photography

Me and my Ute

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I mowed the airstrip the other day with the little Daihatsu Ute and a tow behind mower. Airstrip is a bit of a stretch. It is a relatively flat area, which has been used in the past as an airstrip but us primarily a wallaby feeding ground these days.

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Then today, we had a phone call from someone who wanted to land here. We couldn’t authorize it and advised them to contact Tasmania Parks and Wildlife. We never heard anything but a small plane buzzed us today. It circled twice and gave us a wing tilt, then left.

I’ve been pulling sea spurge, an invasive plant, with the weedies who are here working. Yesterday we worked our way up a steep hill. It was sunny and hot so we had a nice swim before lunch in East Cove. Lovely.

Yesterday’s sunset was outstanding.

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Even on reflection.

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Squally Cove

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We took a walk to Squally Cove the other day. It’s a bit of a hike: lots of slippery switchbacks with ti tree leaves; and is completed by a rope attached to a tree for the final descent to the beach. There are lots of trail improvements: rock steps at several turns, a ladder cut into a log and a rope handle to use while slip sliding down the steep part near the beach.

There’s a wreck from the early 1900’s visible on the beach, the Karitane. There was a big salvage operation after it sank to recover copper in 1922. Last time we were here, Tim, with a little help from me, reclaimed the “old squally track”. It climbs way up before descending down to meet the main trail. We took it home and had beautiful views of the lighthouse and compound.

We had about 26 hours on our own before more visitors arrived. A group of “senior” kayakers from Tasmania. They couldn’t have been nicer. They camped on the beach at East Cove. I made a substantial apple cake and shared half with them when they came to say goodbye. They’re heading to Flinders Island at 0200.

We meet the nicest people here. It’s hard to get here, which makes the beauty all that more spectacular.

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A tree falls

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A large she oak tree fell on the track to Winter Cove. Never fear. Volunteers here. Tim got approval to use the chainsaw and off we went in the little Ute. We made quick work of it and have some firewood to boot.

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Meanwhile, I got to drive the Ute.

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That’s me on the right with the gear shift on the left. At least there are no other cars or right turns!

Skinks were out in big numbers the other day. They were on the entrance to the garden and all over the lighthouse steps. I think they may be the blue tongued variety, but none stuck out their tongues at me.

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We’ve added our home to the destination signs at the entrance to compound. 16,518 kms, unless you are trying to qualify for airline miles. Then it’s much less. Now they award “dividends”, a fraction of the distance traveled.

Mates4mates made it here after waiting a week for a weather window on Flinders Island. They are crossing the Bass Strait in sea kayaks to raise awareness for their organization, which supports wounded, injured and ill Australian Defense Force personnel. They are a group of 12 men, ranging in age from 25 to 66 years old and are in great spirits while they wait for today’s gale to blow through. Then they will be off to Hogan’s Island to the north and finally Wilson’s Prom, in Victoria.

We watched another boat drag anchor in West Cove, across the Pass, during this morning’s gale. We were able to contact them to discuss the anchorage but they hauled anchor and headed north. We’ll check later to see if they sought refuge in Garden Cove, on the north side of the island, which would have been protected from the southwesterly gale.

Never a dull moment on this “deserted” island!

Chasing rainbows

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We try to air the lighthouse in sunny, breezy days to prevent mold and algae growth. It takes at least an hour to walk there and back. Tim opened it in the morning and I closed it before dinner.

To my delight, I saw several rainbows during my walk.

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When I got to the lighthouse, sea squalls looked like clouds rising directly from the ocean.

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And there were more rainbows arising from the sea.

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Magic.

I’m not at home until I’ve waxed the floors

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It’s true. On my hands and knees. My kids will tell you how treacherous life was after I applied butcher’s wax to our wood floors. A brief walk in socks could send you flying.

Same is true here on Deal Island. What struck me the first time we were here was how the floors shined. They were clean this visit but not gleaming. While Tim was off clearing nasty nettles off the track to Winter Cove, I got busy.

First I washed and stripped, the floors. I looked forward to using the 1950’s era home floor polisher again. Just like the ones used in commercial spaces but smaller, and fun!

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Then I applied two coats of wax. Now I can call the Caretaker’s house home.

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We had some fair weather and aired the lighthouse and buildings. I took some nice shots of the living compound during our walk.

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We stay in the group of buildings in the distance, to the right of center. It’s about a 40 minute walk to the lighthouse from there.

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Today there’s a gale wind from the northwest. I’ve done the best I could to protect the plants in the garden. Time will tell.

Our local wifi spot

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Weather has changed a bit as the result of at least one cyclone traveling south but nowhere close to us. With the fog and low pressure, we lost internet service in the house. Luckily there’s a hotspot on the island. This is our view from it. Why are we on the internet?

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Tim calls it a lukewarm spot.

I am fine with the down time. I finished my merino mohair blanket and experimented with my charkha spinning wheel. I even spun some acceptable cotton.

We’re still entertaining visitors. Today we had tea with a retired physician from Sydney who has been visiting Deal Island for more than 20 years.

Yesterday was foggy but I also smelled smoke. I chose to run to winter cove. I was concerned because I still smelled smoke and saw wafts of fog drifting in but that’s all it was, fog. Apparently there was a controlled burn in the mainland, which we could smell because of the wind.

We celebrated St. Patrick’s day with a shot of single malt scotch and chicken pot pie. Good cheer to you!

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Local swimming holes

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No sooner then we waved goodbye to the group of artists, we waved hello to a sailboat from The Lakes and another from Victoria.

Our plan had been to take a swim since it was sunny. We did. Here’s a picture of Tim continuing his laps. He’s the white splash in the right. I quit earlier when the rolling seas made me a little nauseous.

And here he us in the Ute, after we dropped off empty propane tanks on the jetty.

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We also swam in Winter Cove, on the east side of the island, the other day. We can pick a beach sheltered from almost every wind direction. One of the sailors reported the water temperature is about 65 degrees. It’s a shock initially, then feels great until you get out and the cool wind blows.
Wind is expected to pick up so those that are here will likely stay and we probably won’t get new visitors for a few days. The house is already creaking.

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I better keep exercising

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I had a chance to run this morning and chose the track to Winter Cove. We swam there a few days ago and it was lovely.

Here are some of my views along the way.

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It literally took my breath away, largely by the beauty and partly by the uphill portions.

We’ve had lots of visitors since we landed. Eight artists from Flinders Island arrived the day after us and are staying in the visitors’ house. They have walked all over the island and plan to present a show on Flinders Island later this autumn. I’m sorry we’ll miss it.

There have been two groups of sea kayakers from Melbourne who left yesterday for Flinders Island. I hope they got an early start because we had wind gusts to 48 knots last night.

And a flotilla of motor boats with a total of 20 people spent the night. Not exactly a deserted island!

We are trying to swim most days before it gets too cold. What a treat.

Tim keeps me busy slaving away in the kitchen and garden. We’re stocked with fresh yogurt, homemade bread and there’s a barrel of stout fermenting away. The garden is providing tons of tomatoes and cucumbers are just coming in. I’m freezing tomato sauce, making tomato soup and prepared to make some pickles.

Today I made a batch of Anzac cookies from the Lighthouse Cookbook, which is a fundraiser for Friends of Deal Island. My daughter-in-law was sweet enough to order a copy for me before my first time here in 2010. You can find it here.
Anzac cookies are miraculous. They are an oat and flour cookie made without eggs and are held together with butter and golden syrup, which tastes like a combination of honey and light molasses. The cookies (biscuits) have been associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps since World War I. The have a long shelf life but I’m not sure they will be around that long because they’re delicious.

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Vistas

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We’re unpacked, mostly, and settling in. I’ve made bread, yogurt and an apple pie. Just like home. But nothing like home.

There are wallabies everywhere we turn and breathtaking vistas. We walked to my favorite spot on the island, Barn Rock, where there is a good overview of the island, great views of adjacent Erith and Dover Islands and cliffs. One photo shows the compound, which includes the living quarters, museum, school building and sheds.

I took a good look at the garden and it’s great. I pulled the last of the carrots and green beans. There’s still rhubarb, lettuce, tons of tomatoes, cucumbers, silverbeet, beetroot and young beans, carrots, beetroot and broccoli.

Sadly I touched stinging nettles while pulling carrots. It’s a variety that is worse than at home. I only touched it with the side of my index finger and I’ve had tingling nerve pain and numbness since yesterday. Now I can definitely identify the plant. At least I could still knit.

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20150312-072908.jpgThere are several rock cairns on the island. I have to review the history but I think some were originally placed by Captain Bligh, of Mutiny in the Bounty fame, when he surveyed Deal Island.

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