(I was so tired after that long day I didn’t even think of taking any picture…sorry…anybody else who has some good ones of my Bunbury arrival?)

I was sticking my head out of my tent that morning and was thinking it’s not really an inviting day…dark clouds on the sky allover, wind blowing the seas up. But luckily the were following…I was a bit hesitating if I should go at all, but getting out of the tent fully I decided it didn’t look too bad. Launching looked even easier than coming in last night, lower swell and high tide brought the reef breakers a bit down that morning, and I didn’t even had to look really for the gap. Just a bit of good timing, and I was out.

I was packing my gear in a hurry, scared my just sry tent and gear woúld get a heavy soak from the sky. But I was lucky, and could launch dry.

the paddle itself was quite challenging, as heavy following winds made quite some seas, but the swell was not too bad.

Right after Tim’s Thickett was Cape Bouvard, and I noticed (at least that morning…) landing would be quite easy through a moderate dumper! I was thinking maybe I should have gone a bit further yesterday instead of landing already at 4pm? But everybody told me landing on that coast is no good until coming quite close to Bunbury…so I listened to local advise…actually, the landing got worse again after about 10 km.

I made good progress in the strong wind, despit the rough seas, and was eventually deciding I could easily make it to Bunbury that day, 75 km!

I gave Terry a call from the water, about the offer from the local surf club to put me up and if he could organize something? Thanks, Terry!

I neared Bunbury, and knew I would just be able to make it before dusk!

Eventually I was spotting a squadron of six guys on surfskis in Kombana Bay, my local escort into town!

I was thinking we would be landing right upfront the clubhouse, but they guided me in through a quiet channel system to a sheltered beach where the club trailer and some friendly people were waiting. We loaded all stuff, and drove 5 min through town to the clubhouse on the unsheltered western side of Bunbury. I knew that surf club clubhouses are usually located on surf beaches, but this night they didn’t know if they would get me in before darkness (which was correct…) and landing through the quite big surf upfront the clubhouse in darkness would be no good. Right decision…

Simon Albertson eventually took me home to his family and gave a me a shower, feed (at his aunties place, thanks!) and bed. Thanks a lot for looking after me that night, Simon! I’m sorry I was very, very tired and not in too much of a chatty mood…and sorry I misse dtaking some pictures as well…

Text message from Freya:

Bunbury.  75km, 7:00 am to 6:30 pm.  20 to 25-knot strong follwing winds rough seas and lots of rainy squalls. Sheltered landing with an escort of 6 surf skis! This evening I was hosted by Simon Albertson.