting down the days left of work.
So on Sat morning grabbed a lift to Launceston Airport, flew to Melbourne, rented a car and drove about 5 hours to Lakes Entrance to meet up with Mick and Liss on ROAM.
Time frame after arrival is going to be pretty tight, Michael has been called to go back to work on the 5th of November, so that gives me 3 full days to feel confident enough to be in charge of ROAM for the next month. First stop, The Central pub at Lakes to see a local cover band, and they sure knew how to please the locals...the beers were cheaper back on ROAM anyway. The public wharf seemed a pretty good place to stay until 3am when about 10 people decided to go crab fishing, we couldn't understand what they were saying but they sure seemed to be having a good time... Next morning: we should really get some boat work done... Surf was really clean though so we sussed out the little beachy on the West side of the Entrance. Had to share it with about 50 seals though. Will get some stuff done soon I'm sure.
Post surf watching the plethora of Seals off the Lakes Entrance barway.
Old mate didn't want to give up his spot on the rock but after watching Sail Surf ROAM episode 2 he realised Liss isn't to be messed with.
The other thing with being absent for the first part of the trip is that I have a stack of footage to trawl through to create a couple of little films to get us underway. So in the first 2 days on board I managed about 10 hours of vid editing to finish the first 2. Both episode 1 and 2 are now online in the film section. Check them out!!!
Bit of Gippsland Lakes cruising for the next couple of days which included dodging an epic Lightning Storm up near Paynesville that may have shorted out our wind indicator on the mast on the way in, and then the Bairnsdale Cup to see Cpt. Mick off.... should be hectic!!!!!!
Barber hauling our borrowed headsail to get the maximum speed out of the slight breeze we had. Made 6.3 knots in 12.8 knots of breeze.
Destination: Paynesville.... Where is that? oh it's right under that evil cloud...
ROAM life is GOOD!!!!!