Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Morning Glory




This morning the urge to walk rather than ride overcame me and what a good decision it was.

After spending the last three days working on my computer mainly on my new green skin (more details to come in a later blog) project it was a great pleasure to take a walk along the beach. Summer is trying to arrive and the Bay is looking magical.

Check out the pics... this is my local beach, Geographe Bay on the south west coast of Australia. Nice huh!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Sunday Lunch





Indian Feast at
Cullen Winery Margaret River Sunday 22nd Nov 2009

http://www.cullenwines.com.au/

Everything at Cullen Winery located on Cave's road Margaret River feels alive and vibrant. They practice strict bio-dynamic methods in their vineyard and surrounding properties.

This in short means a chemical free environment for all their produce along with planting, picking, crushing and even bottling their wine by phases of the moon. There are many other principles and techniques which are wide and varied but the end result is the most amazing tasting wine not to mention the food served with most ingredients coming from their bio-dynamic garden.

An Indian Indulgence day was staged with a fine compliment of Cullen Wine and an assortment of Indian food. Anybody travelling through Margaret River MUST stop in at Cullens and enjoy the friendly staff, fine food and the most stunning wines.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

My morning ride



Pic 1 - Out Riding

Pic 2 - Geographe Bay - there is a bike track all the way around the bay.

Today I only almost fell off 3 times....

The first 2 instances were big ugly barking dogs with the heads hanging out of workmans vehicles barking senselessly at anything and everything. Scares the crappers out of you and annoys you at the same time as you know their ignorant owners would get a buzz and a good laugh out of watching you jump, scream and wobble, a-holes!

The wildlife stakes were a little light on today, no swooping birds as I took the "town" route but saw, 2 dead lizards and a dead lorikeet. The last near stack was through my own stupidity when I was checking out a potential swooping bird and ran over a huge rock which almost bounced me off.... there is always something!

Got the heart started once again.

Auckland to Perth Direct Flight

Last night in Auckland was spent with Bullant and Mike fully intending to be quiet and early... Excellent dinner at Vivace, Level One, 50 High Street, Auckland City

http://www.vivacerestaurant.co.nz/

Great atmosphered, open fires, Spanish style Tapas Bar with great wine list. We experienced a kiwi chardonnay followed by two awesome Italian reds and wandered home by 1.00am....

Wednesday at 2pm - Fab flight direct to Perth with Air Zealand, new plane, good seats, personal screen for inflight entertainment, good tucker and flowing drinks - well done Air NZ! Bullant and I encountered this journey as Mike has stayed on to work. We drove back to Busselton with a big storm welcoming us home.

Caught Australian Idol replay online and parked up by 10pm, uneventful day of travel really. Watched the movie "Changlings" on plane with Anegelina Jolie, rather disturbing movie!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Toast Martinborough - NZ Food and Wine Festival






13th November - Gerlinde picked me up from home to drive to Perth for the Portavin opening of their new 6,500 per hour bottling line. In true Portavin style it was a great event. About 50 customers and colleagues took a tour of the bottling line followed by a full sit down, white table clothed, fine food and wine affair.

Mike's Mum did the honours of smashing the bottle of champagne off the bottling line to officially open the line. Even though she thought it was "a waste" it made some impact as the champagne was bottled by Portavin's competitors.

We then moved onto an Indian restaurant in the city for dinner prior to Mike, Bullant and I flying on the red eye out to Melbourne. A 2 hour stop in Melbourne then onto Wellington, what a stunning city! We met Bird-Man, Rob and Urzela and enjoyed a lovely Italian meal in town. Early night in preparation for the Martinborough Food and Wine Festival.

What an amazing day, we caught the train from Wellington, about and hour into the vineyards where buses were on hand to take us from winery to winery. Each with their own uniqueness, food, wine and live entertainment. A blast! Wineries included Craggy Range, Te Kairanga (WHITEBAIT & ALASKAN KING CRAB FRITTERS- yumm!), Alana Estate, Tirohana, Escarpment Vineyard, Ata Rangi (GOOD PINOT & STEAK And KIDNEY PIES!), Vynfields, Margain Vineyard, Muirlea Rise, Martinborough Vineyard, Palliser Estate. Fine wine, food and music a perfect blend for a big day out!

We met some new mates on the train on the way home who joined us for dinner in a restaurant none of us can remember, good seafood chowder and more pinot!

Now sitting in a hotel in Auckland (The Oaks Residencees, 16 Gore Street, quite close to some late night girly bars of anyone is interested) after a marathon drive from Wellington yesterday. Dinner at NSP in http://www.nonsolopizza.co.nz/ in Parnell which was not as good as last time we went there, perhaps monday night is the B team? You know something is wrong in an Italian restarant when the pasta is not cooked properly.... Met up with Nick (GM Portavin NZ), his wife Anna along with Chris Kelly (Ops Manager) and her hubby Paul.

Looking forward to another quiety tonight before a direct flight home to Perth tomorrow.

Home Time



I spent a blissful week at home, catching up on the world. I sent my official resignation from Watercrew notification to all of my contacts this week which marks the beginning of new things in the pipe line. About 2 years ago I launched my own business called Kee Marketing and have been doing small amounts of consulting work mainly withing the marine industry.

While planning my next few months I have been riding each day to try and get a bit fit and shed some kgs that seem to have slipped on somehow...... It should be a pleasant peaceful experience but I seem to come home slightly shaken.. allow me to explain...

First it is magpie breeding season so I get swooped at least twice every ride, as I go out and back I get the same feisty bird whacking its beak on my helmet usually when I least expect it, horrid horrid things that scare the crappers out of you! After ducking the birds and madly swinging a big stick above my head to get rid of them it is not unusual for me to encounter a few snakes slivering onto the road in front of me and twice last week I saw dead rabbits and possums. Oh yeah don't let me forget the human sized Doberman that barks like it could eat you in one gulp every time I ride past his farm, thank god for the very high fence.... so after all this I am unsure why I do it, are the kgs worth it??!! Might start going a different way, the alternative is to ride into a busier car infested area so not sure what will be worse!

WA, please bring on more bike tracks!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Sailing Melbourne to Stanley (Northern Tip of Tasmania)




































Images: boys on pilons post long lunch at melbourne with the good ship "Samskara" Beneteau 47.7

Seals in Port Phillip Bay

Foa Bear's new hat

Captain Stoopy, Mike and Pete in background.

The crew on arrival to Stanley.


What brings me to this point i am unsure, having attempted this race 2 years prior in a howling storm and too many sick crew, i swore to myself never Bass Straight again.....

anyway... I think I was caught at a weak moment and the reasoning behind such a ludicrous adventure is to qualify the boat and the crew for the Melbourne to Vanuatu race in 2010. now we start talking about warm tropical climates and I start to get interested.

I spent the day with the skipper, good mate David Stoopman (Stoopy), provisioning and getting the interior of the ship ready for sea. Mike and Pete went off to the Melbourne Wine Show which they sponsored and I thought it a good place for me to stay away from considering the journey ahead.

It was pouring rain and windy all day and was not exactly inviting for loading our boat being the furthest along the jetty but we managed. Nothing like your wet weather gear wet before the start...

I enjoyed the day pottering on the boat and getting everything sorted so at least I knew where things were. I wasn't going to starve! The rest of the crew filtered down throughout the day and we threw the lines about 4pm and motor sailed up Port Phillip Bay for about 5 hours until we reached Queenscliffe. Too late for a countery at the pub Nik Fo found the local Pizzeria and ordered a feast. A few of the crew went in search of more grog only to have an indian cabbie take them everywhere but an open bottle shop. Lucky we provisiined well before we left.

The race started at 4am 31st October just off Queenscliffe and we sailed into a heavy fog which failed to lift for most of the day. Eerie it was, but I was happy that the breeze was not howling nor the swell running to high. We enjoyed a pleasant days sail and settled into watches for the night. We copped a bit of strong breeeze and swell just past the half way mark that did not really let up all the way to Tassy. We crossed the finish line at about 10.30am on the 1st Novemeber.

Strong weather was forecast to come from the north so we pretty much turned around and headed back for Melbourne, we had a extremely pleasant sail home with our captain getting attacked by the bundy bear soon after we finished.

After a welcomed uneventful run through the "rip" at the heads of melbourne we decided to head for a nice lunch located and moored at port melbourne. Lunch at the London Pub on the beach followed by Thai dinner in Williamstown and more drinks on the boat.

Next day was Melbourne Cup day, after a big vessel clean-up we watched the race at the yachty and then went mad with joey and mick from the whitsundays in some kooky local pub of fo's. great night!!

It was then off to Adelaide and home where I have been since - yay, am going to try and write at least every couple of days so I can keep on top of this blogidy log!

PS: since being home have been riding most days, now thats something, will write about the crazy things I see later...

Sailing Hamilton Island to Mackay




Departed Busselton 23 October, flew to Melbourne for a night at the airport Hilton a very comfy hotel duly noted for its pillow menu (yep choose your own pillow from a selection of 10, all with different fillings)!

Early flight the next day we touch down on my old island home paradise Hamilton Island. Bliss! Boots, coats, layers off - love it! Our dear friend James is not well, has a sore leg and his son Greg greeted us at the airport with buggy. We settled in onboard our lovely yacht in the marina which always feels superb.

A visit and coffee up to James before our Italian friends flew in from Sydney. A long lunch was enjoyed at Mariners Seafood restaurant overlooking the marina, followed by drinks at the yachty then at Jame's hollywood pad. Dinner was booked at the Beach Club where we were joined by Joey Griggs and a bloke named Ian or was it Geoff?? Anyway Nellies nightclub was calling after we behaved very "un Beach Club" like and pulled up stumps at who knows what time....

Left for Whitehaven Beach the next morning (the only cure for a night at Nellies) and blew our Italian friends away with this 6 km silica white sand wonder.

That evening we enjoyed large amounts of refreshments onboard with a visit from Steph, Pat, Danielle, Chille and Huon. Very sketchy but all good fun.

Mike and I then escaped and sailed out of the marina mid afternoon bound for shaw island. We anchored up at Burning Point and chilled out. Early start following day we sailed to Scawfell Island where we spent that afternoon and night. BLISS BLISS BLISS.

Unfortunately we had a plane to catch so sailed into Mackay Wed 28th October where we spent the night sorting the boat in the marina, washing etc and a great meal at "Angelo's on the Marina" - very nice indeed!

A lunch time flight took us to Melbourne where we checked into the Medina Grand in Fitzroy Street St Kilda, one of our most common Melbourne pads, as has washing machine is in the central of restaurant mecca!

Next adventure sailing Melbourne to Tassy on Stoopy's big Beneteau 47.7... read above for more..

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Tassy 21-24 September




Photos - Our cabin at Piermont Retreat - Swansea

Jon, Rellie and Mike at Pipers Brook Winery

Josef Chromy Winery where we did lunch! great pies!

A work trip visiting wineries in Tassy with John and Rellie was a hoot. Flying into Launceston we drove too Tamar Ridge winery, where Rellie and I kept ourselves amused tasting at the cellar door while the boys had a meeting.

We then drove on to the cute and famous Joseph Chromy winery in relbia where we had a great lunch at the cellar door. The afternoon saw us in Pipers Brook where they make all the 9th island wine, more tasting and laughs.

We stayed in town at the Clarion City Park Grand Hotel

which was superb. The best treat was dinner Still Water River Cafe Restaurant which served possibly the best Japanese inspired food I have ever tasted. Good wine list too!

The next day we drove along the east coast, stopped in Bicheno and stayed in a stone cabin at the Piermont Retreat http://www.piermont.com.au/display.asp?entityid=1451
near Swansea, very cosey right on the beach. It was pissing with rain and really stormy so we had the fire blazing (no help from me) and cooked a lamb roast and drank loads of red wine! Bloody lovely!

Following day we were lucky not to be flooded in to accom and coast but made it through to Hobart where we took up digs at the famous Henry Jones Art Hotel
We had a meal with our mates Sludge and Mrs Sludge at the drunken sailor which was fun and friendly.

Next day we flew out to Perth and came home where I stayed for whole 4 weeks! loved it. I threw in the Mandurah Boat Show 10 and 11 October where I worked for Fountaine Pajot again selling yachts where we again got a few away.

We took off on 23 October bound for Hamilton Island and a big sail from Melbourne to Tassy - see above post for details.

August / September 2009 happenings














Images: My Niece Tia, Hamilton Island Race Week, The famous Chateau, North Island, NZ


After a successful boat show work we came home to our very under utilised apartment in Busselton, WA. We enjoyed a great few weeks at home getting back into the groove of normality (whatever that is??...)

We then had a stint in Melbourne before one of our favourite weeks of the year, the fun and some times debaucherous Hamilton Island Race Week. We had a great crew once again and took out a few trophies. We stayed with James my dearest 82 year old friend and Island local and his 92 year old sister who was visiting him. We were blessed to meet her and spend some time with her as she has since passed away. Very sad, she was one of lifes gems and will be very sorely missed by all.

We departed Hamilton via Melbourne and Adelaide and returned home for a whole 4 days before turning around and headed to Auckland where Mike is setting up a new bottling plant.

We also planned to slip in a few days skiing in Mt Hutt but again the weather was not so good so we chose to drive into the north island ski fields. Birdman and Caroline, Mike and I headed to Mt Ruapehu and stayed at the famous Chateau - simply stunning! http://www.mtruapehu.com/

Skiing was ok a little slushy being so late in the season but dam good fun all the same.

I then flew to the Sunshine Coast via Sydney to catch up with the family which was lovely. Met my new neice Tia, oh my she is the cutest thing on earth! see pic!

Mike met me on the sunny coast before we flew off to Tasmania for a weekend jolly with Jon and Rell Winkel! see above post for more.



Update on happenings

I have been extremely slack with posts of late, last entry July so here's an update on whats been going down....

We had a great week in NZ late July where we skied a different ski field almost every day. We flew into Christchurch with the intention of going to Mt Hutt to ski first. A group of 7 of us, Greg and Kel Boller, Pete and Nina Walker, Rob, Mike and I booked cars so we could change plans should we need to. The weather looked not so good so we took off to Queenstown and Wanaka a stunning bout 4 hour drive.

We stayed at the Mecure on the Lakes in Wanaka, stunning accommodation and had an amazing meal at the Belgium Butchers restaturant. The following day we skied Cardrona in hazey weather.

Back to our digs the next day us lesser skiers took off to Coronet peak while Greg, Rob and Mike skied Treble Cone which they loved. We also had a good day on the slopes at Coronet.

This night we stayed in Queenstown and dined at a stunning Italian restaurant Luciano's
which is located at 88 Beach Street, web address http://www.lucianos.org.nz/home.html
Top food and service.

The next day half the group enjoyed Coronet Peak again while the other went site seeing. We then drove to Mt Hutt for a meal at the blue pub and delightful accommodation at Terrace Downs Resort which was situated on a stunning golf course. We stayed in a 5 bedroom house / chalet which was amazing!

We all enjoyed an amazing day skiing Mt Hutt on the last day, a tour seeming to end too soon!

We ended the tour back in Christchurch where Mike and I flew to Sydney. I stayed on and worked for Fountaine Pajot at the Sydney Boat Show at Darling Harbour where we sold a number of swisho luxury catamarans.