We, unfortunately, had to say goodbye to Southern Ocean
Lodge and KI. It was particularly
difficult because the weather was spectacular. We awoke to bright sunshine and azure water, given the view
from our bed, we felt like we were in “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”.
After another great breakfast, we attempted a hike to Hanson’s Bay, the next bay over from ours. It looked easy and the 1st part was fine, walking mostly across a secluded beach. A little beach combing produced starfish, cuddle fish remnants, and several birds. From here, though , the trail was impossible to follow, but figured as long as we kept the ocean to our right, eventually we would find Hanson’s Bay. We were a bit nervous at times, because the cliff (200 ft or so high) was undermined by wave action, and we were afraid it might give way sending us flying into the ocean. As you can see from this entry, our fears were unfounded.
Upon cresting a small rise, we finally saw Hanson’s bay.
But that was as far as we could go. The scrub was so thick here that we would have needed a machete, and , alas, all I had was my Swiss Army knife. We tried going back up hill and maneuvering around the scrub, but each time was worse than the last. The allure of the hike was to see nesting hooded plovers, an endangered species here, and it looked like we were going to have to miss out. We retraced our steps back to the hotel, and walked down onto our own beach in front of Southern Ocean Lodge.
Wouldn’t you know it, there were some hooded plovers right on our beach.
After another great breakfast, we attempted a hike to Hanson’s Bay, the next bay over from ours. It looked easy and the 1st part was fine, walking mostly across a secluded beach. A little beach combing produced starfish, cuddle fish remnants, and several birds. From here, though , the trail was impossible to follow, but figured as long as we kept the ocean to our right, eventually we would find Hanson’s Bay. We were a bit nervous at times, because the cliff (200 ft or so high) was undermined by wave action, and we were afraid it might give way sending us flying into the ocean. As you can see from this entry, our fears were unfounded.
Upon cresting a small rise, we finally saw Hanson’s bay.
But that was as far as we could go. The scrub was so thick here that we would have needed a machete, and , alas, all I had was my Swiss Army knife. We tried going back up hill and maneuvering around the scrub, but each time was worse than the last. The allure of the hike was to see nesting hooded plovers, an endangered species here, and it looked like we were going to have to miss out. We retraced our steps back to the hotel, and walked down onto our own beach in front of Southern Ocean Lodge.
Wouldn’t you know it, there were some hooded plovers right on our beach.
Our trip back to Melbourne was pretty uneventful. We did learn that in Australia, unlike
in the U.S., air flights leave early. Both our flights from KI to Adelaide and from Adelaide to
Melbourne left 10 minutes early.
Glad we were early!
Our hotel in Melbourne is literally a stone’s throw from the
arrival terminal. We walked across
the street and there we were. It
is also adjacent to the Avis Rental
location, so tomorrow should be easy.
Dinner in the hotel tonight was very good, but very
expensive. Australia is not for
the feint of pocketbook. May have
something to do with things like a $14.00 an hour minimum wage.
Well tomorrow we take our life in my hands. I have to keep
reciting my mantra in my head, “Keep left, keep left!”
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