Boating On The Nepean River

Sunday 29th March 2009. This will probably be the last time out in the boat before the winter arrives. Not as stressful as previous times but still a few dramas.

Firstly we arrived at Windsor to find a water skiing thingy on, so we decided to go to Penrith and get on the Nepean River. This boat ramp is a lot busier than Windsor and smaller.
Anyway got the boat in, still had problems starting it but away it went until hub thought he had it in neutral and next thing I saw was the boat coming back towards me up the ramp. Woopsie.
Blondie here had to drive the Ute and trailer off to the parking area. Never reversed a boat trailer before and couldn't even see it. So after a few shunts back and forth I decided to go around the one way, past the launch ramp and back in to the car park. On the way I had to pass all the other guys waiting to launch their boats. Well one guy stopped me and this is the conversation we had.
Guy - "Can't you wait your turn"
Me - "Beg ya pardon"
Guy - "There is a queue for the launch, wait your turn"
Me - "Excuse me! Get your facts right, I was only doing a swing around to get back in the car park. I am not wanting the ramp"
Guy - "You don't have to be so rude"
Me - "Beg ya pardon. Me? Rude? Isn't accusing someone of doing something before finding out what they are actually doing rude?"

That was me stressed coz this guy had peed me off and I couldn't park the trailer. Luckily hub had hooked up the boat and come to help.
Yayyy in the boat, up the river we go. Yep bestest boat trip in a while. Found a quiet spot, dropped anchor and read my mags. Oh got sunburnt too. We must have just relaxed floating on the river for a couple of hours. Mmmm now that's what I call boating.On arriving back at the launch ramp we had to pick up a stranded jet skier and his son as their jetski was sinking. Our poor old boat couldn't steer with the jetski dead weight on it. Luckily another jet skier rescued them. Boat seemed easier this time to get back on the trailer and we set off home all cozily tired and hungry.

Second Boat Trip

I can't believe we went out in the boat again. Not so much of a disaster as the first time, see "We had to laugh"

All hooked up and ready for the off and hub couldn't find the boat keys. He looked for ages so I thought had better help him. Got out of the passenger seat of the ute and there they were. I was sitting on them.

Off we go! So we thought. Got to the end of our road and hub realised he hadn't got his wallet (we needed fuel for the boat) so U-turn at the end, with boat in tow and back home we trot. Again he was searching and searching eventually found his wallet had fallen out of his trousers and was down the side of the bed.

OK U-turn at the other end of our road and off we trot again.

Yeah, we get to boat ramp site. Must have a pee before we set off. Boathouse loos are locked. Great! Find somewhere to squat. With boaters coming back and forth that was quite hard. Eventually relieved!!!

Boat on ramp, in the water and me to unhook it. Had to roll my jeans up and, oh dear, hadn't shaved my legs for ages, looked like a bloomin' porcupine.... Anyway off hubby goes to the jetty whilst I park up the ute and trailer.

Once I was in the boat we could relax and take a slow drive up the river. Beautiful sunshine, not too breezy .... bliss. Just happended to look behind and saw this.

OK no problem we are going in the direction of the sunshine, the storm was behind us.

We also spotted these cuties, decided we wanted to retire here and then quickly changed our minds. What if the river rose after too much rain. Good point, didn't want to have a heart attack before our times were up.

After about an hour we decided we had better head back. Looking at the sky it wasn't too bad until we saw the flash of lightning go accross it. Alas we carried on towards dry land. Almost back to the boat ramp, another 10 minutes driving and we got it. The downpour, I mean. We were cold and wet and, by then, just wanted a hot cup of coffee.

As this trip was a lot better that the first one the boat remains and we will do it again. It can only get better!!!

We have to laugh!!!

How was my Sunday? Hmmm???

Bought a boat 5 months ago and did our licenses. Took the boat out for it's first launch today. Beautiful sunshine, not too hot..........ok so far. We are not in the water yet!!

It took about an hour for the damn thing to start. Got settled, relaxed and read my book. Mmmm nice I hear you say!

Dwain (my son, last pic) drove for a while and was over zealous on the throttle leaving me screaming at him and losing my Billabong cap (it just blew off and sank). That was my favourite cap and i still had it on when the above pic was taken. Whilst trying to retrieve my cap we ended up banked and had to use the oars to push out of the mud. I decided I had had enough (heart was racing now) and they dropped me off so I could go home and left the boys carry on (Pete, a family friend came too). Anyway, they nearly ran out of fuel and had problems getting the boat back on the trailer so they all had to jump in the water (waist high). Pete had his mobile phone, digital camera and wallet in his pockets, ruined now. Barry (hubby) had his wallet in his pocket. They eventually got home and took the trailer off the car (didn't put the bricks under the wheels) and both of them couldn't hold it so the trailer and boat rolled down the drive, breaking the gate and ripping some fence panels out.

So all in all it was a great first day on the boat.