Despite a successful night at the wharf, we took to a mooring Friday morning as it can get pretty rough at the wharf at times and there was a forecast of strong westerly winds. One of the many fishing boats turning up wanting a spot was also a factor, so we spent the day and Friday night on a mooring experiencing winds mainly from the north of over 33 knots in the process.
By Saturday morning we had observed the chop and wind patterns enough along with the motivation of increasing cabin fever to move back to the wharf and the freedom to gain land that ensued. Most of the visiting fishing boats had departed early, leaving a really good spot for us with the wind holding us off the wharf on our doubled up lines.
The opportunity was taken to raid the shop and stock up on a few necessities such as bread, chocolates and diesel. Brian and Rowena from the catamaran School's Out, who we originally met in Eden, had rented a car and kindly gave us a lift to the shop and returned the jerry cans of fuel while we continued to shop. A friendly local stopped to give us a lift back to the wharf with all our goodies. Later on some more fuel was fetched and again different locals picked us up and took us to our destination and back - Lady Barron and its people were fast growing on us. We were able to take a shower and do some washing at the tavern so everyone was feeling a lot happier by the time we went back for another meal there later in the day.
The wind really howled Saturday night when the second westerly front finally came through, with the initial gust recording over 52 knots. Tegwen took it all in her stride and we were still being held just off the wharf rather than pushed onto it, much to my relief.
Sunday we wandered up to the shop for a coffee. It seemed a lot of people were coming and going until we found out its the only shop on Flinders Island that opens on a Sunday - 600 residents and we saw quite a few of them. Filling in the day we visited the bottle, gem and "diamond" display and then walked down to Yellow Bay where School's Out had anchored. Brian and Rowena graciously showed us over their impressive 45ft catamaran. Its been their home for 18 months now and is very well set up.
Back to Tegwen for a special lunch, prepared by Mark to assuage Webby's constant longing for an egg and bacon roll, and an afternoon preparing for departure with the tide early on Monday 13th December. Russ and Mark went over our intended course again and again looking for issues until finally it was declared right and we then entered it into our GPS's. A beef hotpot was prepared for use in a day or two's time and we had lamb chops and veggies for dinner followed by mixed berries and custard - a grand end to our stay at Lady Barron.
