Hiding on the South Coast (Jan 08, 2016)

Hiding on the South Coast (Jan 08, 2016)

With news from Perth about out-of-control fires burning in the southwest, despite being safely anchored in a lovely anchorage, it was hard to rest-easy knowing homes, people and wildlife were at risk in our beautiful country WA.

With a day at anchor nestled behind Inner Island near Cape Vancouver, a lovely bay to the east of Albany, we have had a chance to check the logger deploying equipment and make some running repairs. Sorting out databases and just general computer work has had the main salon looking just like a library! Skipper just doesn’t know that you have to be quiet in the library-he keeps trying to entice people to play with his squeaky bones!

Mount Gardner. Rounded granite headlands surrounding Cape Vancouver provide a safe anchorage and beautiful scenery.

Southern Ocean Boulders. The caress or splash of this southern sea erodes the granite sculpturally.

An amphitheatre of granite surrounds us. We are hiding behind Inner Island, a low flat beige granite mound with a light dusting of green vegetation and a strong black tide line. Nearby, False Island, very similar in appearance to Inner Island, lies a short distance from Cape Vancouver. Rock Dunder (say that fast!) on our starboard is another lumpy granite sea-born boulder rising from a blue-green sea, that is currently covered in white horses. Most of Naranup Beach, the arc of the bay to our west, is rolling, vegetated granite hills bordered by a thin line of white sand at the water’s edge. The most eastern end of the bay where we are anchored is dominated by Mount Gardner, an imposing lumpy mound of granite. Sketchy patches of blackened vegetation, remnants from a relatively recent fire, are interspersed with bare beige and grey granite mounds, some with striking black striped markings, perhaps from mineral leaching or even perhaps ash-colouration. As you can tell, dark grey granite headlands and outcrops are the mainstay of the topography. It is wild, wind-swept and terribly beautiful.

Barking up a Storm. Responding to my camera, Skipper barks at the rocks?

Zebra Rocks. Engaging patterns mark the boulders below Mount Gardner.

Despite hiding behind a great mound of rock, the wind continues to buffet. The forecast had indicated easing of the wind strength today, but a consistent reading of 30-35 knots with the accompanying howl around the foremast, reminds us we are on the edge of the Southern Ocean.

Running Repairs. Re-adjusting the stern light after some sou’easterly wobbling.

Southern Sunset Tones. Over King George Sound a hazy hue pervades.

We shall have a full night’s rest ahead of a 6am start tomorrow.

More Southern Ocean tales coming your way soon!