22nd - 23rd March 2016

Smoky Bay was always going to draw us, a seaside holiday village, a long pier, and most importantly, Angel's Oysters Barn . But first we booked into the Smoky Bay Caravan Park, passing by about a dozen oyster processing sheds on the way in. Secured a site for 2 nights, a quick setup and with hunger building we headed straight out to Angel's, met Angel and she lived up to her name by selecting two dozen large whole oysters, but because she declared us "lovely people", her two dozen amounted to 32 big oysters stuffed into a large plastic bag, and Evi also scored a hessian shopping bag with the Angel's logo happily displayed upon it.

Back in camp and Roscoe soon had bucket between his feet, a solid leather glove on the left hand and his hunting knife prising the reluctant oysters to open and reveal their offering. The 32 oysters disappeared in a single sitting along with a few apple ciders. Later that afternoon we broke out the fishing rods and headed over to a small cove nearby to try for some King George Whiting who proved to be uncompromisingly unwilling to play our game. After an hour we threw the baits (the original ones on hook) and headed out to the pier to enjoy a happy hour whilst the sun fell into the Southern Ocean .

Well, guess what? Yep, back to Angel's the next morning for another two dozen plump oysters. It needs be said that both days we had arrived just as their boat had unloaded and never have we had the like of these oysters, creamy and still holding a full shell of salty ocean water and all the flavours that the sea can provide. Today we decided that along with purchasing a "shucking knife" we would provide a cheeky Pinot Grigio as the perfect accompaniment to nature treasure.

Late in the day we were surprised with a phone call from travelling friends Ben and Jan who had just booked into another caravan park nearby. They called over for a long happy hour and there we arranged to meet them in Elliston the next day to spend Easter in yet another great coastal village.

That's Smoky Bay in an oyster shell!