On the first weekend in May 2018 we arranged a long weekend away on a house boat in the Hawkesbury's Cowan Creek. Myself and the kids headed off first with Alex to join us later that night via water taxi. Driving to Brooklyn we loaded up our floating home with supplies then headed off on our adventure. The 45 foot boat seemed easy enough to drive in the open water but when we got to Refuge Bay where we wanted to stay for the night we had a lot of drama.
Finding a mooring was difficult, then manoeuvring the boat which has two engines that were slow to respond to steering meant you would often over shoot it. We ended up having a crisis - I went over a buoy and then using the buoy hook pole tried to pull it up but ended up ramming it into Hollanders mouth and braces - screaming, bleeding and panic ensued. I had lost control of the boat, was concerned about ramming into the neighbouring expensive yacht and the approaching rocks. Without attending Hollander I had to flip the table on the deck and throw anchor while yelling orders to Oren to phone base to ask for a rescue.
Thankfully the anchor held us and the helpful support person untangled the anchor from the buoy when they finally came. We were then taken to a great sheltered mooring for the night and settled in - the crisis over. The kids ended up having a ball puttering in the motor dingy and kayaks to the little sandy beach which had a water fall. I even saw a sea turtle swimming out, so we all recovered from the ordeal though a little shaken and bruised.
Alex arrived that night after 9pm via water taxi and because of no mobile reception and therefor no GPS position he had to be led into the bay and our boat via a flashing torch - lots of fun!
The next day we headed off to Cottage Point determined to get the manoeuvring right this time, we managed to successful moor on a public mooring then like pros puttered the dingy into Cottage Point Kiosk for morning tea and newspapers. We then took off to Waratah Bay for our last mooring where the kids had a great time hooning about on the motorised dingy.
We loved the whole weekend and plan on going back next year.
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| Yachtie barrows. |
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| We can do this! Why do they rent out these things to people who have never driven one to nearly ram into expensive yachts! |
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| Going under Brooklyn Bridge rail track. |
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| Interior kitchen / lounge area. |
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| Refuge Bay water fall. |
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| Refuge Bay |
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| Upper deck. |
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| Oren cooking breakfast. |
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| Caught the one fish twice! |
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| Morning tea at Cottage Point Kiosk. |
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| The challenging mooring buoy. |
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| Morning mist. |
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| Heading home with gear in tow. |
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| Lion Island Pitt Water |
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