Thurs, 1st Jan, 2015 The Neck Campground, Bruny Island

Rain greeted us for the start of 2015. Received lots of texts from family and friends. The sun peeked out for a moment so headed down to the beach to start the year off how we intend to carry on for the rest of the year!! A walk on the beach!! Unfortunately the rain clouds didn’t allow a long walk but we did get some more scallop shells.

We pay $10 a night to stay here and I asked a Tassie last night when does the ranger come. He said he had already been and that he wasn’t paying any more as they charge per person etc. The chap was packing up to leave early but had a flat battery so got caught by the ranger. Steve lent him our jumper leads then another ranger arrived and he blocked the guys road till he cleaned up the place and put out his fire etc. Oops. Will make sure we pay each night.

We now have enough shells to make some wind chimes so after I washed and sorted them I got the apprentice onto the manual labour.

While I threaded the shells onto fishing line Steve took photos of the Scarlett Robin flitting about.

The sky is a lot clearer now so after a cuppa went back to the Big Hummock to climb up the stairs for a great view. As we drive along the narrow Neck I took some photos over Isthmus Bay to Tassie coast in the distance.

Checked on the Mutton Bird egg we saw yesterday, it was still there.

Followed a young girl up the stairs as she counted them – 170 plus another 30 in the first bit!! The wind is freezing and howling from the SSE (straight from Antarctica) which was different again from yesterday. Every day is something different down here. Amazing view. 

Looking south across Isthmus Bay to Simpsons Point.

 South over the narrow Neck.

To the east over Adventure Bay to the Fluted Cape.

Over the ocean – nothing out there but sea.

Looking north to Cape Queen Elizabeth.

Over the Neck to the north.

Then a bit further round to the northern end of Isthmus Bay.

Looking down on the view platform and where all the penguins and mutton birds have their burrows.

Zoomed in on the Neck – not much room for anything but the narrow road.

Zoomed north to Cape Queen Elizabeth again and into Mars Bluff where we hiked to yesterday.

Back down the steps and across the road to wander along the edge of Isthmus Bay. 

We are looking for driftwood to hand the shell chimes from. A few black swans feeding along the edge. Lots of mussels here.

Back to the van to finish off the wind chimes – very nice if I do say so myself. Sound good too – deeper than the ones we made with the smaller ones we find at Woodgate.

Watched the news to see how the rest of the world saw in the New Year. Lots of fireworks.

Leftover stew in front of the fire tonight. A lot more tent campers turning up.

The wind has slowed so headed down to the beach for a walk. The air is icy though. Wandered along and found more shells – now do I really want any more!! 

 Found a poor little dead seahorse too.

Warmed up by the fire with a coffee till the fairy lights came on at 9pm.