Day 13, Tuesday 7/1/2014, Bruny Island

Today started with Col cooking bacon and eggs for brekkie. Just after that Fiona came back from her walk to the lagoon and said they were going for a paddle in there. Out to the ocean was out of the question with a southerly, big swell and chop.
We ended up paddling for half the day. Going in through the channel was easy with the wind pushing us, then heading around to the right (east), sheltered by the spit, paddling through oyster farms, then pulled up to walk over the spit, looking to the south.

From there it was fun catching the wind across the lagoon to the northwest corner. Very choppy and we were flying without having to paddle, especially when we were playing around rafting.
Then of course the hard slog paddling back against the wind. What a workout!
I pulled out at the southern end of the channel, as soon as there was surf to deal with as I was too exhausted to take it on. Fiona and Bruce did the same as me, but Col decided to go for it, out through the surf, then riding them back in to our little beach. He ended up in the drink!

No rain today, but nonstop wind. It was 2pm when we got back. 4hrs! Morgans and the kids had been walking, swimming and playing along the beach.
I had Tassie wine with a hot smoked salmon and peach chutney sandwich. Followed by a coffee by the fire. By the way, I had to do brekkie dishes when I got back from a 4hr paddle, thanks kids. I had a lovely chat with Gary while doing them though.
Poor Jordan, always so tired. She's gone back to bad for a sleep. Hope she's OK.

Fiona and Jess have gone for a walk. I turned it down as I'm sitting by the fire with a coffee, exhausted from the paddling. My arms and shoulders cramping up. I'd better go and drink a litre of water to protect the kidneys.
I ended up changing my mind. I caught up with them still chatting with Col, Bruce and Phil (the owner). He's lovely.We walked over the hill to the lagoon site, saw stingrays in the channel and walked back along the beach.
We found Jack in the bush in a half cubby with his sword. He's been running around crazy playing games in the bush. Eliza and Amara found the half cubby and decided to cover the floor with fir pine, which made a beautiful carpet.

My day was made when Jack, Jordan and Jess all went wild in the bush and built a cubby house further in (sorry Jack "a structure").
I then did a bit of photography with Leah and Fiona. Leah and I then went down to the beach with Amara as a model. No rain, no wind, no clouds!

It is 2115hrs and I'm sitting outside writing in my diary by the natural light. The sky is still grey, white, pink. We're all hanging out around a great campfire. Jordan and Jack are doing our dishes, thanks guys!

Such a great day. We're looking forward to perfect weather tomorrow to paddle around to Mable Bay (caves), Phil's advice. He says the other headland to the east has a seal colony and lots of great whites.