An early start to a spectacular day!
This morning we boarded the 'Lady Jane Franklin II for an adventure from Macquarie Harbour and out into the Gordon River .
We were met by our host Errol and soon exchanging greetings with Skipper Rick. As the ship left port it was time to enjoy our first flat white of the day. A great start.
Cruising out into Strahan harbour we were given lots of information about the settlement and its history. Apparently the harbour is bigger than Sydney harbour but is less developed. We heard about the training wall that was built in1901 to concentrate the current through the channel, which also raised the water level by a metre. The wall was built from small stones quarried locally and was the idea of James Macquire, a dredger for the job was ordered specially from England ! A breakwater was built across the harbour at the same time in an attempt to shelter it from the westerly swells. Apparently there have been waves of over 20metres recorded fairly recently.
In the past ship wrecks were quite common; we were told the story of the 1907 wreck which took the lives of seven people including the wife and children of the lighthouse keeper who were returning from a holiday . Not surprising that the convicts brought to Van Demans Land called the area "the Gates of Hell". Prisoners were taken to Sarah Island, our stopping point later, and kept in terrible conditions working waist deep in the cold waters to fell and haul pines for ship building. There were said to be about 180 escape attempts, several by a man called Alexander Piers. Escapees never went alone they always took along a mate, cannibalism was said to be rife among escaping prisoners!!
There were so many stories about ship wrecks, prisoners, protests and major events on this waterway and many attempts to save it from development, that I was really pleased when we were told that at the end of the cruise a short history of the area would be available. (This in fact was a beautiful book with lots of interesting facts and information.)This meant that we could sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery and look out for dolphins and sea birds as well as enjoying the amazing food and wine they served.
Our afternoon stop was on Sarah Island where we were met by our guide, an actor from the local theatre company, who enthralling us with tales of the life and people of the community using members of our party as the characters. It was highly entertaining and informative. A great way to find out about somewhere with such a terrible past.
Returning to the boat there were more treats before we finally returned to port at the end of a really great outing.
Next a look around the harbour area of Strahan, some interesting old buildings here.
Along the road from Risby Cove was signposted a forest walk, another place to explore and to walk off the excesses of the river cruise cuisine. A short walk took us to a regatta Point and the Regatta Falls. Further along the bay we came to the station for the Wilderness Railway which runs through the area each week. We were fortunate enough to see them shunting one of the steam engines along a short stretch of the track. Amazing !