Year One
Date: 13/2/2008 21.30
Weather: Beautiful Blue Sky, 15knot SW. A stunning day
Location: Wineglass Bay 42'10S 148'18E
Author: Peter

Today was just a ripper of a day just to get you all jealous.

We started the day with a sleep in, Kylie getting up at 08:00. She was on the computer till sked time at 09:00 while i\I stayed in the nice warm bed reading and did the sked from there on the hand held radio. I then got up and made pancakes for breaky, one of Kylie's favourite breaky's.

We had organised to meet the some of the group for a walk over to Coles Bay, meeting them at the far side of the beach at 10:30. On the way across Wineglass bay we were joined by about 6 dolphins who traveled across three quarters of the bay with us, riding the ducky's bow and playing in our wake. One even swam on its side next to us and flicked its tail toward us trying to splash us. What a great start to the day!!!!

The walk across to Coles Bay took us through a variety of different settings ranging from groves of Oyster pines specific to this area, banksia forests, wet lands that were not so wet but still interesting as the peat made for a unique landscape, to the most beautiful enclosed path surrounded by dense tea tree and gums shading a path littered with yellow fallen leaves. Approaching the far side we again entered another wet lands, walking across a boarded walkway before finally climbing a small sand dune and then descending onto the beach on the far side at Coles Bay.

On the return trip we passed aboriginal midens and a very tame wallaby. Crossing the bay back to the yacht we again passed a pod of dolphins but they did not join us this time.

Lunch was then prepared. BLT's, yum. Kylie then hoped back onto the computer to download some photo's (and probably played her favourite game) while I went to shore and sat under a tree on the beach to read my book. What a stunning vista in which to sit down and relax on my soft mat on the warm sand to read and relax.

Later that afternoon, we went over to Pendulum where Pat (solo sailed the south pacific on many occasions sailing over 20000 miles)helped us and Damien load and then walked us through a navigational program that all the serious cruisers are using. Simply a fantastic tool.

We then headed to shore for an evening BBQ with all the boats currently anchored in Wineglass Bay. We all sat around in small groups that swapped every now and then swapping stories and stuffing our faces. Kylie and I even got to try fresh abalone caught earlier that day surprising both of us in the sense that it did not taste fishy at all. We still do not understand why it costs that much though as we both though it was not something that special.

With the sun starting to set, the sea eagles circling overhead and the wallabies combing the beach, the whole area changes with that beautiful crisp light you only get at this time of the day creating a surreal atmosphere as the rocks, the beach, the bush and the dark clouds to the south all seem to come to life. WOW.

We are now back on the boat writing this and emails before going to bed and sleep and hoping for another day just as good tomorrow where Kylie is going to walk up the lookout and I am hoping my foot is up too it and I can join her and the others for the spectacular view back down. No wonder this area features on so many getaway programs on tv.

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