It was a sensational morning, blue sky and not a breath of wind, the bay was like a mill pond.
We departed Quarantine Bay at 0750. Once out in the channel we noticed that the Empress Pearl (a Lakes Entrance fishing boat) was steaming behind us, we checked marine traffic and noted that they’d been in Hobart (possibly to unload) and were now heading back out for the West Coast of Tasmania.
We anchored briefly at Ford Bay so that we could go ashore and visit Bruny Island Cheese (BIC). BIC manufacture craft beer, cheese and sour dough bread. They also sell other local produce including relish, chutneys, cakes, and wine.
BIC milk their own cows with each cow producing around 5500 litres of milk a year. They have three breeds of cow, Swiss Brown, Short Horn and Normandie, the cows are milked twice a day. Growing up on a dairy farm I can appreciate the work involved in milking the cows twice a day. Dad would get up in the morning at 4.30am to milk the cows prior to going to work. Then again in the late afternoon, after he had arrived home from work. They were long days!
While sampling a cheese platter at BIC we had the pleasure of meeting the crew of Nahani, Peter, Helen and John. Peter & Helen suggested some good anchorages with walks and other tips that would come in very handy.
We Departed Ford Bay at 1107 with the sky becoming overcast and the wind building to 15 knots from the west. A short time later we arrived at The Quarries and did a few loads of washing. A tip from the author here – ALDI stainless steel pegs are the best! I have had washing on the line in wind gusting to 20 knots, and not one item has blown off the line. It goes without saying that the washing dries very quickly in these conditions.
Another great day fishing for Mark, Georgie and Lucy catching 4 flathead.