photography

Clouds over Erith Island

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Another beautiful sunset. I could post a sunset view every day, each one is stunning. This was a couple of nights ago. I was closing things up outside, looked for boats in the nearest harbor, East Cove, and saw there were none. Then I checked the propane tanks. We have lashed nine large empty propane tanks to the end of the jetty while we await a replacement shipment. Should be fun loading those tanks on the truck. While I was looking at the tanks, I saw a person walk among them, I checked again for boats, nothing seen,.Hmm. I walked further down the track and saw two tents pitched near the jetty. We have visitors!

Two kayakers, Mark and Chris, are making their way to Tasmania this month. They will have to spend several windy, cooler, and wet days here while several cold fronts move through Bass Strait. They are experienced, well equipped and patient. It’s a good thing because they probably won’t be able to leave until Friday, when the winds move to the northwest and seas settle down. It’s blowing a gale this morning, 40 mph wind, and the sun is shining. So nice to be on land at times like this.

My garden saga continues. The last of the corn has been eaten off the stalks. The peanut butter I put in a trap was eaten but the trap did not spring! Most of the traps are old and maybe the vermin are small. I spent yesterday oiling the traps and resetting the one that tripped. I worry what they will eat now that the corn is gone. And what about us? My seedlings are looking sweet. I can only hope they don’t mind strong winds.

I’ve traveled halfway around the world and the highlight of my week was video chatting with my daughter, son, daughter-in-law and grandkids. Ties that bind.

We are not in Kansas anymore

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Although we speak the same language as Australians, our cultures are quite different. This is evident in some of the signs we have run across.

Today’s perusal of the bird book showed they have laughing and peaceful doves, while we have mourning doves.

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There are too many spiders to bother identifying. Just know when to run.

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This sign at the lighthouse warns people with heart conditions not to ascend the stairs. (Although at this time the lighthouse is closed while it awaits repair). The people that read this sign have already walked more than 2 miles and ascended 1000 feet to get here from their boats.

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And then here we are, the happy lighthouse caretakers. We took a similar photo four years ago on the Old Squally Trail. Still a bit of a bush bash, but it has some of the best views on the island.

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Aloft

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We followed plan b to the island and took a short plane ride due to sea and tide conditions. It was wonderful to see the island from above. It was a little disconcerting when we had to strap our lift vests on before we even took off but I had been forewarned. The pilot didn’t even crack a smile when I asked if there would be refreshments served on board.

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Our transport

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be prepared

 

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airstrip flock of Cape Barren Geese

One of our jobs will be to keep the landing strip mowed and free of wallabies and geese if a plane is due. I counted 15 wallabies and nine geese there during my walk yesterday.

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there’s our landing strip?

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circling Deal Island

 

 

Shocking AED

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The caretaker’s house now has an AED, which is what saves lives in CPR. We were spending the day reacquainting ourselves with the systems and I wanted to check it out. Tim was off in the woods (bush) trying to get some internet. I opened the cabinet door and took out the manual and the AED when out fell Harry the Huntsman! I was shocked and screamed. Maybe that’s all we have to do. I’m sure it was Harry because we couldn’t have more than one huge spider in the house. Well it checked out and we’re good to go.

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After that excitement we checked out the firehose situation. We have to open and close various valves and run a pump to get the pressure up. It worked. Then we repaired a section of fence where the wallabies come and go into the compound. One wallaby was so cheeky, he tried to bash the fence as we were repairing it. We’ll see how long it lasts or if he brings the family to reopen it. We’ve had the island to ourselves and the various critters for a day. One kayaker and a sailboat left on Saturday. A sailboat tucked into the cove last night but was gone by the morning. So we are walking the walks, all of which are in great shape.

We’ve been up to the lighthouse, out to Winter Cove and up Barn Hill. Next up is Squally cove. So much to see and do.

Fool me once

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I’ve learned to double check any adventure plans Tim makes for us. It happened again at beautiful Freycinet Park in Tasmania. We went there to stretch our legs before driving to Launceston for our flight to Flinders Island.

We’ve been there before, it’s a beautiful spot, and he suggested we hike up Mt Amos for the views. I was dubious. He wanted to bypass the ranger’s station and head straight to the trailhead. I said, “no thanks, I want to talk to the ranger”.

I mentioned Tim’s plans and he pulled out this photo, which they show as a quick overview of the hike.

It only represents about 40% of the walk. I hate having to use my hands when I walk. And I would have really hated the return trip. So we walked an 11 km loop instead. It was beautiful.

This bench was designed as part of a student design project. I think I rested here in 2011. It is holding up well.

Every hotel should stock the mini fridge with Tim Tams with the full cream milk.

Freycinet offered a lot of the same views, rocks, lichen, and cliffs as Deal Island. Soon.

Let it roll

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My preliminary work is officially done. The last tasks were to buy Tasmanian seeds for the garden and patch some form of internet together. The seeds were easy but the internet almost led to tears. But it’s done.

My old mobile wifi device turned on but didn’t connect until I took the battery out? We tried to get a new battery but that ain’t happening. So we bought an external power pack, which was much cheaper than a new device, and it works. The Telstra site was a nightmare; the only page of the website that consistently loads is the one that accepts money.

I’m driving a ginormous rental SUV on the wrong side of the narrow roads. Closing my eyes to oncoming traffic helps. When I picked it up at the Hobart airport, I promptly climbed into the passenger side and couldn’t figure out how to reach the steering wheel from there. I’ve finally stopped turning on the windshield wipers when I want the turn signal.

After a lovely time spent with old friends, and a visit to the Bothwell fiber show, we are poised for the the fifth, but not final, leg of our journey to Flinders Island. For now, we’re headed to the beach.

I love surprises

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The flight from Honolulu to Sydney was outstanding. The plane was relatively empty and Tim slept in his own row. I had a bulkhead to myself. Best of all they gave us a cute little goodie bag with an eye mask, ear plugs, toothbrush and chap stick.

This time we were somewhere over a rainbow.

I knit for at least six hours while I power watched the Great British Baking Show and finished a pair of lined mittens just in time for 98 degrees f in Hobart.

But I can not complain about traveling into summer.

Acclimating

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Some things are easier to get used to than others.

The shift from sub-zero temperatures, with snow and ice, to balmy and sunny was easy peasy, even if I still need to wear a wool sweater after swimming.

The time zone is a little tougher. It is five hours earlier here, but I think I have adjusted…for now. I go to bed my usual time and wake up before dawn. Today we fly to Sydney and the easy way to think about it is we lose another 3 hours. But in reality we cross the international date line and gain a day. So we actually gain 21 hours for a net change of 16 hours ahead of NY. Got it? Thank goodness for Apple’s world clock.

And then there’s the wind. It seems to howl all day and night. Nothing close to what we will experience on Deal Island, but it’s a good reminder. Lots of hair ties and hold on to your hat. Tim thought jets were landing nearby while he slept.

We’ve only explored a small bit of Oahu, by bus, and it is stunning. From the deck the other day I saw two very different rainbows. One low, one high. You know what they say.

This Yellow Billed Cardinal was introduced to Hawaii from South America. It is a real chatter box and hard for me to catch a good photo.

The beaches are stunning. We are on the southeast side of Oahu and despite the wind, the coves were protected and we could easily swim.

We found a collection of heart shaped coral at Sandy Beach. Very sweet.

And now we are off to another ten hour flight, same seats.