Jan 09, 2006 – 0134hrs EDT

0134hrs 09 Jan 2006 EDT 33’52”S 151’14”E Ref 696

And, like all good things – it’s over. We rounded South Head at 09/0040 and ghosted up a flat calm, silent harbour to the pond at CYCCruising Yacht Club of Australia at 0134, a year and two weeks after we left on Boxing day 2005. A final ConsultationA regular engagement with alcohol. One might say this whole epic is a Consultation with a bit of a sail round it. See also Conservation Mode; Linear and Parallel Methods of Consultation with the whole crew – Jeanne, SarahPete Crozier's daughter, FenwickA friend and clearly a colourful character, Pete and me in the cockpit and a few hours sleep and – lovely Sydney -it’s raining and here we are, gigless and gormless, bangless and without a whimper, with  the demolition bulldozers being unloaded, the VogonsExtremely ugly, unpleasant and officious, the Vogons emerged from the seas of Vogsphere and became bureaucrats in the Galactic Government. They destroyed the earth to clear the way for a hyperspace bypass; see also HHGTTGThe Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams; essential reading for those trying to understand these logs. You may be none the wiser once you’ve read it, but at least you’ll have tried. More here clearing their throats and a coming home party to organise – watch this space – I will keep you posted. There’s a mangy dog sniffing around and the pigeons are having a last splat on the roof – not enough wind to blow the cans around the concrete floor…

A last listen to Derek’s dulcet gravel on his 0725 skedShort for schedule. A pre-arranged (scheduled) time and frequency for radio contact often co-ordinated by a shore station, such as Penta Comstat, which is monitoring location and safety of boats in their area. Failure to respond to one or more sked can be a sign of trouble and a final sign off for Berrimilla before Derek retires at the end of the year. We’re going to miss him.

Thanks, everyone – it’s been a gas – and please don’t go away just yet.

With love and best wishes from

Alex.

Pete is going to write the epitaph later. I think – he’s still asleep…