After a week in Launceston, I resumed the journey last Saturday, 13th March from Tomahawk. The paddle took me back around Cape Portland in view of Clarke and Cape Barren Islands, Flinders a shadow on the horizon. During the Bass Strait crossing these islands represented both challenge and safety, now they seem like old friends.
It was great to be back in the kayak, and after a week of eating huge meals at the Whish-Wilson's I felt like I had energy to burn. Just as well since it was freezing cold paddling mostly into headwinds ever since.
Too much happened in Lonnie to describe, but I met with people who will be involved in the Round Table, and also tried to find people who are in favour of the pulp mill - they are few and far between. I think its important to listen to the "other side" and in the end I did find an intelligent, informed mill supporter and had a really illuminating conversation. I'll report on that later. I also ate fantastic food and participated in the Rally and drank fine wine from the Tamar vineyards and my mentor Andy Small came down for a quick visit and spent time with Rob Palmer from the LEC, and got auctioned off by Leo Schofield and did some fund raising and went rock-climbing in the Cataract Gorge, so all in all it was a fantastic and very productive week
To Musselrowe
Anyway, back to the paddling.... I arrived at little Musselrowe Bay on Saturday after a 30k leg, but with all that extra power I thought I might as well go on to Great Musselrowe bay. The late afternoon paddle along the graceful sweep of Musselrowe Cove was sublime, and we made camp in a stunning spot, watching the sun set langourously over the estuary.
Eddistone Point and the Garden
The next morning I was due to paddle about 30k to Eddistone Point which is where you leave the Bass/Banks Strait and start heading down the East Coast. It was a beautiful calm sunny morning and after spending over a month in the Bass Strait (firstly on its northern side, then paddling across it, then on its Southern side) this was my last day. Fittingly, the Strait dished up what it's famous for. A NW front blew over and within 10 minutes it went from sunny and calm to 2-3 metre seas, winds gusting to 30 knots and icy waves banking up steeply against a running tide. I have to say I would have been disappointed if it had let me go easily, and once I'd got an extra layer on and buckled up my lifejacket, I really enjoyed the ride. Arriving Eddistione Point I couldn't find Emi so I paddled an extra 20k to The Garden where I managed to contact her. The Garden is another breathtaking spot with 8 or 9 shacks and a boat ramp and nothing to spoil the idyllic peace, and i was given a warm reception (and a shower that ran from icy to scalding with little in between) by locals Craig Mitchell and friends
To St Helen's Point
And that almost brings me up to date, except for yesterday, where I paddled around 18k from the Garden to St Helen's point into a howling headwind. I was pretty happy with the 3 and a half hours, averaging just under 6km/h into 20knots, gusting to 25 right on the nose. Even the fishing boats were scurrying for cover, so while I wouldn't want to do it every day, I really enjoyed the feeling of being out there in the thick of it and coping .
Now I'm in St Helen's and Mum and Dad have just flown in to Tassie to spend a week with me - I'll be glad to see them, but I reckon they'll be even gladder to see me!
Sim