5th November Yamba to Maclean 12nm

It takes approx 2 hours at 6 knots to motor to the bridge so we left after breakfast at 8am. The tide was coming in so we had the current with us and arrived at the bridge at 9.25am – way too early. I turned the motor off and drifted with the current until we were at the bridge. No sign of life on the bridge apart from all the trucks and the cars passing along the Pacific Highway. We cannot believe that we can stop the entire traffic of the east coast of Australia for us to go up river. At 10am there was no sign of anyone going to lift the bridge. At 10.05 I called Craig the contractor who lifts the bridge. He was a little late. At 10.20 the traffic was stopped and the bridge lifted and we passed through. A great experience.

 Harwood Bridge on the Clarence River.

On arrival at Maclean the public pontoon had 4 boats rafted up so we had no option but to anchor in the river and launch the dinghy.

We got dressed for the big occasion of the “race that stops a nation” and took the dinghy to the public pontoon where we tied up and headed to the Maclean Services Club. Lunch was very cheap and the big screen and all the ladies dressed up with their hats made for great atmosphere.

Robert and I ate lunch and placed our bets and waited for the cup to be run and won. We backed Mount Athos to win or a place and it did come 3rd but did not pay enough to recover all our bets. None the less we had a great afternoon despite the small loss. We wandered around the shops and both agreed Maclean is a great country town and very unique. Definitely worth coming back to.