Snapper Rocks

Day 88 - Snapper Rocks

Snapper Rocks

Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Woke up to a cloudy day with a slight breeze and a cool van. Had breakfast, fed Tuka, did some reading and then went for walk with Tuka.

Later put Tuka in the van (he prefers his bed in the van over his bed outside) and went Kayaking to the south of my camp. Only a slight chop so clarity ok. Plenty of seagrass nearby so will do some snorkelling from the kayak when the water is smooth. Very peaceful kayaking as no other boats on the water. Just the sound of the seagulls and the waves.

Came back and had a cuppa with Tuka. Did some reading and then a walk with the camera. Will try and do some experimenting with my photography while here.

Went for another kayak north this time and in another cove saw a 4wd set up with a camp and boat - must be Snapper Bay. While in the cove I saw a fin ahead of me and as I paddled closer saw that it was Bottlenose dolphin feeding in among the seagrasses. As I was following the dolphin I heard a snort to my left and there was a dugong surfacing! I saw the snout came out for air and before I could take a photo the dugong was underwater again and gone.

In the afternoon it became windy again so I did some reading, walking and photographing. Late in the afternoon I remembered I hadn't pulled the kayak off the little beach. I ran down to the water and found that it was high tide and the kayak had been swept against the cliff on the other side of my cove. It was still floating but full of water with the waves bashing it against the limestone cliff. I got a bucket and standing in the water luckily only up to my waist managed to bail the kayak out enough to move it away from the cliff and waves. I was able to drag it back to the campsite and empty it. The bottom has been abraded by the limestone but not enough to cause any leaks.  I am amazed it still floats because as well as being abraded on the rocks it was also being twisted by the waves. It is a strong little Gremlin.

	Kayaking in Henri Freycinet Estuary [Map]		Dolphin off Snapper Cove [Map]
	Campsite [Map]		Vegetation around Snapper Rocks [Map]