Day 10 Sublime to Ridiculous

                                   

Rain overnight had cleared and we aimed for 0800 start again. The two stage day was looking good as we had planned to track around Big Green Island but it soon became apparent the kayaks could take a shortcut through the shallow waters that were marked as dry at high tide. Carlo managed to get 'bogged' at one stage and had to get out and reposition to deeper water, otherwise it was calm and easy paddling. 

         

            5min before the complete turn of weather

Too easy it seemed, but not for long. We were in the wind shadow of a mountain and heading into Fotheringate Bay where we could see white caps. Within minutes we were punching into 25knt headwinds and waves crashing over the kayaks. From the easiest to the most difficult within 5 minutes. And that is what makes Bass Strait such icon for sea kayakers

Pushing on we made the otherside and found refuge tracking around the rocks. The landscape was surreal. Crystal clear waters and red granite boulders that looked so cleansed and untouched. 

Then back into the south easterly and around Trouser Point and we had another 1nm of Bass bashing before we picked a site at the Sth end of Trouser Bay. It was already clear that stage two was not on the cards today. Progress into the 25 knt wind was just untenable so unpacking gear and setting up our camp on the beach was next

   

      Breathtaking 

Mt Strezleki towered over us and with a few hours up our sleeve we grabbed water bottles and found the road. Heading to the Sth we looked for tracks through the very dense scrub, but walking half way around we decided we would run out of light and abandoned our attempt. Back at our beach camp a couple with two young kids headed our way. From Canberra they explain we needed to go back to the road and turn left, about 5hrs return trip. 

The Thunder Bay arrival was late afternoon and with a big paddle ahead we had a big meal and early night. We had contacted the girls and knew they were on the Spirit of Tasmania and our plan was to meet at Musselroe Cove at about 1500hrs