TUESDAY, Day 8 Part -2

All good things in moderation, after a short swim back to Blue Moon Capt Jim pulled anchor in White Bay around 1600hr. Next port of call would be Little Harbour, home of Sydney’s Peace and Love.



We have been visiting Sydney’s most years since our daughter was very young. Of course she loves this place that was named after her <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> There are specific recent moments in my life when I’m made well aware of the fact that I am growing older and today is one of them. We have wonderful photo’s of Sydney (RIP) and our Sydney when she was a young child and this is her first return as an adult. Oh my god she’s an adult now <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

As we motored into the bay we found few boats and imagined a quiet visit to this often overlooked harbor. With the taste of nutmeg still on the crews lips we decided to be “that boat” in the harbor <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" /> Jim adjusted his stereo volume to 11 and echoed Metallica’s song Enter Sandman off the green hills surrounding us. For those of you who do not know the significance of this song, it’s played at the start of every Virginia Tech football game when the team takes the field and the fans excitedly jump up and down in the stands. Well….the girls began to jump around the boat eventually jumping onto the bimini and that’s when Jim turned the volume to 0 and says with a smile, girls that might not be a good idea <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> then he quickly cranked it back to 11 and the jumping resumed on the foredeck. This is when we noticed that the harbor would have some more guests this evening. One boat after another started staging themselves on Sydney’s dock. It was a nice size flotilla from Action Quest. The young male sailors took notice of the JUMPING <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duel.gif" alt="" />




You should have seen the superb coordination between the Action Quest boats, one after another reversing into position on the dock. I believe ultimately they would stack 9 boats on the tiny dock. I also believe there were 3 or 4 catamarans with them that remained out in the harbor. Well…dinner may be interesting tonight aye! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />



After the entertainment arrived the girls launched the kayak and made themselves known in the harbor. We looked around and wondered what the folks on the other 3 private boats must be thinking about our Metallica and better yet with the new arrivals, oh well roll with it!







As the sun was setting over the now non-vibrating green hills we cleaned up for dinner then headed in. The place was teaming with surprisingly very well behaved youngsters. I think we found out the boats consisted of 11 or 12 crew each X 9 plus the cats = A sh*! load of people!!! If anyone from Action Quest reads this, these kids represented you well. Since Sydney’s suffered serious storm damage a few years ago, losing its roof and contents, we have been bringing t-shirts to hang in their rafters to help put the island bar feel back in shape. It’s fun to return to places like this and find your shirt still hanging with all its custom marker art or just pointing out what you wrote on the walls in years past. Even Jim couldn't resist getting creative!







After some shopping , shirt design and of course libations at the honor bar we were escorted by lovely Strawberry to a quiet table away from the kids <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> Earlier in the day, while in transit, the always efficient Capt Jim contacted Sydney’s and placed our dinner orders. When the meals were brought to the table we noticed that apparently they only had lobsters in the MONSTER category! Jim and I had the fresh Mahi since I lack the necessary skills to retrieve them from the sea myself! And believe it or not 2 of the girls must have been low in iron and craved red meat , so they had a steak. To be honest, the lobster and Mahi were very fresh and very well cooked, but the steaks were a bit chewy, I tried some and it was very tasty with a nice mushroom pepper gravy, but chewy. The girls did not complain, these ladies never ever complained about anything, unless the Dr Pepper ran low!

After a nice dinner we got our second wind so back to the honor bar <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> The place was buzzing with activity including a decent 2 man band playing. The Action Quest folks were everywhere, they were on the docks, they were on the beach, theyyy were in the shops, theyyy were dancing, they were absolutely NOT behind the bar. These kids were monitored pretty well, but they were given their space this evening for sure and they appeared to be enjoying that. Our young ladies mingled a bit and were actually challenged at the bar by staff. They had to explain that they were not with Action Quest before brewing up another concoction, usually Ting!



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We remained bellied up to the bar marking the walls, stools, ceiling and anything else that had an inch of open space, then all of a sudden….oh no they aren’t?......yes they are, the band strikes up the Electric Slide, LONG VERSION <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> I’m sorry but there are a lot of people without rhythm in this word, JIM! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> The song was sooo long that many folks started walking off the floor <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> PRICELESS! There were a couple of young local lads who had some serious moves, they were quite popular with our girls!

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Later in the evening a young local woman began to sing and man was she good. I mean really good! She sang an incredible version of Whitney Houstons “I will always love you” dedicated to her granddad Sydney <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> Without knowing her name I respectfully yelled you go Mariah! Her name, I think, was perhaps Mahlia?? So I almost sounded like I knew what I was talking about <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

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What a great time was had by everyone, but as with all good things this to must end. Settled up the tab with Strawberry, who by the way is awesome!

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Dinged back to Blue Moon, WITH FLASHLIGHT ON, to enjoy a good nights sleep in the a/c.

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To be continued…… <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />