Busy South Lombok, lots of 👍 & a bit 👎

31 Jan, we wrapped our wonderful Belongas stay with a walk through village...friendly people, quiet 🕌 but unfortunately beauty spoiled with lots & lots of rubbish.
Quick ⛵️ to Kuta, along with new boat buddy SV Stray Cats, captains Steve & Debbie who are from Qld are ready to explore same area for a bit. Ted scored a sml tuna on route 😋, extra tasty as our 1st fish in longtime. Kuta is a handy spot to get fresh provions but way too noisy & busy so only 2 nights even though Ted had a fun surf despite crowds.
Next Tanjung Aan...be still my ❤️, my new fav ⚓️ Turquoise water, uncrowed beach, no 🕌 music and stunning sunsets 😍. 🌊 small & full of learner crowds (sometimes 90+) but Ted reports it still fun as lots of room on wave & everyone friendly 😄..maybe friendy because they 😱 he will run them over on huge paddle board. Lots to do here...beach walks, scenic hikes, sunset 🍺 & 🍕 plus lots of 🏊‍♂️.
We have made the most of close shop options, arranged 1hr 🚗 up to Mattaram... as usual here, we needed to go to lots of different places to find a few items, so 10hrs later, back to beach just in time...before 🌧, low tide & dark.
Next day we heard about a great Oz meat shop in north Lombok... so after a quick online order, $$ tranfer, we met scooter dude on beach in arvo...lots meat , cut, cryovac, & wrapped in ice... awesome 👏 & along awaited steak (real) sandwich.
Before we leave Ted decide to buy me (??) a Malibu board from local Kuta builders as easy to learn on... whilst the final pick is not a learners board I did get to pick the colour 😆 . Lol, Ted has 🏄‍♀️ it every opportunity since,⁸ but still calls it mine.
Soooooo not wantjng to leave, but it is time to start journey eastwards as our flights back to Oz in March leave from Rote ( 🏝 in south east indo).
Just a quick stop in Gerupuk, surf was crowed with a super unfriendly vibe from local surf coaches (local wave tax $60oz for "lesson" just to be allowed a wave)...shame as locals elsewhere made us feel super welcome & wanted the business. Our watermaker decided to give Ted headache 2, this time it looks like electical issue...we realise its 10 yrs old so probably to be expected, a bugger as we just left decent service options and will need to solve along the way somehow... 💧 restrictions commence 😥
Next, Tanjung Barendi...protected anchorage & 3nm dingy ride across to Ekas 🌊. Friendly locals & happy Ted so we stay 3 days... when 🏄‍♀️ not working or too crowded Ted & Steve practiced foilboarding....Ted 1st time.
On 19th we said a 😔 goodbye to Lombok, pushing across Atlas Strait, lucky to ride on strong current most of the way to top Sumbawa, Poto Tano (pick up parts- thx Cindy Speed).
We said 😔 goodbye to SV Stray Cats next day as we need to move into travel mode, with dig days-big passages to knock off about 250 nm in a week-ish??🤞 for wind and ocean current support. Hope to be at Labuan Bajo, Flores end of February...fixing water maker our top priority before going remote again.
Stay safe & smiling 😃 xxx TnT xxxRead more