New Cal (pt 2) on to OZ Nov 5 2007

Hi everybody.Well, we've been a bit remiss in our communiqués and find ourselves inBundaberg, Australia-about 100 miles north of Brisbane, but first:We do have a phone number: country code 61 0447379695. Also on Skypesporadically when we're in a marina, like now.We left you in Noumea on the way to the casino. Well, le captaine made 4trips there, overall, and won 3, lost 1 for a total win of close to$1,000--just about paid our dock fees in Noumea. Not much more to writeaboutNoumea so this will be short. We left on the 24th but spent the previousmonth theretouring museums, the aquarium, rented a car and the odd daysail to one ofthe close by outer islands. Nice people and lots of good French food aswell as a really great market. Joey met a "normal" chick fromSydney--reallynice after the psychos or dogs he's managed to bring aboard. There may behope for the lad yet. All in all, a very pleasant interlude waiting todepart for Oz. We are in unanimous agreement that we should have spent moretime there and less in Vanuatu which would have given us more time toexplore the out islands.The sail to Bundaberg was part of a 54 boat rally, so there were daily radiocheck-ins and various competitions, the results of which we're waiting onfor the wrap-up dinner. It was the most pleasant sail we've had since theGalapagos-Marqueses run with following winds, calm seas and sunny days. Wecaught 2 more mahis, and around the middle of the trip, a pod of about 30dolphin swam with us and a couple even got in front of us and totally leaptout of the water between the hulls.We're in Port Bundaberg, about 20 k down the river from the town proper.Verynice here, and the price would be excellent if the dollar wasn't in thetank.Heard this week that the Can$ is actually worth more than the US$. What hasthisworld come to? Anyway, plenty of activities here associated with the rally.A theme dinner every night, bocce ball competition, tours to the rumfactory. We won the best dressed boat competition as well as a "brainteaser" competition--see, we're not completely gone!! All very well donewith the finale on today, Tuesday, which is MelbourneCup day and a champagne brunch and TVs to watch the races. After that we'reoff to Sydney, but will take our time cruising down the "Gold Coast".Overall about 500 miles to go. Planned to leave tomorrow, but the weatherhas turned ugly, so we'll hang out at the marina for a few more days.Unfortunately, the hard rain has proven our lexan hatch replacement was notdone quite as well as it appeared so there'll be some extra work to rebedthe lenses when it stops raining. They look "marvelous", though!More on Australia later as we'll be here 'til the end of July next yearbefore we depart for a 3 month 150 boat rally through Indonesia.CheersTim, Rose & Joe