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Elke and Siegfried on the houseboat on the Hawkesbury

Houseboat. As mentioned in April, Elke and Siegfried are visiting over and we have planned two surprises for them. We are barely back from the week-end in the Blue Mountains that we have to pack our bags again. This time for three days that Claudia is going to take them onto a houseboat into the Hawkesbury system. These almost fjord-like rivers around Sydney are ideal for houseboating: The water is sheltered, the landscape breathtaking, and with a little luck there is plenty of wildlife to be spotted in the water or on the rugged cliffs on land. The three of us take turns on the helm since no licence is required for these small engines in these sheltered waters. At night, after we have found a mooring in one of the rivers of the Kuring-gai-Chase National Park, Peter comes onboard for a BBQ on the water.

We are sailing Roastbeef in front of the Harbour Bridge

Roastbeef again — first race after the repair work. The following episode belongs into the monthly report June, but after we dedicated one episode in April to Roastbeef that finished off with the words "only the mast is still missing" this episode is following promptly.

End of May, Roastbeef is finally getting the utensil in question, and on the first week-end in June, the big day has arrived: After more than a year break, Roastbeef is participating in a race again. Mark accepts both of us on board as his crew. Whilst Eric, who was subsequently expelled from the country, broke the mast in March 2004 — Eric-mate, you cannot deny the facts even though we know that you will try to explain... ;-) — we don't brake anything at all this time. Even though we do not (yet) compete for the first rangs of the race, at least we take our chances and rig all available sails, including flying the colourful spinnaker. At the very moment when the spinnaker spans beautifully across our bow and shoots us across the water, Erica — who is taking photos from a safety dinghy — is out of sight. Never the mind, we will repeat the exercise in a fortnight.

Apropos Erica and photos: She had borrowed Peter's camera for Roast Beef's first day back "alive". Apparently she must have enjoyed photography to the extend that she took 516 (in words: five hundred and sixteen!) photos during the three hours of our race. In average one photo every 21 seconds. Keep in mind that her main job that afternoon was to drive the safety dinghy. If only the water police knew about this...

A rower in the harbour

Iron Cove Sunday mornings. Ever since Bine has returned back to Germany 12 months ago Claudia was missing a regular partner for running, hence over the past 6 months her running slowed down considerably. In May, Peter decides to give running a go and we are optimistic that we'll stick to it quite regularly. The training ground is the same as ever, the Iron Cove, a nearby cove in the harbour that forms a circuit by means of the Iron Cove Bridge. The council has upgraded the harbour banks for runners and bike riders with a separate pathway and a soft finish of dirt which is much gentler to the knees than paving. Additionally, every kilometer shows a distance-indicating pole. One round is 7 km long, always on the edge of the water where you almost anytime find some rowboats since the Iron Cove hosts four rowing clubs of international reputation. This training ground is never deserted, but on Sunday mornings it is packed with runners, power walkers, and dog-walkers. On our very first Sunday morning run, right at the finish, at km 6.5 we run into Erica and Mark with the dogs Shadow and Maggie...

Monty a labradoodle — half labrador, half poodle

The Bones. ... all four of them are on their way to have a breakfast in The Bones. This cafe is specialised in catering for dog-walkers. Located next to a public park — where dog schools are being held every Saturday and Sonday mornings, so that these dog schools alone bring in about 90 four-paws — The Bones does not only serve coffee and bread rolls, but also dog specials: Puppacino (frothed milk with chocolate), liver treat and dog biscuits. When we are having Turkish Bread with chicken at our table, being surrounded by no less than 11 dogs all looking at us with their big eyes and waiting for a bite, Peter tries out his authority: "Maggie, sit!". The effect is striking: Every single of the 11 dogs sits down!! Wow!! Peter would love to have so much authority at home ;-)