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Next morning we departed
for Allports Beach in Marshall Bay. We had an incoming tide to take
us around the sometimes notorious Cape Frankland. Today we had glorious
summer weather. A fellow sea kayaker Karen Zeigler had arranged to paddle
with us down to Whitemark. Both Phil and Ian new Karen previously.
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We stopped off at Royden
Island to bask momentarily in the warm sun and clear water. Ian, Phil
and Karen decided to explore in more detail while Jamie and I kept going
to meet up with Matt who had set off earlier in the morning.
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A light breeze was picking
up mid morning so it was up with both sails and head for Castle Rock
in Marshall Bay. The Bay was named after the wreck of a sailing vessel
last century. It was quite soporific drifting along with the breeze
with all the tensions of unknown waters taken off our shoulders.
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As we approached Marshall
Bay I couldn't understand why there were so many people on the beach.
As we landed they burst out clapping. They were a group of Victorians
who organise a holiday in different remote locations each year. They
had flown in by plane. Matt had explained how we had paddled across
the Strait.
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While at Allports Beach
we visited the local museum at Emitta. There is an interesting collection
of photos and memorabilia about the Furneaux Islands. Shipwrecks, pioneering
days and the muttonbirders all feature in the museum.
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Our next stop was to be
Whitemark where we would reprovision, especially a top up on Coke. The
wind was now favourable for some serious sailing. All sails were up
and Karen put up her kite in an effort to keep up. After leaving Marshall
Bay we charged straight down to Chalky Island to do some snorkelling.
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On Chalky Island we went
diving for abalone. There were many good size shellfish within easy
reach. While diving, Karen left her kite floating above her kayak. We
wanted the abalone for Ken and Sue Stonehouse who we had arranged to
visit while in Whitemark. Ken and Sue are superb chefs and they had
often generously fed us with delicious extravaganzas.
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We first met Sue and Ken
on one of our trips across Banks Strait. They had sought an escape from
a very successful restaurant business on the Mornington Peninsular by
managing a tourist venture on Swan Island. We stopped there on our way
to Flinders and were made very welcome. In fact it became a feature of
our Flinders trips to drop in for a "Swan island pizza". John
and Rex, sea kayakers from Victoria on one of our trip, thought we were
joking about this. Sue had made a special meringue for our visit. Matt
remarked that it looked very muck like Rhodondo Island that we had passed
in Bass Strait. It had a covering of vegetation on top(kiwi fruit) while
the white meringue was the breaking waves dashing up the sides of the
island.
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As we drank and ate our
sumptous fare, we rejoiced in the companionship and hospitality of our
hosts. It was the first " civilised meal we had had in a while"
and what a meal. Thank you again Sue and Ken.
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