Next planned stop was Streaky Bay. With fair weather on the horizon, we were hoping to continue a bit more swimming and fishing. Streaky Bay was the biggest town we had come across since Port Lincoln, even two supermarkets. Since we were running low on a few supplies we decided to lunch out, but being Easter Monday, there wasn’t much open. The Shell servo was our only option given that the Pub had stopped serving lunch already. Reasonable burgers and nuggets and also a full scale replica of the largest white pointer caught on a hand line, you guessed it, right here in Streaky Bay. A 1500+ kg, 5 metre monster - not really a confidence booster for our fledgling swimmers, especially since the next day we had booked in to swim with dolphins and sea lions at Baird Bay, a short drive away.
We had been looking forward to it for some time, all of us, but unfortunately with all the talk of sharks, Rubes had begun to get cold feet. It was a little overcast when we set off, most of us excited, others a little apprehensive. After a wetsuit fit out, it was onto the boat.
We met Alan who had been running these tours for over 20 years. No swimming toward the dolphins, no reaching out to touch the seals - remember these are wild animals. And stay close to Mick (one of the guides), cause he’s wearing the shark shield. First it was a swim with the dolphins, a pod of about 20. Jem donned a mask, as did Rubes with snorkel, OJ, of course is an old hand at snorkeling. Both Jem and Rubes hopped into their own float ring and in with the dolphins. It took Jem a little bit of time to work out that he had to put his head under to see the action, but he got it. Trace was a little concerned about the sharks, but swimming with dolphins within arms length, wow!! Needless to say, we stayed close to Mick.
Amazing how dolphins seemed to have an interest in us. They engaged and played, swam about us, with us, almost as if we were part of the pod. The water was cool, but it didn’t seem to matter. We were in and out a few times with the dolphins, OJ keen to get back amongst them every time we left the water. He was really enjoying it.
Next to the sea lion colony. Lots on the rocks and the sand, but not too many in the water. Alan decided we should be patient and just watch from the boat for a while. One of the guides got into the water and attempted to coax some of these gracious animals in to play without success. As we motored close to shore, Alan recognised a young female sea lion, known as Psycho, on the beach. In went Mick and out into the shallows came Psycho. We all followed in to the water for a session of play with Psycho, who spent about 25 minutes frolicking with us. Her beautiful wide eyes fixed on us curiously as she glided effortlessly through the water. Watching her at such close range, still on the bottom and then blow bubbles out her mouth as she floated to the surface was an unforgettable experience. OJ’s appetite whetted, now he’s talking about swimming with humpbacks in Tonga.
Back at the caravan park, whilst Oscar did some school work, Rubes and Jem disappeared to the games room with a wad of cash, in coins. Rubes has very responsibly been making careful and considered decisions as to how she spends her money. After a period of absence, Dad thought he’d better investigate what the two were up to. Both were discovered playing the ‘claw and dump’ which involves dropping an open claw into a mountain of mini chocolate bars and then deliver the catch onto a ramp which has a sliding platform which then pushes the sweets into a chute. Rubes had inserted $10 into the machine and had, so far, only gathered a couple of bars. Of course, no explanation from me that she could purchase far more chocolate bars with her $10 than she could ever hope to win in the ‘claw and dump’ could convince her that the thrill and fun of challenge wasn’t worth every cent.
Oscar was snowed under with work that afternoon, and so the rest of us had a cycle/walk into town before dinner. On the way we caught up with a couple who were camped next to us in Elliston. They had lent us a few DVDs that we needed to return.
Our last day in Streaky Bay was a little cool and overcast, so we decided to take a drive to one of the neighbouring bays and to Murphy’s Haystacks, some rocky outcrops amongst the wheat farms. Sceale Bay was accessible via an unsealed road and we had considered free camping there as it had sounded like a good spot and it wasn’t bad at all. A short walk along the beach and Rubes collected a few small, but pretty shells. Then we carried on to Murphy’s Haystacks, narrowly missing a shingle back crossing the road.
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