WEEKS 21 & 22: Brunei to Miri Marina

Saturday 3 September - Muara, Brunei
We ordered some fuel and the boys and Sandra went to check us all out. Cilantro decided they needed to get going so they left as soon as they had checked out. We found out the penalties for failing to have passport checked in was no less than $5000 and no less than 6 months gaol and overstaying one’s visa no less than 6 lashes and no less than 3 months gaol !
We just did boat stuff and at 7.30pm we went over to Braveheart and Chris and Peter went in to collect Chris’ fuel which was supposed to be there at 8pm. They finally came back at 9.30pm without the fuel which hadn’t turned up.

Sunday 4 September – Brunei to the Sultan’s brother's breakwater
04°57.009N / 114°48.793 (7m)
The boys went in at 8am and were told the petrol station had run out of diesel. By 11am the chap had managed to get 300 litres – we actually wanted 300 each but he couldn’t get more till that evening which meant another day there – so we both settled for 150 litres each (31 cents/litre). We upanchored at 12 noon and headed out. There was a slight swell but the seas were calm and it was a nice day. The Sultan's brother had built a breakwater so their children could enjoy their water sports – two big walls coming out from the beach with a narrow opening to the sea and another wall on an islet just inside the opening to prevent the swell. We anchored just off the islet at 6pm – what a fantastic spot – so calm.
Miles: 25 TTT: 2,792

Monday 5 September – Sultan’s breakwater to Miri Marina
Happy Birthday James
04°23.076 / 113°58.347
We left at 5am in the dark and had good wind but we had a long way to go so we motor sailed. We hadn’t remembered to put our radio back to 16 (oops). It seemed we were heading into a survey area and they had been calling us for ages when Braveheart called them up and told them to try channel 72. The survey ship called us up on 72 and asked us to alter course which we did and then they called us back on 16 to thank us for our cooperation (maybe also checking we were finally on 16!!). Cilantro had reached the marina at 3pm and we came in at 6.30pm We went down to 0.7m under the keel but were soon tied up in the marina. People came from everywhere to help us in. Cilantro had previously told us where we could berth which was really helpful. Braveheart came in abut 8.30 – they had to go around another survey area – and they said it was pitch black out there and the entry wasn’t lit but they found their way in and we soon had them tied up in their berth. We had a little reunion and hit the hay – a very long day.
Miles: 73 TTT: 2,865

Tuesday 6 – Friday 9 September – Miri Marina
We walked to town and back and went out to a restaurant to celebrate James’ birthday. It has been cleanup mode for us all. We have been to the dentist, got new prescription glasses and ordered prescription sunglasses. I had the worst haircut ever! I seriously wonder if Dewie was a bona fide hairdresser! Got Peter’s bike fixed – four broken spokes and can now ride to town and back. They have put in a bicycle track since were last here so that is great. And they are slowly covering all the square drain holes along the way (if you went in one of those no-one would ever find you!) Peter had a run in with a car door – some one stopped in the right hand lane – Peter was in the left hand lane - and the back passenger door flew open and he managed to miss the bulk of it but got a scraped arm and leg. I had lunch in town and three lovely men at the next table insisted on paying for my meal – embarrassing – but they said it was their culture and one had been to Uni in Perth and the other had family there. On Friday night there was a sundowner gathering of marina guests – drinks and nibblies. Peter’s honey chicken wings were very popular. Most people are leaving their boats here to go home but we met Rose from Southern Son who has been here for four years. She gets horribly seasick so that may have something to do with it! Though seriously I doubt it. Braveheart had intended to catch a bus to Brunei for their flight home leaving at 8.30am tomorrow but Rose was able to organise a car and they wouldn’t be leaving till 3pm! I think Rose knows everything and everyone!

Saturday 10 September – Miri Marina
We said goodbye to James and Sandra (Cilantro) at 8am as they headed home. We rode to town with Chris and Judy (Braveheart) and did some last minute shopping for them and rode around and had lunch (not the best) then went to the seafood restaurant where they keep the live bullfrogs – for beer only!! Studied the menu and it is amazing what they can do with bullfrogs! They had a lot of ‘unusual’ dishes on the menu. We said goodbye to Chris and Judy at 3pm when the airconditioned car did turn up - $20 each to Brunei airport – pretty good
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Sunday 11th – Friday 16th September
Happy 21st Jackson – 11th
Happy birthday Greg – 14th
We are currently going through the boat cleaning out cupboards, washing everything (great to have water!!). Peter has fixed the water pump, the toilet holding tank and cleared the toilet pipes – a pretty shitty job by all accounts but better to do it now than when we come back. The sails are coming down today to be stored below and hopefully we might have a day off to enjoy ourselves before we come back!! Today is Malaysia day so it is a public holiday.

Well this is where Pacific Express will spend the next four months while we go home. On this trip we have clocked up 2,865 nautical miles and since we have had the boat we have done 15,395 nautical miles.

We arrive in Adelaide on Tuesday 21st and are looking forward to catching up with family and friends. To all of you who have followed this manic journey – thankyou – and hopefully you will be with us again from January 2012. To those of you who we have met along the way and who have accompanied us and shared the journey and the tears, the fears and the fun – what can we say – thankyou! What’s next? Who knows. We hope to do the Philippines early next year and then may bring the boat home but these decisions cannot be made until the day they are made!!!!

Anyway all the best to everyone, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and stay safe.

May you always have a foot of water under your keel, fair winds and calm seas and until we meet again may God hold you in the hollow of his hands.

Dell and Peter
Pacific.express@hotmail.com