The first step is to visit the marina office during office hours to exchange notes for a bucket load of $1 coins. Each washing machine and dryer takes 3 coins for a load, and I generally need two loads in each. So at $12 a time, the cost soon mounts up.

 

Although East Coast Marina is the largest marina in Australia, it only has 2 washing machines and 2 dryers for the hundreds of boats located here. There is always a queue of people waiting to use these facilities at any time during the day. So to avoid waiting around I set the alarm and get up at 5:00 a.m. to ensure I have the facilities to myself and can use both machines at once. I leave Grant happily sleeping naked, stripped of all his clothes and PJs, sometimes even the bedding too (no photos of this)!

 

Our boat was located on “D” row about 500m from the laundry. So it was necessary to carry your full week’s laundry, (2 machine loads) and all your detergents, stain removers, softeners etc with you in one trip. This is further complicated by first having to move these items from below decks, up five steps to the cockpit and then along the decks and over the side of the boat. The boat may also be moving if the wind is up and it is also more difficult if it is raining.

 

Once located at the laundry it is simply a matter of time to use the washing machines and dryers. A good book helps pass the time. It is not wise to leave your washing unattended as should it finish and someone is waiting for the machines, they will leave all your clean washing on the bench surfaces which are not always as clean as they should be. You may miss your turn using the dryers.

 

Once done you then have to carry all the items 500m back to the boat, get them on board and take them below. If it is raining you need to cover them so nothing gets wet. Grant is normally up by now and helps get them below.

 

The whole process normally takes about 90 minutes.  I am treated on these days to a cooked breakfast and a much needed cuppa. Cheers for now...

THAT’S IT, FOLKS!!!

Since this episode is taking on the proportions of War and Peace we will have to call it quits for the time being, even though we haven’t yet mentioned Pat and Jim, or Ann and Col, nor have we yet related our adventures from when we finally left East Coast Marina to arriving here at Rooney Point. That will have to wait until next time.

 

By the way, the whales are still singing. The sound is so haunting…

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COMMODORE’S CORNER...continued

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