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.

Day 11, Sunday 5/1/2014, Hobart to Bruny Island

I haven't slept that well in about 2 years. I woke up with a numb left arm. We caught the 1100hr ferry from Kettering. Managed to park our cars in the ferry line by 1020hrs and then walked around the pier and coffee shop for a bit. Wandered back to the cars while the ferry was unloading and we were directed straight on. Leah wasn't back when Gary had to drive on, so she jumped in Jordan's car just as Jordan was driving on. Gary got out on the ferry and looked so stressed that he'd left her behind, pacing back and forth at the rail. I had to call out to him that she was OK and had gotten a ride from Jordy. It's only about a 10 minute ride and you just stay in your car.

Our first stop on Bruny was at the Bush Smoke House. Col and I bought some more hot smoked salmon, Moroccan spiced peach chutney, salmon tarine (cream cheese, salmon and herbs) and salted sardines (eew).

Bruny is huge. Bigger than we thought. We have a bush camp on private property, in a protected bay. It's right down the south end with an opening into a lagoon nearby. Perfect for kayaking.
As soon as we set up camp and had lunch, the rain set in. Maybe kayaking tomorrow?

Got the table and chairs out, grabbed a cherry cider and chips and played Euka with Jordan, Jack and Jess. Jess and I flogged Jordan and Jack. They were so funny they had me cry-laughing!
We had some lovely neighbours plus Phil the owner rides down on his bike often to chat and check on us. Says he's our butler and often delivers firewood. I think he sends down his dogs as an excuse to come and chat.

At 5pm it was still cloudy but suddenly no wind and the water looked emerald. A sudden decision to go kayaking made my day!

Wow, it was unreal! First was a small wave entry with the kayaks cutting through beautifully. We headed south to the mouth of the bay. It was crystal clear water with giant kelp and gradually growing cliffs with organ pipes. Once we stopped paddling we noticed there was a wind taking us out, quite fast. Around the first bend to the right was when we noticed the slow but large swell. There were little rock islands and towers. One more bay around was amazing emerald water surrounded by steep cliffs and a water cave. Magical!

Even paddling back against the wind wasn't too bad. We're pretty impressed with our Seaward kayaks, cutting through the swell and chop easily. Fiona and I headed back in while Col and Bruce went to play in the current and waves of the lagoon opening. I caught a wave in, it spun me sideways and tried to roll me but I managed to stay upright.
I took lots of photos using my iPhone inside a Hitcase Pro.

I was so glad the neighbours kept the fire stoked all day even during the rain. We had a lovely evening around the fire. A real campfire and no rain with lovely local ciders and wine.

The stars even showed themselves as the clouds dispersed and there was lots of discussion as to whether we'd see the Aurora Australis. I'm to be woken at any hour of the night if it is spotted by anyone!

Day 10, Saturday 4/1/2014, Hobart

Off to explore the famous Salamanca Markets today. The markets were almost called off due to the 70km/hr winds, but thankfully they toughed it out. We broke off into smaller groups and raided the place. Fun.

I found the giant leather satchel/handbag that I wanted and a beautiful leather bound diary from the LOTR (Lord of the Rings)/GoT (Game of Thrones) shop. Jordan was totally taken with a dagger. We showed it to Col and Jack to see if Col would have any major opposition to Jordan getting the dagger. You should have seen Jack's eyes! He fell in love with a Knights Templar sword which I slipped him a bit of money to help him buy. Later on Col bought a chopping board, stirring spoons, a hat and possum socks x2 (I stole 1 pair).

They were on such a high from their purchases, it was hilarious!

On getting back near our cabins, Col and I went exploring the scout grounds, finding a climbing tower and archery, then back to the cabin for lunch.

Williams and Parkes have the most adorable teenagers ever. They offered to take Eliza and Amara to the movie "Frozen" while the adults had a lovely break together cider tasting at The Apple Shed and visiting Cascade Brewery (1824-1927) which was closed, but we enjoyed a stroll around the building and park.

I had an early night. I was in bed by 8.30pm (read until 9.30pm) and slept until 7.30am. 10hrs sleep! Woooohoooo!

Day 9, Friday 3/1/2014, Kingston and Tahune

Everyone was up and ready to leave the cabins by 8am.
The rain and wind have settled a bit today and it's perfect. It was lovely to be doing something as a whole group, heading south through Huonville, up into the mountains to the Tahune Treetop Walk. Gorgeous! First we watched a DVD on the Huon Pine, then a short hike along the Huon River followed by 112 stairs up to the treetop walk and then 2 swinging bridges over the Huon and Picton Rivers.

Eliza got a huge thrill today doing the "hanglide" flying fox across the Huon River after a demo from Gary.

After lunch Leah, Gary, Eliza and Amara went their own way, food tasting their way back towards Hobart to get their tent poles fixed.
Parkes and Williams families had a lovely afternoon. First we checked out the timber boat museum at Huonville at Clyde's suggestion. So interesting! The timber boats are so beautiful and romantic. Huon is the perfect timber for boats as it doesn't rot. You can sign up to do a 7 week course and build a dingy, or a 1.5yr course to build a small yacht and get your ship wright certificate.

We detoured to the east, taking the southern coast road back to Kingston to visit roadside farms, buying cherries, strawberries, apples, cider, cheese and liqueur.
Pagan cherry and apple cider was great. They were the first to think of cherry cider, deciding to use their reject cherries for this rather than dumping them. I suggested cherry wrestling events rather than dumping them which tickled his fancy.
Our favourite farm was GrandvEwe sheep property. They sell sheep cheese, and liqueur made from the sheep milk whey (with vanilla), yum!
Our pleasant drive ended back at our cabins via the beach at Kingston. Dinner was wine, cheeses, salmon, cherries, strawberries and sourdough.

Most then had a very early night. Col watched cricket with Gary for a bit, Leah and I looked through some photos, with me running back and forth to the washing machine. I then watched LoTR2 while also reading GoT.