Day 14 Sunday February 28, 2010

View of Cape Schanck from the Bushrangers Bay track

Kevin and Erika Corcoran relaxing at Bushrangers Bay Foreshore

Waves crashing as tide rushed in to Bushrangers Bay

Anne learning about sea creatures from Kevin.

Sunset over Port Phillip's Bay at Anthony's Nose, Dromana beach

Today started early especially for a Sunday. We both were up by 7 AM to be dressed and breakfasted before Erika arrived at 8 to pick us up. Erika Corcoran and her husband Kevin took us out for a day trip exploring the south side of the peninsula. We drove to Cape Schanck lighthouse parking area in the Mornington Peninsula National Park. After finding the restrooms still locked we started out on the Bushrangers Bay Track," one of the most beautiful walks in all of Australia".

We saw Ti trees, Metalucca trees, Banksia Trees(bottle brush), and Wattlebirds in the Banksias along the cliff top trail. The Park is a narrow strip of land that includes all the basalt cliffs and shoreline. Looking inland we could see pasture land where cattle were grazing. Coming out of a grove of Ti trees we saw a small group of kangaroos, silhouetted against the sky, grazing in the pasture.

The area is dry, wind blown sandy shoreline comparable to the Loess hills of western IA. The trail follewed the cliff top with some ups and downs until we reached Bushrangers Bay where the trail descended the cliffs by wood and sand steps dropping down to the shore. We crossed Burrabong Creek on our descent and once down on the sandy shoreline we crossed Main Creek on rocks and wading to reach the crashing waves of Bushranger Bay.

The day was overcast which made comfortable hiking but the wind was very strong down by the water, blowing sand in our faces and chilling our sweaty backs. The full moon made the tides big and the tide was coming into the Bay with each successive wave crashing further up the beach. We tried to walk to the big tidal pool but the water was already too high and the rip tide currents too dangerous to make the attempt.

We found a sheltered area out of most of the wind and had delicious homemade fruitcake that Kevin had carried in his pack for our snack. The rising tide helped us to decide to head back. Kevin pointed out kelp, blue bottle jellyfishes, cuttle fish(that birds rub their beaks on) and the shell of a sea urchin.

The crashing waves on the Bass Strait side of the peninsula are so breathtaking. Beautiful and dangerous all at the same time. With the sand cliffs as backdrops and the rocks carved by wind and water, it is truly majestic landscape.

But enjoying time on the beach always means a climb back up the cliffs at the end of the day, and so we made our way back up to the rolling hills high above the ocean floor and another beauty-filled walk to our car. (A Ford Falcon G series that runs on auto gas-LP gas)

Erika and Kevin invited us back to their home on Arthur's Seat and took us a scenic way past the village of Flinders, a sea fishing village turned artist colony. We also drove through the bush (any uncultivated wilderness area)and through a golf course where we paused until golfers had made their shots before driving on. A filling lunch of sandwiches with fresh veg, cheese, and homemade tourene(blended pork and veal in a loaf with asparagus and pistachio nuts). We toured their garden and met their chickens.

Erika drove us home stopping on the way at the Boundary Road gardens so I could see where she and Linda worked. She also drove us on the esplanade in Safety Beach and told us a history of the area. It was so thoughtful of them to spend so much of their Sunday, sharing their beautiful peninsula with us and taking us to places too far to walk and with no public transport available. Thank you Erika and Kevin for a perfect Sunday.

The day was mostly overcast and temperatures cooler than any we had yet experienced. After a quick supper at Heronswood, eaten in the dining room for the first time(too chilly outside) we took what will probably be our last sunset walk on the Bayside beach. The clouds made a beautiful frame for the golds and pinks of the setting sun. A lone fisherman shared our beach. We turned and headed back up the track to get to Heronswood just before dark, arriving home in a light mist of rain.