Last time I launched from Fishermans Beach we parked at the south end near Hill 60 and enjoyed carrying four kayaks over our heads along a narrow walkway and down some steep steps. Forewarned, as they say, is forearmed so this time we parked on Gloucester Boulevarde (busy on this sunny Sunday in October) and trolleyed the kayaks down a cement ramp all the way to the sand.
After an easy launch, we paddled north to Flinders Islet watching dolphins and whales breaking the surface as we went. We lapped around Flinders Islet and continued to Bass Islet. Half way between the two islands a friendly whale swam leisurely past our kayaks slapping it’s massive fins into the water. This is, apparently, the closest Paul S had been to whales and he was ecstatic. After the whale departed we cruised around Bass Islet and continued south to Martin Islet. Last time I paddled past Martin Islet the gap between Big Island and Martin Islet was completely closed out. This time we paddled close in beside the seals that live on Martin Islet and drifted leisurely through the gap.
Big Island was a wash with birds. Pelicans at the acme of the island, cormorants, gulls, oyster catchers occupying lesser locations. Finally, a lap around Rocky Islet where, even on this calm day the swell picked up over the western most gap and back to Fishermans Beach and left over cake from the AGM the afternoon before. What a day, couldn’t be better.
It was not, however, a day without wind because by 4:00 pm the westerly was blowing 40 knots and I had trouble walking against it as I hiked back from Windang Island.
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