Day 15, Thursday 9/1/2014, Bruny Island to Tasman Peninsula

The most perfect weather yet. Blue sky, sunshine and no wind. It's supposed to get to 25 degrees C today. Great for packing up but sad to leave our beautiful private beach campsite on Bruny. Thanks Phil, and thanks Leah (for finding it). Off to the Tasman Peninsula. Everyone was packed up on time. Well done all, should easily get the 1000hrs ferry.

Got to the ferry at 0900hrs to see it on it's way in. Grabbed a quick coffee from the kiosk, drinking it in the car line up. I ran back to the kiosk again with minutes to spare to buy the "Bruny Island Food and Recipe" book, one each for Leah and Fiona as thanks for arranging the trip and itinerary. I jumped into our car as it passed the kiosk. Then it was time for a grocery top up at Coles, and back to Salamanca markets where I jumped out to get more possum socks, then into Katmandu to get a jacket I had really wanted. It was the last one left, on the clearance rack for $25 and in my size. Yes!

Heading east to Sorrell fruit farm next across the Tasman Bridge. You pay for a certain sized tub and just go for it out in the fields, picking fruit. It was now 25 degrees with no wind and felt quite hot hiking through the fields. We were all scouring the fruit trees while Jordan and Bruce waited at the cafe.

After a leisurely lunch at the cafe we pushed on SE to the Tasman Peninsula, arriving at our campground at about 1530hrs. We set up quickly, then took the kayaks down for the teenagers to have a play. Jack in Col's, Jordan in mine and Jess in Fiona's. They went off to check out a couple of little islands and then rafted up to do photos. They did really well.

Next Bruce and I took Gary out after a bit of convincing. Col was working (he brought his computer), Leah was clothes washing and Fiona was minding Eliza and Amara. We took him around the islands where we saw cormorants and gulls with chicks. He found it was much easier than he had expected. Leah soon joined Fiona on the beach, but didn't want a paddle. It's a beautiful, well protected little bay "White Beach".

After dinner drinks in our camp. Everyone is getting excited about the boat trip tomorrow. I've also now booked the ghost tour for tomorrow night for Parkes and Williams. The Morgan kids are too young. I gave them their books and then everyone went to bed while I stayed up pottering until 2300hrs.

I had washing to do then headed down to the beach to play with night photography. I was desperate to see the Southern lights which are meant to be spectacular in the next two days. While setting up my camera on the beach I heard a couple talking. He said "I'm not sure, I think it's a kangaroo". Next second I'm under a spotlight and the 'kangaroo' is waving back at the couple.
The beach faces west so I went to the playground to check from there. No lights. All I found was a rabbit which I chased and almost caught as he suddenly decided to play dead.

Day 14, Wednesday 8/1/2014, Bruny Island

I had a restless night, waking up at 0330hrs, waiting an hour to go to the toilet, back to sleep from 0500 to 0730hrs. Kayaking at 0800hrs.
The entry waves were big this morning. I was a bit scared paddling out with waves rolling over my kayak, face and head. They seemed to go forever. About twelve waves to cross.
The sunnies came straight off as I couldn't see through the salt wash. Col tipped over as he tried to put his sunnies in the rear hatch due to the large swell. Ahahahahah! Cool way to start the trip (literally) and after making it through the waves unscathed!

I got to practice our recovery technique before heading out into open sea through large swell. As we rounded the point the swell was large enough that we couldn't see each other in neighbouring troughs.
After 3km we had almost made it to Mable Bay (big cave) but the swell picked up even more and Fiona became ill so we had to turn back. Bruce and I had to raft up with Fiona to prevent her rolling while vomiting.
It's unbelievable how crystal clear the water is, that is until we came across a big slick of muck on the surface that smelt like rotting fish. Our guesses consisted of sludge off a fishing trawler or whale vomit. Hmmm, paddling through burley in great white territory!!
Then it was crystal clear again with giant orange jelly fish and tiny egg sized glowing blue balls.
I was dreading the surf exit, only to find it had flattened dramatically and I paddled in easily, getting out completely dry. Col and Bruce had a bit of a play in the surf though with Bruce finally getting wet. Such a sad day for Bruce, losing his 25yr old brown leather hat. RIP!
A total of 6km this morning. Short but beautiful. The 1100hr deadline was met for our outing to the oyster farm where we had lunch and then cheese tasting.

On our way back to camp we went up 236 stairs to a lookout at the northern end of the neck. I had muscle burn and right thigh cramping. The view was amazing! The water had amazing colours with the sun out, differing from the west to the east. I played with panoramic photos, then limped back down.

The teenagers had chosen to stay at camp to finish their "structure" which looks pretty cool, plus walked on the beach, played cards, ate and chatted. Sounds lovely!

Col and Bruce again played in the surf with their kayaks, Jack deciding not to join in today, choosing to play with some photography instead along with Leah, Fiona, Jess and I. Jordan was laying on the beach watching, while Gary, Eliza and Amara went swimming in the beach. Crazy, Gary didn't have a wetsuit like the girls!

Col tipped over twice but managed to right himself the second time while still in the surf. According to Col, Bruce just didn't go hard enough to fall out. We got our first full group photo today posing on a log using Leah's tripod.

Time to clean up the kayaks and start packing up. We need to be ready by 0800hrs tomorrow to get to the ferry by 0930hrs for a 1000hrs crossing. It will be a 5hr journey in total, plus stops for tasting and shopping.
I've already booked us in for a boat trip Friday morning to see the seals and caves on the Tasman Peninsula. Still need to book a ghost tour.
Such a pleasant evening. Perfect weather, friends, campfire, good food and good wine. Surrounded by happy, laughing, relaxed people.
Our host Phil is sad to see us leave and would love to have such beautiful families back. He says he'll take us out fishing next time and says we can use his beach if we're ever passing through for the day.
Leah told him we'd send some lovely photos for his website.
Just enjoyed Amara doing my hair. Bliss!

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.