G'day Mates,
We have arrived in Australia! We are presently at Scarborough Marina north of Brisbane in Queensland. On November 30 (weather permitting) we will move to a slip at the Mooloolaba Yacht Club slightly further north on the Sunshine Coast with beaches, surfing and girls for the guys! We have purchased a nice car (car purchasing here is much more difficult and more expensive than New Zealand). We also have a cell phone. You may contact us:
Cell phone: (country code:61) 405 761 819
Email: KH7JL@winlink.org or WCZ3928@sailmail.com
US Address: c/o Julie and Christopher Johnson
6175 Habitat Dr. #1068
Boulder, CO 80301
their phone: 1-303-527-0423
Website: www.peaceandaloha.com
Julie and Chris's Wedding Pictures:
http://ucsub.colorado.edu/~ernissej/index.html
http://ucsub.colorado.edu/~ernissej/index2.html
http://ucsub.colorado.edu/~ernissej/index3.html
Australia Address: David J. Ernisse
S/V PEACE AND ALOHA, Yacht in Transit
Mooloolaba Yacht Club
33-45 Parkyn Parade
Mooloolaba
Queensland 4557
AUSTRALIA
phone: 61-7-5444 4822 or 61-7-5444 1355
We were very surprised to realize that almost three months had passed since
our last update on August 30 from Tanna Island, Vanuatu. We enjoyed the visit
of our guests, Ed and Belle Blumenstock and LeAnn Vargo, while we traveled
in Vanuatu. We saw almost all the different islands with their different customs
and languages. Vanuatu remains one of the highlights of all our travels. We
experienced many different custom dances with men in only nambas and women
in only grass skirts at local villages, ate laplap, purchased tamtams and
baskets, hiked through rain forests to waterfalls, stood on the brink of a
very active volcano, enjoyed delicious freshly caught fish and were thrilled
by incredible snorkeling in crystal clear water.
We arrived in Noumea, New Caledonia on October 17 after a two day passage. Unfortunately, as always, we did not have enough time there. We did manage to visit all the museums and the aquarium, and spent almost a week at Isles of Pines, where we enjoyed some of the most beautiful islands in the Pacific. We also learned history, as we researched WWII sites, since my father was stationed here during the war. We ate too much French bread and pastries in our last French country until France! Unfortunately, French countries are always VERY expensive!
We arrived here in Scarborough on November 4 (right before a gale!) after a five day passage from Noumea. We spent the first few days checking in and sleeping! Then we purchased a car, which took about a week of searching. We are now working on boat repairs plus becoming involved with Australia. We are interested in opals and sapphires and attended a Gem and Mineral Show over the weekend. We have seen galah cockatoos feeding on the grass and rainbow lorikeets feeding on umbrella trees as we take our afternoon walk through the park. We are waiting to see our first koala bear and kangaroo (there are warning signs along the road)! We are planning to visit the Australia Zoo, home of Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Man, whom we all enjoy watching on tv! We also plan a trip south (in the car!) to see Sydney. Unfortunately, we will not be able to sail under the bridge passing their beautiful Opera House! We will be in Australia until April 2003, but are not sure after that, considering the present world situation.
We wish all of you who had special days during the past months
a very Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary. Please continue to be patient
with me as I should have some time now to answer all of your nice emails.
I also plan on updating the website to the present. (I do apologize, since
I know that you have heard this many times before!) We will also celebrate
our Thanksgiving here and then Christmas. Please do send your cards to Julie's
address and she will forward them or send them here to Australia. We are working
on sending out a Christmas card with a picture!
Please do stay in touch!
Sadly, we need to end this email with news from Boston, our very dear Aunt Betty passed away yesterday morning (November 17) very peacefully. She was 95 years YOUNG and an inspiration to us all. We will grieve because we will miss her terribly, but we will celebrate her life and her transition HOME to God. We send our loving comforting prayers to all her family and friends.
We do love you all. We miss you! Please stay in touch. Be safe! May God Bless us all and bring Peace to our World soon.
With Love, Peace and Aloha,
Ellen, David, Jason and Eric
S/V PEACE AND ALOHA
November 19, 2002
Scarborough Marina, Queensland, Australia
27 Degrees 11 South 153 Degrees 06 East