Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Walls of Jerulsalem
January 30th until the 2nd of February
Well finally i have managed to pen my report on our "beat the heat meet" trek that guided us through the heavenly Walls of Jerusalem high up in the central highlands of Tasmania!
This was to be our second real hiking trip with the originals Jamie,Jed and Joel! Unfortunately Joel couldn't make it as he had a tapestry class to attend that weekend!!
So it was just the three of us this time organising our plight in a manner that was a little less formal than last trip! With each of us oozing with the confidence of last trek! We highlighted pack weight managment as a priority and all of us managed to carry about 22kgs for the 4 days! Jed had prepared a special arrangement of gourmet dehydrated meals ( I must add here that Jed you are a talented man!).
Jamie had organised the maps and had memorised every landmark within 40km of the carpark! I had the ardous task of lamenating the maps! We were ready to rock!!!
Arriving after about a 3.5 hour drive we loaded up for the first leg of the trip to Trappers Hut this involved a walk of only 4-5kms the killer being one the 35 degree day we had encountered and secondly the 700m ascendment! Hydration and overheating were to be the measure of the day!
Exhausted we arrived at Trappers Hut which is filled with some great info on the history of the area and provided some much needed shade! To me trappers Hut will be remembered as a generous offerings of omega honey and bush bread.... much like a good red really! The initial sweetness from the honey could be enjoyed until it was engulfed by an everlasting after taste of cod liver oil.....The thought was there Sare's but we might give that one a miss next time!!!
Rested up we ventured back into the searing heat and within metres we were all again wet with perspiration! We slowly made our ways past several small tarns ensuring we stopped for plenty of breaks to ward off heat stroke! We eventually made it to the Wild Dog creek camp site where a decision was to be made on our destination, it was not getting any earlier and poor Jed was feeling the pinch but the temptation of Dixons Kingdom camp was too much and we unwisely pushed on! Jed was not feeling at all well so we stopped at Solomons Jewel!I stripped for a swim which helped drop my core temperature down but Jed was not functioning too well at all!
I would like to highlight a couple of things if anyone is ever in this situation! When the heat is as extreme as it was this day for us your are battling three issues!
Dehydration which can be overcome with water!Which adds weight and adds to issue 2!
Heatstroke which is the inability to regulate body heat hence overheating your motor the brain! This can be helped by taking frequent breaks,finding shade if able and wetting a piece of clothing and placing it on your head to aid in heat exchange!
The third problem occurs as a result of the first two issues as you hydrate with water the body uses this to sweat trying to regulate temperature,as you sweat you release essential bodily salts! You then rehydrate and eventually dilute your body's salt level! Cramping is a sure sign of this so there is a need to carry electrolytes to aid in maintaining salt levels!
It was only a few weeks earlier that a tourist had died from heat stroke in more favourable conditions so the threat is very real!
To give you a feel for how we dealt with this we all drank plenty of water prior to the walk,we all charged up on gatorade on the drive up! During this first day we drank 7 litres of water and did not urinate once!
As Jed wasn't feeling well and Jed is one tough cookie it was our responsibility to cut the day short and camp at the Pools of Besetha! Its not about being too proud and common sense would have seen us camp back at Wild Dog Creek! Jamie and I were too feeling the affects and left poor old Jed to set up his own tent! Jed was cramping and did not move for the night he also was verging on vomiting which would have further dehydrated him!Luckily Jamie carried some gastrolyte tablets to help Jed over this hurdle!
After i was over the harshness of the day i managed to absorb the amazing walls i was surrounded within, seperated only by natural gates! From my spot at the top of the hill i had 360 degrees of weathered dolorite cliff faces! From our camp nestled amongst 1000yo Pencil Pines we admired the mirrored image of Mt Jerulsalem on the Pool of Besetha! A truly magical place!
Note that the Pools of Besetha is not a camping ground as there is not sufficient flow or size to the pool!
Thankfully Jed recovered somewhat and we were able to continue on!!
Day 2 saw us climbing Solomon’s throne on a very clear day, the views were sensational .....Barns bluff, Ossa , lakes left and right my god we are blessed!!! From there to our day 1 target of Dixon’s kingdom where we sat and enjoyed the shade in Tasmania’s largest pencil pine forest! These trees are over a thousand years old and while descending through this magical place it further endorsed the respect these areas deserve!
After a well earned break we ventured to Lake Ball and being the sole fisherman in the group my legs picked up pace in anticipation of pristine waters full of wild brown trout! Arriving ahead of the group I crossed the inlet river and decided upon a campsite! I was itching to break in my new Howler Sage tcx 5wt (Thanks Damien for a superbly built rod) so it was assembled before the tent and let loose on some mini trout chasing dragonflies in a pool upstream fun but I was unable to hook up... the party had arrived and fishing was going to take a back seat until camp was set and afternoon tea was served!
We all went for a wander to a nearby rocky outcrop and noticed a few fish smashing some black spinners! Getting a cast was to be my next challenge, the only way was to wet wade so in I ventured! The trout were not interested in taking my spinner as they were being taken on the wing! So I wasted little time chasing these guys (calling on the last experience of endless hours spent at Bronte for nil!!) instead I changed to a small dun and prospected some likely log matrixes! I managing 3 trout in quick succession, the third had me in all sorts of strife amongst the wood work giving a great account for itself… stoked! Box ticked and wadable areas exhausted I made way back to camp for a night cap and a rest, I sure was feeling the pinch. I did manage another little trout before I drifted off into the world of monster trout in Lake Nugara my next box on the ticking list!
Destination Lake Nugara- navigating with our trusty map,GPS and a photo taken from the peak we made tracks, I literally mean we made tracks it was as if no one had ever been to this place! About an hour and half later after ignoring many tempting little waterholes we arrived .... look there’s a fish under that rock ...camera out but fish had moved on! I sat up on rock and watched the other guys retreive their hardbodies and SPs! Jamie yells out as a 6-7 pound brownie follows his SP in, I had to get a closer look so I joined Jamie and offered some advice on how to work lures! Then from the deep blue I sat and watched another large trout cruise by! It was time to take my rod and explore the lake surely I would find some more fish! Well the quick answer to that was no but I did learn to polaroid 90 degrees into the water whilst keeping the other 90 watching out for black wriggly reptiles..... I think we come across 7 all up! Anyway no fish and bloody hot(cloudy to so polaroiding was marginal) ,I now know the lake has a very small fringe and is very deep all the way around apart from a small shore at the western end and is definitely bigger than it appears on the map! There will be a next time! (Lesson learnt don't take the fish for granted instead take the opportunities when they present!!!)
Back to camp which was 2km longer for me as I had left my spotters on a rock near the snake pit!...doh … Another cook up and time to soak in the serenity!
Oh I forgot to mention march flies and mossies, I think we must have upset a nest at the car park and they decided to invade our personal space for the entirity!
We headed out the next day in the rain via Lake Adelaide, so little time so many great places to see! The only dampener being that criminals had broken into some cars thankfully mine was spared!
Next trip with the lads to Freycinet,Mt Graham and Cooks beach to find a hut built by Jamies forefathers back in the day!
Beachy loves gettingamonstit!!!Tassie Rocks!
Well finally i have managed to pen my report on our "beat the heat meet" trek that guided us through the heavenly Walls of Jerusalem high up in the central highlands of Tasmania!
This was to be our second real hiking trip with the originals Jamie,Jed and Joel! Unfortunately Joel couldn't make it as he had a tapestry class to attend that weekend!!
So it was just the three of us this time organising our plight in a manner that was a little less formal than last trip! With each of us oozing with the confidence of last trek! We highlighted pack weight managment as a priority and all of us managed to carry about 22kgs for the 4 days! Jed had prepared a special arrangement of gourmet dehydrated meals ( I must add here that Jed you are a talented man!).
Jamie had organised the maps and had memorised every landmark within 40km of the carpark! I had the ardous task of lamenating the maps! We were ready to rock!!!
Arriving after about a 3.5 hour drive we loaded up for the first leg of the trip to Trappers Hut this involved a walk of only 4-5kms the killer being one the 35 degree day we had encountered and secondly the 700m ascendment! Hydration and overheating were to be the measure of the day!
Exhausted we arrived at Trappers Hut which is filled with some great info on the history of the area and provided some much needed shade! To me trappers Hut will be remembered as a generous offerings of omega honey and bush bread.... much like a good red really! The initial sweetness from the honey could be enjoyed until it was engulfed by an everlasting after taste of cod liver oil.....The thought was there Sare's but we might give that one a miss next time!!!
Rested up we ventured back into the searing heat and within metres we were all again wet with perspiration! We slowly made our ways past several small tarns ensuring we stopped for plenty of breaks to ward off heat stroke! We eventually made it to the Wild Dog creek camp site where a decision was to be made on our destination, it was not getting any earlier and poor Jed was feeling the pinch but the temptation of Dixons Kingdom camp was too much and we unwisely pushed on! Jed was not feeling at all well so we stopped at Solomons Jewel!I stripped for a swim which helped drop my core temperature down but Jed was not functioning too well at all!
I would like to highlight a couple of things if anyone is ever in this situation! When the heat is as extreme as it was this day for us your are battling three issues!
Dehydration which can be overcome with water!Which adds weight and adds to issue 2!
Heatstroke which is the inability to regulate body heat hence overheating your motor the brain! This can be helped by taking frequent breaks,finding shade if able and wetting a piece of clothing and placing it on your head to aid in heat exchange!
The third problem occurs as a result of the first two issues as you hydrate with water the body uses this to sweat trying to regulate temperature,as you sweat you release essential bodily salts! You then rehydrate and eventually dilute your body's salt level! Cramping is a sure sign of this so there is a need to carry electrolytes to aid in maintaining salt levels!
It was only a few weeks earlier that a tourist had died from heat stroke in more favourable conditions so the threat is very real!
To give you a feel for how we dealt with this we all drank plenty of water prior to the walk,we all charged up on gatorade on the drive up! During this first day we drank 7 litres of water and did not urinate once!
As Jed wasn't feeling well and Jed is one tough cookie it was our responsibility to cut the day short and camp at the Pools of Besetha! Its not about being too proud and common sense would have seen us camp back at Wild Dog Creek! Jamie and I were too feeling the affects and left poor old Jed to set up his own tent! Jed was cramping and did not move for the night he also was verging on vomiting which would have further dehydrated him!Luckily Jamie carried some gastrolyte tablets to help Jed over this hurdle!
After i was over the harshness of the day i managed to absorb the amazing walls i was surrounded within, seperated only by natural gates! From my spot at the top of the hill i had 360 degrees of weathered dolorite cliff faces! From our camp nestled amongst 1000yo Pencil Pines we admired the mirrored image of Mt Jerulsalem on the Pool of Besetha! A truly magical place!
Note that the Pools of Besetha is not a camping ground as there is not sufficient flow or size to the pool!
Thankfully Jed recovered somewhat and we were able to continue on!!
Day 2 saw us climbing Solomon’s throne on a very clear day, the views were sensational .....Barns bluff, Ossa , lakes left and right my god we are blessed!!! From there to our day 1 target of Dixon’s kingdom where we sat and enjoyed the shade in Tasmania’s largest pencil pine forest! These trees are over a thousand years old and while descending through this magical place it further endorsed the respect these areas deserve!
After a well earned break we ventured to Lake Ball and being the sole fisherman in the group my legs picked up pace in anticipation of pristine waters full of wild brown trout! Arriving ahead of the group I crossed the inlet river and decided upon a campsite! I was itching to break in my new Howler Sage tcx 5wt (Thanks Damien for a superbly built rod) so it was assembled before the tent and let loose on some mini trout chasing dragonflies in a pool upstream fun but I was unable to hook up... the party had arrived and fishing was going to take a back seat until camp was set and afternoon tea was served!
We all went for a wander to a nearby rocky outcrop and noticed a few fish smashing some black spinners! Getting a cast was to be my next challenge, the only way was to wet wade so in I ventured! The trout were not interested in taking my spinner as they were being taken on the wing! So I wasted little time chasing these guys (calling on the last experience of endless hours spent at Bronte for nil!!) instead I changed to a small dun and prospected some likely log matrixes! I managing 3 trout in quick succession, the third had me in all sorts of strife amongst the wood work giving a great account for itself… stoked! Box ticked and wadable areas exhausted I made way back to camp for a night cap and a rest, I sure was feeling the pinch. I did manage another little trout before I drifted off into the world of monster trout in Lake Nugara my next box on the ticking list!
Destination Lake Nugara- navigating with our trusty map,GPS and a photo taken from the peak we made tracks, I literally mean we made tracks it was as if no one had ever been to this place! About an hour and half later after ignoring many tempting little waterholes we arrived .... look there’s a fish under that rock ...camera out but fish had moved on! I sat up on rock and watched the other guys retreive their hardbodies and SPs! Jamie yells out as a 6-7 pound brownie follows his SP in, I had to get a closer look so I joined Jamie and offered some advice on how to work lures! Then from the deep blue I sat and watched another large trout cruise by! It was time to take my rod and explore the lake surely I would find some more fish! Well the quick answer to that was no but I did learn to polaroid 90 degrees into the water whilst keeping the other 90 watching out for black wriggly reptiles..... I think we come across 7 all up! Anyway no fish and bloody hot(cloudy to so polaroiding was marginal) ,I now know the lake has a very small fringe and is very deep all the way around apart from a small shore at the western end and is definitely bigger than it appears on the map! There will be a next time! (Lesson learnt don't take the fish for granted instead take the opportunities when they present!!!)
Back to camp which was 2km longer for me as I had left my spotters on a rock near the snake pit!...doh … Another cook up and time to soak in the serenity!
Oh I forgot to mention march flies and mossies, I think we must have upset a nest at the car park and they decided to invade our personal space for the entirity!
We headed out the next day in the rain via Lake Adelaide, so little time so many great places to see! The only dampener being that criminals had broken into some cars thankfully mine was spared!
Next trip with the lads to Freycinet,Mt Graham and Cooks beach to find a hut built by Jamies forefathers back in the day!
Beachy loves gettingamonstit!!!Tassie Rocks!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Lake Silver,Sally and Galaxias
I had planned a final trekking fish for last week! The story goes that my original partner in crime had decided that work was more important that a fishing trip to the western lakes.... This left me in some what of a quandry as my wife does not like me flying solo on these treks and i could not think of anyone who was available during the week! It wasn't until i remembered that my cousin Mike had not long returned from his post in the UK! Luck was a fortune as Mike was to planning a walk out west with two premier fly guides from Rainbow Lodge in miena Craig and Lane,its funny how things pan out!
So it was set i finished work and headed to Miena to catch up with Mike, it had been 15 years..too long! Last memories i recall we were drinking some home brew in a family caravan at Little Pine and feeling more than a little ill afterwards (tip not a great idea to swallow the sediment!!). A quick hello and it was time to meet up with Craig and Lane to plan the days ahead.After a few quiet ales it was decided that we would drive then walk into Lake Silver where we had access to Lake Sally,Antimony,Galaxias and Ah Chees.
The walk in was quite pleasant conditions being overcast and cool, a few notes for future reference is that the track veers left before taking another left which is marked with timber on the banks overlooking the Talleh Lagoons this track will take you past Theresa Lagoon toward Powena Creek which has a little hut beside it! Tip two if you want to stick to the track and water flow is high then your feet will need to get wet if you would like to keep your feet dry then there are some serious boulders upstream but be prepared to bash your way through the bush back to the track...speaking from experience!!
We set up camp and it wasn't long before we were in fishing mode..we split up and covered Lakes Sally,Silver and Antimony!! Sally is further than expected and quite uneventful on the fishing front! I was to meet up with Mike and Stonesy but they were nowhere to be seen! Until i found some massive fish smashing it up in a broadwater on the way back from Sally of which i covered well... albeit rocks which were being pegged from the lost pair who had decided Ah Chees would make for better fishing... haha very funny guys i can imagine the humour watching me on my hands and knees stalking rocks!!!
Back at camp fishless we caught up with Craig and Lane who had 2 between them Craig's biggest pushing 4 or was that 6 pound???? Not a great lover of trout i have finally found a bush recipe that was divine... sushi trout soaked in a wasabi soy sauce mix truly sensational!
The next two days were uneventful on the fishing front with a window of about an hour where fish were feeding in the funnel at Silver the best bank needed to be waded to open up fishable water, it was here i hooked one on a Dun pushing a couple of pounds...more sushi! Craig landed the only other fish for the trip and although the fishing was quiet the anecdotes from the party by the camp fire ranged from Permit on fly to Space shuttle take offs at NASA, i sure was blessed to be surrounded by such an interesting and diverse bunch of blokes!
In summary Lakes Silver, Sally, Antimony all contained a lot of small fish the bigger fish seemed to be polaoroided or out in the middle where a float boat is handy! My favorite shore being the wooded shore of the neck in Silver! Lake Ah Chees and Galaxias are both deep,wooded and full of Galaxias more suited to SPs but would contain monster trout!!
I am sure my casting improved out of sight thanks to some tips from Mike and i cant wait until next trip!
Beachy loves gettingamonstit!!!Tassie Rocks!
So it was set i finished work and headed to Miena to catch up with Mike, it had been 15 years..too long! Last memories i recall we were drinking some home brew in a family caravan at Little Pine and feeling more than a little ill afterwards (tip not a great idea to swallow the sediment!!). A quick hello and it was time to meet up with Craig and Lane to plan the days ahead.After a few quiet ales it was decided that we would drive then walk into Lake Silver where we had access to Lake Sally,Antimony,Galaxias and Ah Chees.
The walk in was quite pleasant conditions being overcast and cool, a few notes for future reference is that the track veers left before taking another left which is marked with timber on the banks overlooking the Talleh Lagoons this track will take you past Theresa Lagoon toward Powena Creek which has a little hut beside it! Tip two if you want to stick to the track and water flow is high then your feet will need to get wet if you would like to keep your feet dry then there are some serious boulders upstream but be prepared to bash your way through the bush back to the track...speaking from experience!!
We set up camp and it wasn't long before we were in fishing mode..we split up and covered Lakes Sally,Silver and Antimony!! Sally is further than expected and quite uneventful on the fishing front! I was to meet up with Mike and Stonesy but they were nowhere to be seen! Until i found some massive fish smashing it up in a broadwater on the way back from Sally of which i covered well... albeit rocks which were being pegged from the lost pair who had decided Ah Chees would make for better fishing... haha very funny guys i can imagine the humour watching me on my hands and knees stalking rocks!!!
Back at camp fishless we caught up with Craig and Lane who had 2 between them Craig's biggest pushing 4 or was that 6 pound???? Not a great lover of trout i have finally found a bush recipe that was divine... sushi trout soaked in a wasabi soy sauce mix truly sensational!
The next two days were uneventful on the fishing front with a window of about an hour where fish were feeding in the funnel at Silver the best bank needed to be waded to open up fishable water, it was here i hooked one on a Dun pushing a couple of pounds...more sushi! Craig landed the only other fish for the trip and although the fishing was quiet the anecdotes from the party by the camp fire ranged from Permit on fly to Space shuttle take offs at NASA, i sure was blessed to be surrounded by such an interesting and diverse bunch of blokes!
In summary Lakes Silver, Sally, Antimony all contained a lot of small fish the bigger fish seemed to be polaoroided or out in the middle where a float boat is handy! My favorite shore being the wooded shore of the neck in Silver! Lake Ah Chees and Galaxias are both deep,wooded and full of Galaxias more suited to SPs but would contain monster trout!!
I am sure my casting improved out of sight thanks to some tips from Mike and i cant wait until next trip!
Beachy loves gettingamonstit!!!Tassie Rocks!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
King fish attempt
King fish are some what a mythical creature in Tasmania and from good advice i was informed that they may be present at the moment in the Derwent river!So armed with a large knife jig and heavy outfit i ventured from Bellerive in my Hobie revolution kayak with Ruby (my dog) in tow!
The plan of attack was to look for any surface action and jig the lure from bottom to top underneath a feeding school of Australian Salmon. With no sign of action at bellerive bluff i noticed some bird action upriver! I put some hard yards in and ended up at the Tasman bridge greeted by clusters of birds feeding and the odd fish surfacing! After spending an hour or so jigging my large lure with little conviction or confidence the kingfish remain a myth to be broken and one i plan to put some time into!
Cheers Beachy
Beachy loves gettingamonstit!!!Tassie Rocks!
The plan of attack was to look for any surface action and jig the lure from bottom to top underneath a feeding school of Australian Salmon. With no sign of action at bellerive bluff i noticed some bird action upriver! I put some hard yards in and ended up at the Tasman bridge greeted by clusters of birds feeding and the odd fish surfacing! After spending an hour or so jigging my large lure with little conviction or confidence the kingfish remain a myth to be broken and one i plan to put some time into!
Cheers Beachy
Beachy loves gettingamonstit!!!Tassie Rocks!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
New Adventure Island
Here is a few pics of my new fishing vessel aimed to target trout on fly! It replaces my trusty Savage Ranger which has served well as a fishmagnet for the past 9 years.I am pleased it has gone to a keen angler Nick who relocated from South Australia to further his fishing horizon!
Out with the old
In with the new Hobie Adventure Island sister ship to the Hobie Revolution!
I have taken it out twice now and am impressed with its sailing speed and ability to be used as a fishing platform. I look forward to sharing its adventures!
Beachy loves gettingamonstit!!!Tassie Rocks!
Out with the old
In with the new Hobie Adventure Island sister ship to the Hobie Revolution!
I have taken it out twice now and am impressed with its sailing speed and ability to be used as a fishing platform. I look forward to sharing its adventures!
Beachy loves gettingamonstit!!!Tassie Rocks!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
South East Cape Rivulet
Well may as well get started i have had many stories until now but rather than bore you with old stories lets stay with the present....life is about now!!!
Just returned from my first real overnight trekking trip to Tassies South East Cape Rivulet (24kms return) with great friends Jamie,Jed and Joel (this trip was also a first for these guys!) all 30 somethings and of average fitness!
The trip was well planned at the Shoreline Pub over a few ales and it became apparent what our roles would be! Jamie the chief organiser (always late!), Jed almost SAS qualified (He has read all the books!), Joel carpenter by trade the Mr practical of the group and then there is myself! I am the guy that likes to push boundaries, take risks and generally is responsible for 99% of resulting mishaps (Usually involving Jamie)and i always fish!!
Day1- Rendevue time 7:00am (6:45am for Jamie!) Bags packed and ready to pick Jed up at Sandfly! I had spent the night with a stomach bug so to say the least i wasn't feeling the best after a 3hour drive to Cockle Creek! But quote "wild horses would not stop me!" unquote.
Throwing caution to the wind we all decided it was best to experience first hand what it feels like to carry 25-30kgs 12kms! After 500m it became apparent that it was not going to be enjoyable! I thank the guys for helping me through the pain barrier several times in that first 6km stretch which consisted mainly of duckboards weaving through button grass plains and a slight ascent over the headland through to the entrance of the rugged Tasman sea its wild white wash resonating against our beautiful Tasmanian coastal fringe!
The theraputic properties held me in good stead for the second leg of trip which led us down the cliff along the beach of south east cape bay (Tip- watch the tide low tides mean that you can walk on the hard sand!). From the end of the beach you have a choice of two routes- around the cliffs or over a nice 110m at times near vertical climb slogging through mud, the rewards are with the views especially this one of Lion Rock!
Our choice was limited to the second option and on descent we were again making tracks along the high tide mark of another of Tassies beautiful white beaches! From the end of the beach it was on another 20minutes of walking through temperate forest until reaching the rivulet beach.A football feild of white sand encircled by an ice cold tannin stream was a sight to behold! We had arrived at our camp the South East Cape Rivulet!
Setting up camp was our first proirty Jed and i were bunking together and once happy with our arrangement it was time to explore! (Tip- Some people snore so next time we will all be carrying in our own lightweight tents!)
I explored the estuary studying snags,water depth,bait fish and tidal influence! It was clear that this water would be extremely fresh from the sandy banks as tidal impact is minimal! We boiled all water as a precautionary measure! It was also clear that this small stream had the recipe for large trout! Big populations of pretty fish,sandies,whitebait and plenty of coverage combined with low fishing pressure would create monster trout much like similar systems in the South East. (Tip- A float boat would be a necessity)I managed a small trout on day two from limited casts!
Meanwhile Joel and Jed were constructing chairs with mixed results! Jamie happily overseeing the operation sipping a bourbon.
What an intoxicating part of the world we were in complete solitude! Where else but in Tassies South East!
Day 2
Rise and shine my energy levels had returned and ready to take on the day ahead! Jed my room mate did not appear to be in the same frame of mind...something to do with the lack of sleep caused through my use of a heavy duty chainsaw during the night!
Breakfast cook up featured Jamie's dehydrated eggs and bacon which i found remarkably tasty!
After breakfast we ventured to the northern end of the beach to inspect surf fishing prospects along a reef that stretched maybe 100m or so into the sea! Conditions did not fair favourable no sooner had the bait hit the water it came washing ashore with some very powerful cross currents! If i were ever to attempt surf fishing again the weather would need to be northerly in order to minimise whitewash, as the beach gradient is a little less than i expected!
After a quick game with vortex ball we all decided to explore what lay upstream from the rivulet! After cutting through some sharp undergrowth we followed a well defined track which would lead to a little oasis up river! This unfortunately wasn't the case,(TIP-No matter how little the walk starts to be it always pays to carry an EPIRB or GPS!)we navigated our way up and down gullies, through streams that defied direction and some beautiful rainforests! We had reached the stage where the track was not so obvoius and it became a game of spot the pink,yellow or blue ribbon! The rules of the game where that if the person in lead remained stationary and anyone one else managed to spot a ribbon that person became the new leader! This game continued until there were clearly no more ribbons to be found it was here we rested,shared leached and admired the size of the eucalypt we had stopped at!Fittingly we named this walk BIG TREE walk,on returning back to camp we discussed reality of how disoriented one can become in this environment!
A rest and another game of hit the target with the vortex and the day was nearing an end....."boy the day went by quickly"! I had to have another crack at a trout so rigged with a surf reel 20pnd line and an old fibreglass rod i ventured to a one of only a fews accessible logs up river! First cast was met with a definate strike,this was soon followed by a nice pan sized trout!It was now nearing dark and time to retire back to camp for our last night.
Great company the space to think,reflect and share lifes thoughts in such a setting clears the mind! It exposes the obvious simplicity in life and is a necessary component for me to keep perspective on a sometimes complicated world!
DAY 3
Target ETA at the car would be 12pm which meant we needed to leave at 8am! 8:45am we were making tracks stopping for a few photo opportunities highlighted on the trek in! With the packs some 5kgs lighter we all appreciated now what a difference it makes to walking in comfort! Massive calves Joel led the way setting a cracking pace home and by the end of the duckboards (sore feet!) we were happily back at the car!A great pub meal at the dover tavern capped of a trip that will mark the start of many ! Thanks the three J's (Jed,Jamie and Joel!) awesome aussie blokes!
Next trip 4 day trek of the Walls of Jerusalem including Lake Ball for some flyfishing!Bring it on!
Beachy loves gettingamonstit!!!Tassie Rocks!
Just returned from my first real overnight trekking trip to Tassies South East Cape Rivulet (24kms return) with great friends Jamie,Jed and Joel (this trip was also a first for these guys!) all 30 somethings and of average fitness!
The trip was well planned at the Shoreline Pub over a few ales and it became apparent what our roles would be! Jamie the chief organiser (always late!), Jed almost SAS qualified (He has read all the books!), Joel carpenter by trade the Mr practical of the group and then there is myself! I am the guy that likes to push boundaries, take risks and generally is responsible for 99% of resulting mishaps (Usually involving Jamie)and i always fish!!
Day1- Rendevue time 7:00am (6:45am for Jamie!) Bags packed and ready to pick Jed up at Sandfly! I had spent the night with a stomach bug so to say the least i wasn't feeling the best after a 3hour drive to Cockle Creek! But quote "wild horses would not stop me!" unquote.
Throwing caution to the wind we all decided it was best to experience first hand what it feels like to carry 25-30kgs 12kms! After 500m it became apparent that it was not going to be enjoyable! I thank the guys for helping me through the pain barrier several times in that first 6km stretch which consisted mainly of duckboards weaving through button grass plains and a slight ascent over the headland through to the entrance of the rugged Tasman sea its wild white wash resonating against our beautiful Tasmanian coastal fringe!
The theraputic properties held me in good stead for the second leg of trip which led us down the cliff along the beach of south east cape bay (Tip- watch the tide low tides mean that you can walk on the hard sand!). From the end of the beach you have a choice of two routes- around the cliffs or over a nice 110m at times near vertical climb slogging through mud, the rewards are with the views especially this one of Lion Rock!
Our choice was limited to the second option and on descent we were again making tracks along the high tide mark of another of Tassies beautiful white beaches! From the end of the beach it was on another 20minutes of walking through temperate forest until reaching the rivulet beach.A football feild of white sand encircled by an ice cold tannin stream was a sight to behold! We had arrived at our camp the South East Cape Rivulet!
Setting up camp was our first proirty Jed and i were bunking together and once happy with our arrangement it was time to explore! (Tip- Some people snore so next time we will all be carrying in our own lightweight tents!)
I explored the estuary studying snags,water depth,bait fish and tidal influence! It was clear that this water would be extremely fresh from the sandy banks as tidal impact is minimal! We boiled all water as a precautionary measure! It was also clear that this small stream had the recipe for large trout! Big populations of pretty fish,sandies,whitebait and plenty of coverage combined with low fishing pressure would create monster trout much like similar systems in the South East. (Tip- A float boat would be a necessity)I managed a small trout on day two from limited casts!
Meanwhile Joel and Jed were constructing chairs with mixed results! Jamie happily overseeing the operation sipping a bourbon.
What an intoxicating part of the world we were in complete solitude! Where else but in Tassies South East!
Day 2
Rise and shine my energy levels had returned and ready to take on the day ahead! Jed my room mate did not appear to be in the same frame of mind...something to do with the lack of sleep caused through my use of a heavy duty chainsaw during the night!
Breakfast cook up featured Jamie's dehydrated eggs and bacon which i found remarkably tasty!
After breakfast we ventured to the northern end of the beach to inspect surf fishing prospects along a reef that stretched maybe 100m or so into the sea! Conditions did not fair favourable no sooner had the bait hit the water it came washing ashore with some very powerful cross currents! If i were ever to attempt surf fishing again the weather would need to be northerly in order to minimise whitewash, as the beach gradient is a little less than i expected!
After a quick game with vortex ball we all decided to explore what lay upstream from the rivulet! After cutting through some sharp undergrowth we followed a well defined track which would lead to a little oasis up river! This unfortunately wasn't the case,(TIP-No matter how little the walk starts to be it always pays to carry an EPIRB or GPS!)we navigated our way up and down gullies, through streams that defied direction and some beautiful rainforests! We had reached the stage where the track was not so obvoius and it became a game of spot the pink,yellow or blue ribbon! The rules of the game where that if the person in lead remained stationary and anyone one else managed to spot a ribbon that person became the new leader! This game continued until there were clearly no more ribbons to be found it was here we rested,shared leached and admired the size of the eucalypt we had stopped at!Fittingly we named this walk BIG TREE walk,on returning back to camp we discussed reality of how disoriented one can become in this environment!
A rest and another game of hit the target with the vortex and the day was nearing an end....."boy the day went by quickly"! I had to have another crack at a trout so rigged with a surf reel 20pnd line and an old fibreglass rod i ventured to a one of only a fews accessible logs up river! First cast was met with a definate strike,this was soon followed by a nice pan sized trout!It was now nearing dark and time to retire back to camp for our last night.
Great company the space to think,reflect and share lifes thoughts in such a setting clears the mind! It exposes the obvious simplicity in life and is a necessary component for me to keep perspective on a sometimes complicated world!
DAY 3
Target ETA at the car would be 12pm which meant we needed to leave at 8am! 8:45am we were making tracks stopping for a few photo opportunities highlighted on the trek in! With the packs some 5kgs lighter we all appreciated now what a difference it makes to walking in comfort! Massive calves Joel led the way setting a cracking pace home and by the end of the duckboards (sore feet!) we were happily back at the car!A great pub meal at the dover tavern capped of a trip that will mark the start of many ! Thanks the three J's (Jed,Jamie and Joel!) awesome aussie blokes!
Next trip 4 day trek of the Walls of Jerusalem including Lake Ball for some flyfishing!Bring it on!
Beachy loves gettingamonstit!!!Tassie Rocks!
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