Boating – The Poppy Files

Tag: Boating

Easter Boating ♥

Yet another lengthy gap in between blog posts for the poor Poppy Files! I am finding it more and more of a challenge to devote the time needed to blog as often as I would like, which invariably requires me to import my photos, painstakingly pick and edit the best shots and then feel inspired to write in a captivating way. It doesn’t help that I am a ‘Type-A perfectionist’ and sometimes it is just easier not to do it!!

However, I have finally collated the photos from our recent Easter break. I’m only a month late, but we had the most divine boating trip to the East Coast of Tasmania this year. It certainly helped that the weather was absolutely superb for the eleven days we were away – enabling us to really enjoy this beautiful part of the world.

We left Hobart in calm waters and enjoyed smooth cruising through the Denison Canal and Marion Bay before reaching Orford on dusk. On Good Friday we hung out at East Shelley Beach, drenched in that feeling of knowing you have ten more days of boating bliss … to really feel the sand between your toes, to fish, to laugh, to play and to go to bed early to watch Netflix as you gently bob under a sky full of stars.

On Easter Saturday we ventured further North to the Freycinet Peninsula, where the stars are even brighter and the water is bluer!

We met up with our friends, Richard and Anna and their boys, where we enjoyed a couple of days together before they returned to Hobart. Easter Bunny even found us at Bryans Corner and James literally ate his weight in Easter Eggs.

For the rest of the week, we synced into the beauty of this place through long walks on desolate beaches, kayaking on crystal blue water, fishing, beachcombing and spending quality family time together. We ventured around to the other side of the Freycinet Peninsula to Wineglass Bay for three nights where Poppy celebrated her 6th Birthday.

Her celebrations included presents, a morning tea with new boating friends, jumping off the boat, frolicking dolphins and fish and chips for dinner! What a perfect place to celebrate a birthday?

On Friday we returned back to our familiar Southern waters for one more night, after what was, a truly unforgettable time together. Xx

Sunday, 14 May 2017 0 Comments Short URLBoat, Boating, Coastal, Crayfish, Diving, East Coast, Easter, Fairway 36, Family, Highfield Boats, Holiday, Motor Cruiser, Southern Rock Lobster, Spellbound Adventures, TasmaniaBoating

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A Snowy Boating Long Weekend

Spellbound

When Nick and I bought our first boat ‘Tagus’ in 2008, we would head away on adventures together and end up hanging out with his parent’s and all their boating friends. We were always the youngest ones with the smallest boat. We would have great fun but as the year’s have crept by and our own family has grown (1 dog + 2 children) we have upgraded to ‘Spellbound’ (a 36 ft Fairway motor cruiser) and have met a new bunch of ‘young’ boating friends. We are now no longer the youngest ones with the small boat!

This Hobart Show Day Long Weekend was a perfect example. Meeting at Missionary Bay on Bruny Island on Thursday afternoon, we were surrounded by our friends who now have their own boats and we even outnumbered the ‘oldies’!

Even though it was a little cold and wet this weekend, that didn’t stop us from having fun. It is so fantastic sitting side-by-side around a fire with people from different generations, as you stare into the flames, dodge the smoke, turn your sausages and chat away, knowing you have one very special thing in common – boating to beautiful places in Tasmania.

James in my black hole bag James and a dolphin Missionary Bay Sauso's Harry and Pops New generation James being pampered The Girls at Missionary Bay Indy and James James Bruny Island Dinghies Faye and James Dinghy's Spellbound Marshmallows BBQ Cool dude James BBQ Campfire Nicko Barb & Amanda Simpsons Bay Poppy My family Stacks on Maisy Pancakes Spellbound and Mistraal Apollo Bay Barb's platter Dam building James, Maisy and I Muddy feet Highfield Dinghies Rainy bbq Hail strom at Apollo Bay Funny Faces

Sunday, 23 October 2016 3 Comments Short URLBoating, Boating with Children, Bruny Island, Friends, Spellbound Adventures, TasmaniaBoating

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Open Day

We donned our stripes, popped the bubbles and celebrated the Opening Day of the 136th Yachting Season, on the Derwent River on Saturday with Nick’s family.

After saluting the Governor of Tasmania on a gorgeous Spring afternoon, we continued on to anchor at Nutgrove Beach, for an afternoon of food, festivities, friends and family. Xx

Monday, 10 October 2016 0 Comments Short URLBoating, Open Day, Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, RYCT, Yachting SeasonBoating

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I’m back …

Garden Blossoms

After a long absence, I am finally back here at The Poppy Files! I am finding it increasingly difficult to find/make the time for my on-line space, with competing demands of work, time away and of course spending quality time with family.

I really love this time of year – with the blossoms in the air, the longer days and a warmer sun (albeit lots of recent rain), you can’t help but feel a little more spirited!

Our garden is in full bloom at the moment with some amazing colours complementing each other:

Garden Blossoms Lily

Several weeks ago we went away on the boat for a couple of nights. We stayed at the Kettering Marina on the first night and then headed further South and up the Huon River for the next night where we enjoyed the Pipe Opener Yacht Race as we soaked up the sun at Port Huon. We retreated home the next day as the rain consistently fell:

Leaving Hobart Kettering Marina Leaving Kettering Bruny Island Jamesy Pipe Opener Yacht Race Huon River Maisy - Huon River Poppy and Maisy Wet Weather Pirates

We also went along to an Open Day celebrating the anniversary of Hobart’s Town Hall turning 150 this year on Sunday 25th September:

Hobart Town Hall Hobart Town Hall Celebrations

During the following weeks at home, we went to the movies with friends, picked daisies, enjoyed Hobart, played Monopoly, did Parent Help at Poppy’s Kindergarten and admired their amazing art work:

Kinder Artwork

Holiday movie Monopoly Poppy's Raffle Prize - RYCT Melting Moments James and his daisy Hobart

Last weekend we did a day trip to Apollo Bay on Bruny Island in the boat with family and friends, for a BBQ and more beach time for the cousins:

Apollo Bay

And finally – yesterday was my Birthday and I was very spoilt by my family and friends. Although I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook, it was so humbling to receive such lovely Birthday wishes from friends, near and far, that I haven’t seen in a long, long time. Nick and I went out to dinner last night with our dear friends to Frank Restaurant, for an amazing meal and celebration of being another year older! (eek) Xx

Cup cakes Birthday Love Jamesy Boy Poppy's Birthday Card

Thursday, 6 October 2016 0 Comments Short URLBlossoms, Boating, Frank Restaurant, Hobart Town Hall, TasmaniaBoating, Poppy : James

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Collecting Treasure

Pops
We enjoyed a night away on Bruny Island on the boat this weekend and the weather was delightful.

Even though we were only away for a little more than 24 hours, I felt as though we had been away for much longer. We enjoyed a shared curry night with friends and family, a cruisey morning with pancakes and cups of tea, followed by a sunny BBQ at Sykes Cove. The kids played for hours in the shallows, building little dams, diverting water, getting muddy … and collecting treasure. Xx

Sunny Jamesy Jamesy Little and Big Boys Foxy Foxy Bubbles The Other Mummy Nick Jacinta and Nick Boating Friends Poppy and Indy Braids galore Sykes Cove Yum BBQ Spellbound and Mercury Maggie and Poppy Sunset

Monday, 1 August 2016 0 Comments Short URLBoating, Bruny Island, Family, Friends, Rafting UpBoating

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Family ♥

Launceston

I have had a wonderful weekend spent with both sides of my family.

On Friday, James, Poppy and I went to Launceston and stayed on my family farm with their cousins. Four girls and James all squeezed into Nanna’s spare bed to watch a movie and enjoyed a ‘late night’.

Hagley The cousins Ice off the fish pond

After a frosty morning with ice on the fish pond we returned to Hobart where Nick’s family were all in town. We shared a delightful meal together on Saturday night at Peacock & Jones, followed by a drink at Frank Restaurant & Bar.

Frank Restaurant and Bar

On Sunday, we all went to Peppermint Bay for lunch on Nick’s parent’s boat. I love family time and I feel blessed we all get on so well and have so much fun! Xxx

DSS Crazy cousins Peppermint Bay

Monday, 27 June 2016 0 Comments Short URLBoating, Family, Frank Restaurant & Bar, Inveresk, Peacock & Jones, Peppermint BayUncategorized

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Winter Cruising

A special kiss

Thanks to our Webasto diesel heater onboard Spellbound, it makes Winter cruising on the boat very pleasant indeed. There’s nothing better than getting cosy onboard whilst anchored in a beautiful cove on Bruny Island, with friends ‘rafted up’ next to you, sharing delicious food, wine and conversation.

On the recent Queens Birthday Long Weekend, we spent two nights away and visited Get Shucked on Saturday for some oysters and a sparkling, before a BBQ ashore in the afternoon for some toasted marshmallows and a yarn around the fire.

A firey sunset greeted us as we returned to Barnes Bay for the evening spent with Nick’s folks and our friends Jacinta and Brett, where we enjoyed a lovely meal, lively conversation and even a sing-a-long to the Ukulele.

Mistraal Boating James and Larni James Great Bay Get Shucked Biddies Campfire at Biddies Biddies Poppy Biddies Boating babes Oh wow - a whole bag! Melted Marshmallows Jacinta and Larni Cruising about Nick and the kids Hunters and Campfires Biddies Biddies Poppy Poppy Sunset in Barnes Bay Dessert on Mercury Poppy Rose Banks Rose Banks and Mercury

Thursday, 23 June 2016 0 Comments Short URLBoating, Bruny Island, Spellbound, Webasto HeaterBoating

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Bruny Island Boating

Butlers Beach Detail - Bruny Island

I returned from the Bay of Fires on Friday afternoon and Nick had all the food and gear packed, ready to head away on the boat for the Long Weekend!

We joined Nick’s folks on their boat instead (a long story) and met up with our friends on South Bruny Island. With predominately overcast skies and moody light we walked along desolate beaches, made giant sand castles, ate nice food, slept well and flew kites.

Another beautiful boating weekend to a beautiful island. Xx

Maisy, Pops and James Heading away Mike the Knight - craft on board The Channel Lunch on board Teenager?? Butlers Beach A very sandy James Sand spa Mercury and Mistraal Nicko Prosecco James' dinner Mercury James watering his Grandmother's herbs Quality Time Pops and Bear James driving the dinghy The crew Sand Monkey Sunday BBQ Morning tea Kite flying Lunch Lunch James learning the ropes Pops James - Bruny Island James and Nicko

Thursday, 17 March 2016 0 Comments Short URLBoating, Bruny Island, Fountaine Pajot, Long Weekend, Printebebe, RYCT, TasmaniaBoating, Poppy : James

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Oh Maria!

Riedle Bay

Spending five days on Maria Island on Tasmania’s east coast we enjoyed long, desolate beaches with white, white sand, turquoise water and not a soul in sight. We walked amongst historic buildings reminding us of the paltry conditions of the convict probation period and later the ambitious industrial era of the island. Continuing up to Fossil Cliffs we marveled at the unique geological features from the Permian period.

Beautiful sunsets, bountiful seafood and more glorious time with my family, before returning back home to Hobart … and to reality. Xx

Maria Island Fossil Cliffs Denison Canal The Marion Narrows James the pirate Big flatheads Riedle Bay Nick and I Chinaman's Bay Little Miss Chatterbox Spellbound and Mercury rafted up James' in the craypot! Flathead ready for cooking Dinner on the flybridge Poppy James on Riedle Bay Sunset

Photo – Toby Langford

Darlington Historic buildings Fossil Cliffs Fossil Cliffs Circuit Lunch Prosecco Beach zoo Poppy James and the crays Crayfish Heading home

Thursday, 28 January 2016 1 Comment Short URLBoating, Bushwalking, Family, Maria IslandBoating

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Summer Boating

Photo – Nick Corkhill

We have spent many nights on board the boat this summer and have been heading away as much as we can, catching up with our friends and enjoying the delights of cruising the D’entrecasteaux Channel, at its best.

We have found a rhythm as we have become more used to our boat since buying it last April. James is a little older and although not fully out of the ‘trenches’, life is getting better on board. They both sleep well each night, apart from the odd hiccup and I have organised myself better with a big toy box on board and loads of books, to keep them entertained.

Toy Box

We head to the beach at any opportunity, where a fire will be lit (providing it’s not high fire danger of course) and fresh flathead will be cooked. The kids will often have their own little campfire where they cook their marshmallows. They wallow in the shallows, go rock pooling, collect shells, entertain each other and create new childhood memories. As a result, we are able to sit under a shady tree and enjoy good conversations and freshly caught seafood, cooked on the open flames.

Fresh Flatties Best friends

At times we have friends come with us on board, or visit us for the day where we enjoy lunch together, fishing, paddle boarding and watching the kids jump off the boat.

Digger & Cath Lunch with friends Paddle Boarding

Several weeks ago we took the dinghies into Simpsons Bay and walked up the Isthmus Track at the Neck on Bruny Island. We saw penguins in their burrows and hiked the steep steps to be rewarded with a stunning view.

The Neck The Neck on Bruny Island The next generation

We often gravitate back to my favourite beach – Little Fancy Bay, where the kids play for hours in the shallows before we are homeward bound – salty, sun-kissed and satisfied! Xx

Freshly caught Abalone Freshly caught Flathead Poppy at Little Fancy The crew Toy Box Nick and Brett Aitkens Point Fresh Flatties Marshmallows Summer Boating Smoochy cuddles Simpsons Point Crazy crew Morning glory Popsy Paddle Boarding Best friends Lunch with friends BBQ's ashore Heading back to the boat Pavlova The Neck Adventures on Adventure Bay Jamesy Three Highfield Dinghies Little Fancy Bay