In the morning, I already reached Beagle Bay. Huge, full of navy vessels, I even pass a submarine, wow! I am so happy after getting through Torres Strait (in fact, I still can’t believe it) and Dundas Bay that the adrenaline rush leaves me sleepless. I take out the maps and all the documents about Darwin that I gathered before getting here. The current is unfortunately opposite to what it should be, I sometimes think I got to some shallows. I try to call someone on the radio. They send me from one place to another. My handset radio (the stationary set broke down) does not reach whom it should, but there is one good soul who passes my message on. Tacking, manoeuvring between ships going out of port, and regular runs for passport number and infinity of other things is not an easy task for just one person. Before I reach the destination point, my GPS dies. I run circles around a paper map trying to find my way. Finally, I enter a tiny harbour where I moor my yacht to a pontoon before I can enter a lock. Now I can sit down. Suddenly, fatigue, almost 3 days and 2 nights without sleep, comes down on me with full force, so I’m just sitting. It is hot like hell and all these people wear jeans. I shouldn’t be surprised. After all, it is winter here and apparently I am lucky to visit the place on one of the cooler days since it started. Interesting.
Quarantine officers will be here in a moment. I don’t get much from what they say, I am very tired. I do the paperwork with a gentleman while his female colleague sweeps the yacht. She checks EVERYTHING. No food label is left unread, she messes in my kitchen which does not see order everyday – but I luckily found the reserve of instant soups from Poland hidden in case of dire need (has it come?). I received a bill for $240 for the “service” and I was introduced to 7 gentlemen in blue suits. Customs. One of them asked if I allow dogs to come aboard? Fine by me, they don’t even have to take their shoes off. And so they brought one, a beautiful, beige one. The way was a bit steep, but he made it. He sniffed a bit and then they brought another one, black and as lovely as the first one. He too sniffed a bit around and went off the boat. Then, I was visited by two men with gloves, or maybe three – I don’t remember. They looked around and went away. Finally, their leading officer sat by me (I was the only one who was sitting) and we did paperwork. We set the appointment for the next day and they were all gone. I was visited by the lock master instead. Nice chap named Paul. Big hat, broad smile. My smile in response looks rather like grimace (I was tired) but I grin as well. I show them the papers to prove that the bottom of my yacht was painted not long ago, so that there is no need to pull me out of water (they are very strict and careful checking what people bring on bottoms of their yachts here). It turns out that I have to sail away on the anchor anyway, and leave the yacht steady for 14 hours, whereas they will inject “medicine” into the water holes. “What??? I am to sail somewhere and keep an anchor watch???Paul, I’m so tired I can hardly see you, do it yourself if you think it’s necessary. Just joking. I’m going to sleep here. Exactly where you are standing now, on the pier. “ I must have looked really miserable, because Paul just made a phone call and disappeared. He comes back grinning even more broadly. They made an exception for me  and let me wait till the morning, moored to the jetty (they had no other way, did they?) Better still, I don’t have to pay for the lock (that’s another story I will tell you later on). After 2 hours they say they will come and dive to disinfect everything. I fall asleep. Actually, I think I fell asleep even before I put my head on the pillow.

Someone is knocking. I open my eyes. It takes me a long while to realize where I am, what’s going on, I’m half asleep. Some gentleman is talking to me, asking questions, but as he gets no logical answers, he just keeps on doing his job. We can write the papers tomorrow. I move really slowly, but I try to call my family to tell them I’m there, at Darwin, and everything is ok. Nobody answers, and I just fall asleep when sitting with a phone in my hand. I wake up when my head suddenly falls, and go to the land. A phone booth that I want to use to call a local number is not far away, but every 100 metres feels like eternity to me, I feel like I’m fighting with the wind, even zephyr blows disturb me. The phone is out of order, I try to find another one. Accept cards only. I meet a guy. He’s really nice and he lends me his mobile, so I can call Marta. Marta has been living here for a few years, we met through my website. She’s lovely and it is thanks to her that I can stay in this marina. Aaaand, it’s not just “in the marina”, but I can moor Tanasza by the Gream’s dock and Esther Townes. I will tell you about them in a moment. We arrange on the phone that Marta and Krzys will visit me tonight. I waddle back to my yacht and fall asleep. The Townes visit me, nice to meet them, they are a really friendly couple! We have a short chat, and agree to meet tomorrow. Marta and Krzysiek come, and we click on immediately, although we haven’t met before. We go to a nearby cafe. Krzys buys some coffee, but he accidentally orders some carrot cake as well. Coffee is large and delicious, cake as well... It is so much different than in Port Moresby. I am absolutely amazed at the fact that I can come back to my yacht for the night, and there’s no need to be afraid. Emotions keep me awake. I start cleaning the mess, finish at 3a.m., and I fall asleep again. I’m in Australia!!! I’ve already been here a few times, but it’s the first time I have entered the port on my own:)