Getting Go Back on the Water

After our “Worst Wave” incident, Go was stuck in Port Macquarie for almost five months. Go was a mess. Everything got soaked from our windows being smashed in. Our electronics, engines, books, appliances, and more. We knew early on that getting Go back on the water would be a massive effort. Here’s what it was like.

Getting Insurance Approvals

The good news was that we got Go to safety in the marina in Port Macquarie. In between trying to get the insurance company to help us, we cleaned and dried what we could and moved off the boat for a few weeks.

We tried to dry things out the best we could but we were hampered by the seasonally terrible weather. Over the period we were there, Port Macquarie had floods at least twice, and a lot of rainstorms. With our smashed front windows it was hard getting and keeping things dry.

Go's cabin after being smashed by the worst wave
Go’s cabin after being smashed by the worst wave

Once our insurance company realized the size of the job, they sent an assessor to look at the boat and report on the damages. He took a few weeks to submit a report and then we waited. We went on several trips while for insurance.

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Our Japan Itinerary

In addition to lots of exploring in Australia, we found time between boat jobs to visit Japan. It’s much closer than from North America, meaning no jet lag, so we took the opportunity to explore Japan. As is becoming our norm, we booked this trip last minute. Even with little advance planning, we liked our two week Japan itinerary. We got a taste of what a wonderful country it is.

Getting There

Port Macquarie in New South Wales only has a domestic airport, so we flew to Sydney, and then to Tokyo. It’s a one hour flight to Sydney with a 2.5 hour layover. Our 8 hour overnight flight arrived in Haneda early the next morning. Like 5:30am early.

Tokyo Haneda Airport Japan Itinerary
Planes at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport

We flew into Haneda Airport, which is definitely the preferred airport for easy access to the city. Arrivals took a long time. We had to wait in a few different lines and fill out forms for each one after we got to the terminal. It took at least an hour to do that, and then we needed to buy Suica cards, for use on all Japanese transport. Then we took the train to Tokyo.

When We Visited

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A Week in The Red Centre

After months of exploring Australian coastal cities and towns, we flew to Alice Springs for a week in the Red Centre. Adjusting to the moisture sucking air and miles of emptiness took some effort, but visiting the Outback in Australia’s Northern Territory was a good adventure.

Outsiders’ visions of Australia include mobs of kangaroos galloping across the plains, red rocks rising from the desert, and rednecks in bars crushing crocodiles. We have been in the country for a year without seeing the desert, so when we learned we had to wait two more weeks before Go’s haulout, we booked flights to Alice Springs. A week in the Red Centre was on our wish list, and we’re so glad we made the trip.

About The Red Centre

We’ve been learning Australia’s detailed terminology for their geography. The majority of people live along the coasts, where the big cities and towns are. Moving inland from there are the Hinterlands, mere miles from the coasts but still quite different. Beyond the Hinterlands is the bush, and then comes The Outback, the most remote lands in Australia.

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