Heading down the 4WD track to the cove.
Today’s walks started with a bus ride through Coles Bay, heading to the eastern shore of the peninsula. We hopped off the bus at a four-wheel drive road, and walked along the road until we came to the water at Bluestone Bay. There we performed the ritual “Cleansing of the Soles” to remove any Phytophthora from our boots to protect the plants along the trail from the microbe.
The coastal trail we took was developed and maintained by the Freycinet Experience the purveyors of our walk/tour. From the beach at Bluestone Bay, we climbed up to the headland a 45+ minute climb. We stopped periodically during the climb to catch our breaths and appreciate the views of the incredible blue water and white beaches.
The track led through eucalyptus forest with various plants in bloom - at one point Nick led Jonathan and me off the path to another rock orchid clinging to a granite boulder. The path undulated over the landscape and wove around obstacles as we walked northward towards Friendly Beach and the lodge. Lunch was laid out under a tarp to provide shade and consisted of various goodies to put into your wrap.
Heading down the 4WD track to the cove.
Looking out to Boot Rock through vegetation.
At the cove - (L-R) Nick, Isaac, Teresa, and Edwin.
James performing the 'Cleansing of the Soles' for Jonathan.
A rather large cuttlebone (~10 cm or ~4“ wide). See also: cuttlefish.
Jonathan after
'the cleansing.'
Eucalyptus - I was attracted by the U-shaped pattern in the grain.
One of the guides (Isaac, James, or Nick) took this snap of Jonathan and me resting at an overlook.
Unidentified.
Unidentified.
Jonathan and Nick discussing the rock orchid.
Jonathan coming round the bend.
Unidentified.
Unidentified.
Borer pattern in eucalyptus bark.
Banksia (Banksia marginata) foliage.
Nick prepping a wrap for lunch.
After lunch the path was a steady but gentler downward slope (compared to the morning ascent) leading down the slope of the ridges while Isaac challenged the group with a riddle. I didn’t hear the beginning the challenge, so I just listened in as the group probed Isaac with questions. Eventually, I asked him to restate the premise of the riddle and promptly solved it. I won’t spoil Isaac’s fun by revealing the riddle or the solution.
We emerged to another 4WD track that ran along the edge of a lagoon to the southern end of Friendly Beach. From there we walked barefoot north along the white foam surf and the blue waters for the four kilometers to the lodge.
After sitting in the common room catching the action around the ceramic bird bath on the deck and consuming ample quantities of the local Pinot noir we adjourned to dinner. Dinner consisted of beef eye fillet, spinach-strawberry salad with almond flakes and goat cheese, potato-cauliflower mash, pan-fried asparagus, roasted carrots, and sticky date pudding with caramel sauce for dessert.
Phytophthora-killed grass-tree.
The end is in sight - Friendly Beach.
Boronia with a bee.
Heading down the hill.
Heidi, Glenn (obscured), and James reach the southern end of Friendly Beach.
Taking a rest and taking in the view.
Heidi and Glenn head up the beach.
The operculum - the 'hatch door' - of a common warrener or Lightning turban snail (Lunella undulata).
Sea gull frolic.
Jonathan strolling at the water's edge.
James left a drawing of a whale in the sand to let us know when to look for the path up to the lodge.
Relaxing after the day's 14 km walk - (L-R) Edwin, Teresa, Heidi and Glenn.
More relaxation - Teresa, Heidi, Glenn, Marianne.
Holly in the kitchen.
Jonathan's joy - more oysters.
I even ate one.
Dan and Nick.
Dinner - beef eye fillet, cauliflower-potato mash, pan-fried asparagus, roasted carrots.
Spinach-strawberry salad with almond flakes and goat cheese.
Dinner, looking in - (L-R) Holly, Edwin, Teresa, Jonathan, Glenn, Heidi, Isaac, Nick, Marianne, James, and Dan.
Dinner, looking out - (L-R) Isaac, Nick, Marianne, James, Dan, Holly, Edwin, Teresa, Jonathan, Glenn, and Heidi.
After dinner, I enlisted Isaac to lead me to the beach to attempt some astrophotography. The Freycinet has an excellent dark sky and I wanted to try for a Milky Way shot. Unfortunately there were clouds to the south, but I did get a series of shots of Orion to the northeast, and a series to the east. We’ll see what post-processing reveals.
Orion and Canis Major - single image, 15 sec, 6 mm, f/2.8, ISO 3200.
Orion and Canis Major - previous image with labels.
Orion and Canis Major - stack of 6 images, 15 sec, 6 mm, f/2.8, ISO 3200; 4 images discarded having too much movement.
Major stars Sirius in Canis Major and Canopus, with a hint of the Milky Way to the right - stack of 11 images.
