Fri, 8th May, 2015 Friendly Beaches Campground to Mayfield Bay Campground

Another beautiful sunrise at 7am, 10 degrees but no wind and a clear sky.

The dolphins were back too.

The sun was making the rocks turn orange without the need of lichen.

The moon was still up though not full anymore.

Just a magical morning – glad to be alive and living this great life.

David & Jenny called in on their way to explore the waterfalls. I said to text if they are ok as I wanted to check them out too. Walked down to the ‘verandah’ to watch the swell roll down the beach. Steve said the surfers should be out today as they had great waves.

The dolphins (about 5) slowly made their way back passed us again. Shame they weren’t frolicking so we could see more of them.

Made a cuppa then sat on the rocks on the ‘verandah’ watching the waves as the wind has picked up. Saw someone on the beach past the rocks then Steve said ‘there’s a streaker on the beach’. Of course I could only just make out the shape and he was making out he could see everything!! Should have gotten binoculars but I figured the sight wouldn’t have been worth it!! Whoever it was had a quick dip in the sea then headed back up the beach to their clothes.

Packed up and headed off towards Swansea. Over the Aspley River again. Pass the Devil’s Corner Winery we started climbing up Cherry Tree Hill then we saw a Lookout sign but the pull over area was full with a couple of cars – one was David & Jenny – they didn’t get far. The view was amazing – looking back over Great Oyster Bay to Freycinet. I managed to get a couple of photos as we crawled by.

Down the other side of the hill into lovely pastures and vineyards. Across the Swan River. Penny & Pete texted. They are heading off to Clermont, gold prospecting. Hopefully we will catch up with them in the Golden Triangle in Victoria in July. Through a lovely tree lined area near at Riversdale where there is an historic homestead and flour mill (privately owned now). Lots of Tasmanian Walnut orchards.

Over the Wye River with its extra sign, “because it’s bigger than a creek”. As we head back down the coast the Hazards come into view across the Bay.

Through Swansea, quite a bit town. Will come back and explore another day. Past Cressy Beach – only day use areas. Looking across to Freycinet Peninsula.

Then Schouten Island.

Past ‘Spikey Bridge’ which we will check out later – it was built by convicts.

Maria Island looms up in the south.

Following the coast, just like the road to Port Douglas, up through Rocky Hills which is narrow and windy then down to Mayfield Bay Conservation Area.

Found a nice spot with a fabulous view across to Freycinet.

The clouds are hanging over us so not sure how much sun we will get here for the solar panels as the hill might block a lot of it as the sun moves across the sky now as such a low angle.

Looking across to Freycinet Peninsula with Mt Freycinet.

Then down to Schouten Island and the rocks off the end of it called Traillefer Rocks.

The whole view.

Then the other side with Mt Freycinet and back to Coles Bay and Swanwick area.

Rang Rochelle and the Tuckshop ladies to say I’m coming back in August – said to Wendy I will have my job back!! She said ‘ok’. Nah but I am looking forward to seeing them all again and seeing all the changes they have made since the Grade 7s have arrived.

The NP&WS Ranger came and cleaned the toilets etc. He put out a trap to catch a stray cat – poor kitty!! He then collected fallen limbs and gave them to a lady in the camper near us so at least we can collect firewood here!! That’s the difference between Conservation Park and National Park!!

After lunch – the last of our fish, I got tea and dessert ready in the Ecopot then we investigated a sign we saw ‘Three Arch Bridge’, further down the beach. It was a convict constructed drain for under the road. It has since had the floor of it concreted and the road above supported etc.

We walked through, head height this end but we had to stoop a lot by the other end.

Old Man Creek has been blocked off to help preserve this area.

Certainly was made to last. This end is low - back through to the beach again.

The water from the sea comes up a little way on high tide.

Walked out onto the beach – not the lovely white sand we are used to now. Looking north,

Then south.

Walked down to the rocks and then there was another beach. Not many shells.

Went up to the northern end where a couple of Japanese men were trying to catch their dinner – no fish for dinner tonight though. The waves are rolling in a crashing with a major thump. Too hard and far to get their line out passed the dumping rollers.

I can get good internet here so checked emails, bank etc. Worked on my blog while Steve got the fire going. David had said that the International Space Station would be crossing over us at 6.13pm tonight so we remembered as Steve had spotted a satellite going across the sky at 6pm. Certainly couldn’t miss the space station, it was so bright and moving quickly but we could see it the whole time. I was on the internet so put up a post – my quickest update yet.

Rang Erica to find out what her ‘voice to text’ message was supposed to mean. It came through as “Did you have enough(?) know(?) to have a safe flight. Where you are. Bye”. What she said was “Did you have enough snow to have a snowball fight where we are” as she had seen on the news about the early snow falls in Tassie. No we haven’t seen any but will go searching for it once we get our heater installed!!

After dinner and dessert by the fire we headed inside. Nice in there, 20 degrees at 8pm. My cousin, Janet, rang from Melbourne, to say she is looking forward to us staying and that we can leave the van and truck there when we head home for the month. She has an old gold mine on her property so we will have go prospecting while we are there. Wouldn’t that be great if we found some there.

No TV reception here so I worked on the blog and Steve hit the sack. Lovely listening to the waves roll in.