checked the chart carefully for any off lying danger off the cape and thought I could safely round it half a mile off in safety. As I approached the cape a favorable current was carrying us along nicely. I noticed what I though was a tide rip ahead, but it looked out of place with the surrounding water. Through the binoculars I saw a low brown object in the water. For a moment I thought it was a whale, but there was no movement, the water was rushing past and over it. A rock awash!
PREPARING TO DEPART INDONESIA
Social life on Belitung has been good with a few hardy cruisers passing through to have drinks, food and conversations with. The local village has an excellent coffee shop and café serving delicious Indonesian food. The girls serving were surprised when I ordered ‘local hot’ as they are used to serving bland mild food to non-Indonesians. The staff were very kind, helpful and interested in what I was doing. They sort of adopted this old man, on one visit they made me a special soup, it was delicious. I even left a tip which is usually against my religion.
THE LAST TEABAG
There it is, the last Extra Strong Breakfast Tea Bag. Before leaving New Zealand I took a good stock on board and then managed to top up my stock in Australia. The last couple of months I have been on rations and today, early morning, I enjoyed the last Bag. Some people drink coffee to get going in the morning, but for me it’s a strong tea with milk and honey that does the trick.
THINGS GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
With Truce doing a more reasonable six knots I was dozing in the cockpit when I was awoken by a clattering and banging on the hull. My fears were realised, we had run over some floating bamboo contraption all lashed together with bits of rope.