Of course down here on the Huon we know that we are blessed with the best rowing waters in the universe, but, just to check, last weekend a group headed out to see if the Tamar (on the north coast) could in any way compare.
Without conceding too much we have to admit that it was pretty nice.
For starters Marguerite, Endra and Dennis had organised the weather to be pleasantly sunny and cool, for the tides to be with us, and for a breeze to blow us home in the evenings. We shall be speaking to them in future whenever we decide to go anywhere. They had also organised comfortable accommodation for the people at the Beauty Point Tourist Park, and for the boats at Port Dalrymple Yacht Club, where everything was laid on.
On arrival the people took the boats for a quick exploratory row, then joined a boisterous crowd of yachties in the clubhouse for their post twilight race celebration. Big thanks to the Club for being such great hosts.
Next day we launched on the outgoing tide and headed at speed for Low Head at the mouth of the Tamar, where, after a bit of exploration, we found the perfect cove for beaching.
Low Head has been the home of the Tamar pilot boats since the early 19th century, and there are beautiful old stone cottages which house an excellent museum and cafe, a lighthouse to stroll to, and various artefacts strewn around. Look at this for a Huon Pine buoy.
You could scarcely ask for a better destination, but we think we found one.
After the tide had turned (and a refuelling stop at that cafe), we headed back upriver to Georgetown and the Bass and Flinders Museum, where we were greeted by Craig Dixon and Margy. They gave us the treatment. Craig restored our ‘Punto’ so we know him reasonably well, and of his association with Bern Cuthbertson who led the teams which built the replica boats ‘Elizabeth’ and ‘Norfolk’. These are two of the main exhibits at the museum. For those who are scratching their heads trying to remember, Elizabeth was the boat used by Bass to explore Bass Strait as far as Westernport, and Norfolk was sailed around Tasmania by Flinders, establishing that it is an island. Craig helped build both these boats and sailed on them on reenactment voyages, so he had plenty of stories to tell. If you visit yourself ask him to tell you about the bread knife which is sitting in Elizabeth.
Then it was off ‘home’ to Beauty Point, with the more fortunate of us under sail with a sea breeze coming in.
A highlight of the Tamar is the Batman Bridge, so the next day we trailered the boats to Deviot to shoot the narrows underneath. It was worth it.
And there were plenty more sights as we went along. The ‘Auld Kirk’ at Sidmouth was one of them.
And then of course there are the woodchip foothills.
By the end we were pooped.
Thanks again to Marguerite, Dennis and Endra for organisation, to Mel, Dennis and Annette for driving, and to Neil and the team for getting the boats in such good nick.
On top of everything else It was a great opportunity to spend extended time with other LBT members. What a diverse and interesting bunch we are.
(Pics from Dennis, JP, Endra)