Just Cruizin On Bluemoon

Log 79

We arrived back from our road trip andwere happy to have had the opportunity to explore Malaysia, such abeautiful country!

We assessed our future plans and knew,sadly, our time had come to move on down South... we provisioned, didthe maintenance and services needed … while waiting for our sailto arrive from Melacca, and some school paces - then came the evensader occasion.... we went to say farewell to our wonderful friendsAmanda, Fakhrees and Azul.... of course the tears flowed!!! Langkawiwould never have been so special if it had not been for Zaid andthem... so with heavy hearts we left after dark, and while walkingto get the last of our provisions, we saw Zaid's parents across theroad, they stopped to say farewell to us which was so nice and sospecial for us all. Really amazing people!!

We left early the following morning andheaded for Penang which we have come to thoroughly love! John wentwith the bike to sign in and out... We saw Ilya there and met anotherboat with the most amazing people! Daniel and his wife Hiro, andtheir three sons, one, Sam, who is 16 and Jono's age which wasstunning! They all had a great time, just such a pity it was such ashort time!!! Sam, we have later found out is a genuine musician!! Hehas songs on you-tube which is truly brilliant!! Love the style andlyrics of his music!! Really talented! Yet we hope to see them allagain soon on their way down south too. We provisioned the lastgoodies we needed, then the kids headed for a checkup at the dentistthen it was shopping for the nice things!! Just a few hehehe

We headed off the next morning earlyand headed for Pancor which was a really long day at the helm... veryhot! Dodged a few nets and rubbish floating on the currents which wasyet again shocking to see rope the thickness of your arms along withnets, medical bottles, cups, shoes and a lot of other things...plastic is a big problem too as it can wrap around the props! Soinstead of the relaxed trip, we were all eyes open scanning for therubbish so as to zig zag through it... some huge tree trunks that canbreak your gelcoat off if not hole it!! Still... exciting and a greatsail! Also always awesome being on the ocean again.

After a long hot day we were happy tosee Pancor and headed in on a high tide to finaly drop anchor next toPlain sailing. We enjoyed relaxing the next day, cooling off from theprevious day. We saw the weather looking rather overcast and werethrilled it was not as hot, yet we knew a storm was brewing justlooking at the clouds and the horizon... our next stop was supposedto be out in the open ocean... which was impossible!! The “ calm” seas turned nasty within an hour! The wind was up and we were allhobyhorsing through the swells which were getting bigger!! Bob andDedre' never saw the water like that in this area before! We were upone swell then down the next, coming up we had to check to see wherePlain sailing was. Jono and I were upfront in our roadwork outfitsLOL! It is for heavy weather, with aluminous tape all over it andbright orange, so you can spot anyone of us in the pitch dark! Wewere enjoying the roughness and rain, till the booming thunderstarted along with the fork lightening!! Now that is scary! Alightening bolt infront of us, then around the side and so it went...standing on deck with the lightening makes you yet again realize howfragile and small you actually are!! We were all going “WOW” didyou see that! As if any of us could miss that thick bolt into thewater!! From around 10 that morning we were roughing it... drenchedactually and I had to go and change into something warm then put onmy wet road gear again to keep watch. Our hand were wrinkled, eyesblood red from the hard pellots hitting into them even with a peakon! It was black... dark and stormy the whole day! At times we couldnot see infront of us so put the radar on as their were quite a fewships and lots of fishing boats! We kept on past the anchorage wewere supposed to stop at as the swells were really pretty rough toanchor in! Nav lights were on the whole day... we actually thought itwas a sumatra on the way, as the winds were up to 35 knots .. wefound an anchorage north of Klang near a river mouth, and headed fortheir checking the depth sounder permanently.. we could not see landor anything actually, as it was so dark and misty all around us,though it was slightly calmer, so we dropped anchor though felt wewere still sailing.... with all the slamming and rocking androlling... It was SOOOOO nice having a hot shower, a good cuppa anda bite to eat then straight to bed! Exhausted!!

We woke to a lovely day, still overcastbut nice and calm and land!! Also had a good few fishing boatsmotoring close past the boat to get a look at all of us as we were intheir fishing spot! They had been dropping nets and buoys right nextto us!!! We all lifted anchor then headed past all the staringfishermen right next to us!!!

It took us part of the day to zigzagthrough the harbour and the very many container ships anchoredwaiting to offload their cargo. It was really nice as the layout madeus think of the stretch coming from the bluff down the main channelto the marina, except with a lot more ships anchored in the middle!! Pretty with all the green around … then by late afternoon we werefollowing Bob on Plain sailing into Port Dickson... only problem washe had the wrong waypoint and we turned hard to starboad as he wasskirting a reef which he realized thankfully soon enough as he hadthe wrong spot he was heading to! Close call there!! Jono up the mastdirecting us out the reef spots!! Then it was into Port Dicksonmarina which had a small mouth to go in by but ever so calm!! What apretty marina! Bob and Deidre were infront of us, and we wereanchoring on the outer wall behind them – but we heard Dedre'yelling at Bob! Saw some action then found that the fenders had alllifted up by the jetty as they were too high still! They scraped theside of their boat while a couple climbed off their boat, the one wewere next too and told them to stop shouting and yelling like that!!Dedre' told them to either help or shut up!! We then arrived andmoored on with Bob and Dedre helping to tie us on... shortly aftermooring up we went up to the pool which was truly stunning!!! Reallyfive star and climbed in... amazing!! Lovely and so cooling!!! Theguys signed in while the kids and us swam – unwinding. We all had agreat evening …. sleeping very well! Then it was a full day ofwashing the boat, cleaning … doing the clothes washing andmaintenance.... exhausting actually with the heat, then a shower anda long walk to the bus stop to head into town. It was really nicestopping and trying fruit we have never seen before!!! Lovely fruit!!We went wild!! lol Then it was off to the Chinese man to buy “sliced chicken” which actually was bacon as in these parts theyare not supposed to sell any form of pork, but we again went wild andbought LOTS of bacon and other goodies, then it was off to thesupermaket which is really big with everything, and again we boughtway more things than we intended, but with John's Birthday the nextday we allowed it as we do not really snack or eat junk food often...then the rain came down in buckets!!! Lightening and thunder...Lovely!! We decided to catch a taxi back to the club as it is abouttwo ringets per person for the taxi... so Jono went with Bob andDedre' while John, the girls and I went with the other taxi. Again weslept well!! We awoke to a wonderful day! John's birthday! Justinemade pancakes with honey which we all enjoyed then a great few cuppacoffees! We all walked a few ks to a chinese resturant which Bob andDedre thought would be nice... it was fantastic actually!! We allshared and enjoyed each others meals which was soooooo fulling!!!Then a long walk back in the very hot sun heheheh aloooooooooooooooooooong swim in the pool, then some coffee and cakewhich really did not fit after such a filling meal!! A really lovelyday!

Tomorrow morning, the 22ndwe will head off to Melacca which we heard via the rally that justpassed there, that the swells were so bad in the marina that everyonewas helping everyone to keep their boats safe!

Will keep you posted of our whereaboutswhen the chance allows.

Please drop some mail when you get thechance justcruizinrsa@yahoo.comand let us know how you all are x to those who have sent – Thanks!!

We love hearing from you all x

Love always, John Jenny Justine Jessica and Jonathan xxxxx