Winter in the south

As you may have noticed Capt G and I, aboard Roo Bin Esque, are still down south in Port Phillip Bay. Like migratory birds most yachties head north for the winter months, but this year we decided to try something a little different.

Having lived in Cairns for 16 years, and we still call it home, we’ve had our fair share of balmy winters. Since our mission is to explore the paths less travelled we decided that a winter in Victoria would be a challenge.

The first thing we needed was heating and thankfully Roobi comes with air-conditioning -which we’ve never used before. I can report it warms the boat up beautifully! The next things we needed were thermal underwear, a coat or two, gloves, beanies, boots and jumpers. Now we look the part we’ve been out and about exploring – although contrary to Melbourne fashions we’re not dressed head to toe in black.

Today when we dropped anchor at Portarlington it struck me what was different about a southern winter. As a Queenslander I’m used to seeing people on the beach in winter because half of Australia heads north for some warmth. Down here we have the beaches to ourselves.

No colourful umbrellas, no beach towels, no sharp smell of sunscreen, no screams of delight from small children, no dogs barking, and no suntanned lifeguards. Instead there are clusters of dog-walkers sheltering behind trees or cars, their beanies pulled low. The seagrass has been washed up in swathes by the recent heavy weather. Dragging the dinghy ashore means my toes take half an hour to defrost. And there’s no suggestion at all of swimming ashore!

Yet it has its own beauty with the bare branches of trees turning silver with the sunset. The colours of the sunrises have been magnificent some mornings, keeping me spellbound even as my fingers stop being able to feel the camera. The wind can bite, stinging our eyes, but it can also cast a swirl of orange leaves into the sunlight stopping me dead in my tracks.

We’re headed for Queenscliffe tomorrow and Swan Lagoon. While we were in Tasmania at Melaleuca we saw the endangered Orange Bellied Parrots just before they headed north. Turns out they migrate to Swan Lagoon so we’re hoping to see the little fellas again in their winter home. Seems we’re not the only ones taking the path less travelled!

The view across Lime Burners Bay

Look up towards the Grand Hotel Portarlington.

Sunset at Portarlington

Sunrise at Limeburners Bay

The endangered Orange Bellied Parrots.