Copacabana

Flee was to fly to New Zealand the day after our Copacabana adventure so the three of us made sure to spend her last day in awesome style. The Hellfish borrowed his dads yacht and we took to the Hammerhead breeding grounds of the Hawkesbury River.

Although only a short distance North of Sydney, the weather was getting pretty good, so after cruising out to our chosen lunch spot, a secluded bay area, Decca and the Geeza donned wetsuits and went for a swim, yup – in a shark breeding ground. Though I was thinking “hey, if they’re breeding then they’re not gonna be worried about attacking me – make love not war eh?”. We were also armed with spear-fish guns so at least we wouldn’t be sitting ducks. After some snorkelling and taking another fear defying cliff jump, we climbed back on board the Lyric for some beers before thinking about cruising back to Machan’s Marina.

I’d been a bit lazy on the way out, so I was nominated as captain for the majority of the trip home… Decca and Flee lounged at the front of the boat. With the warm sun setting, my iPod providing an awesome soundtrack, life felt about as good as it could be. From the front of the boat though, Decca started waving to me to go left. I pulled out my ear plugs and he carried on waving left so I started to turn the vessel. Except with some confusion, he wanted me to go hard left. I didn’t and we, rudly hit a sandbank killing the mood instantly… oops. Luckily we got away with being able to reverse out and cruise on, rather than me have to jump in the water to effectively dig us out.

After clearing up the boat and getting packed up, we went into town for some pool, beers and Chinese food before heading back to Deccas cliff-top pad.

At something like 3 or 4am, I forget the exact details, the 3 of us got up to get Flee off to the train destined for Sydney airport. With seconds to spare, an emotional Flee waved goodbye before the carriages obscured the view… besides Decca and me were already headed back home celebrating… err, nah – just jokin Flee!

After getting some sleep, it was time to try some surfing again. Last time had been with Decca and the Lube-dog back in WA, now on the East coast – I still had little hope of even making it to the waves. True to form, I managed to cut my foot and get beat by those waves whilst Decca showed me how it was done.

A curry lunch, some final chores out of the way, it was time for the Hellfish and I to part company, and for me to take a final look from what's gotta be one of the best views to wake up to (below). I took a train to Gosford where I’d spend an hour or so waiting for my bus to the North-East tip of NSW.