birthday weekend

Surprise! Jon turned up unexpectedly for David's birthday which is the same date as Rory's so we all went to the pub in Port MacDonnell - which was unusually full of locals and tourists.


the birthday boys

The next day Julia and Stephen came to stay the night on the way from WA to their home at Ballarat.

For once there was minimum wind, perfect for a drive to the top of Cape Douglas and the obligatory photo shoot on top of the bluff: this one is a bit different as Stephen's long arms managed to get us all in a selfie:

Stephen, Julia, David, Helen


We spotted the beach stone curlew, which has been haunting Cape Douglas for 6 months, still on its own at Jones Bay.
It has had a lot of twitchers keen to see it, as it's way out of its usual habitat around Broome.

a lonely beach stone curlew

 

Jon took Alison's canoe, nicknamed Orange Roughy for obvious reasons, out on the bay and had a good paddle out to the breakers and back.

Jon in Orange Roughy

 



a taste of spring

For a few days the weather had us fooled into believing it is spring.

 

We were outside planting tomatoes in the tunnel house
and enjoying Happy Hour on the deck with Angela and Josef from next door and Marion and Steve who came wandering along the beach.

 

Then it rained again... not even enough to be worthwhile.

We've made it through an exceptionally cold and wet winter and have earned the right to a little sun.