July 6-9,
Hi All,
We are back from the road trip around Darwin safe and sound (came back yesterday, July 14). But, before I update the blog on that trip in the next few days, I will post some pictures of the passage from Horn Island to Darwin.
I last left the blog we were just settling into Cullen Bay Marina. Well, for the next 4 days it was a list of hot yoga projects in the eingine room and confusion with the Rally. We had heard the Rally was not all that organized, like get ready……neither is the country of Indonesia……great!!!! Good example…..we were told by the Rally to please get here 2-3 weeks in advance so you have time to get your Indonesia Visa…..ok, we show up 19 days in advance to find out the Embassy is closed for the week for Ramadan……if we would have known that we could have been here 23 days early……now with our upcoming 5 day trip around Darwin we will apply with a week before we go…..it could happen:)))) If we leave late, we leave late…..can you imagine John boy being that lackadaisical 5 years ago:))))
Through other fits and starts we were able to figure out how to obtain the Indonesia currency, Rupiah, and to order online some of the provisions…..very convenient…..Woolworth’s delivers directly to the marina….sweet as!!!
Boat Stuff:
Watermaker: the beat goes on…….we did find the Spectra dealer and bought new membranes at about 2x the price in USA….ugh!!! And the tech was able to supply the parts to confirm pressures so I will be doing all that in the next few days……stay tuned for the rest of the story!!!
Engine Room: well, good news……Gen oil changed, check, the engine and transmission oil changed, check, all the zincs checked/changed, check……bad news, in the process of changing the zincs on the transmission gear cooler, the cooler started to leak saltwater……a crack right below where the zinc is located…..great, not……so I got to spend the entire morning changing out this cooler……yes, this is the same one we lost in the Bahamas and on our way from Tonga to New Zealand…..it had 1400 hours on it so probably time to change!!!
We also got the Yamaha throttle cable replaced!!! And Mystic is all washed and all the SS has been polished….she is looking good and ready to go!!!!
Another block went out…..can you believe it……this is the one under the boom to lift the dinghy…..arghhhhhh. These are about 11 years old and 2 fail within 2 weeks, yikes!! Fortunately we could find replacement blocks here in Darwin!!
Hope all is well!!
Cheers,
John
Mystic Moon
REST MYSTIC REST!!
Leaving the Horn Island anchorage
Thursday Island directly across from Horn Island…..doing about 14 kts!!!!
Thursday Island on the left, Horn Island on the right…..still doing about 12 kts!!!
Malyay Bay on the Coburg Peninsula
Garhauer Block…..the one on the top of the mast to lift the boom!! See the SS bearings are locked and not turning….not good!!!
Black Point on Coburg Peninsula
Opening Ceremonies in Darwin…..one happy Admiral!!!!
The infamous transmission oil cooler
The CRACK….to the right of the zinc……arghhhhh!!!
Sunset at Wessels
Two crocidile tracks at Black Point
Crocidile on sand bar in Malay Bay
Sunset at Black Point….the orange is from all the smoke from burning the grass in the forests
The locks at Cullen Bay Marina
Mystic in the locks……Kathy handling the bow line, John is working the stern line
Exiting……absolutely no current…sweet as!!