Beach walking - Bay of Fires

Seven friends came down from the big island to walk the Bay of Fires with me and the Tasmanian Walking Company.

Tail slapping humpbacks greeted us as we walked onto the pristine white sand.

The lighthouse at larapuna Eddystone Point.

Heading down to our lunch spot, sheltered from the wind.

Unusual sand and water forms on the long white beach after lunch.

Millions of shells clinking musically beneath our feet.

More white sand and orange lichen covered granite rocks. It truly is a stunning piece of coastline.

Our home for two nights. The Bay of Fires Lodge. Totally off-grid and rather luxurious.

I could lie in my bed gazing up at the star covered sky.

End of day one foot bath.

Day two involved a walk through the bush, a short bus ride, an hour and a half of kayaking down a river into Ansons Bay where we had lunch.

No photos as I had nowhere safe for my phone in the kayak, but we saw incredible reflections, black-backed bream spawning, a sea eagle sitting on a tall tree and a pelican gliding above us, landing on the water and taking off again. 

After lunch we walk around the edge of Ansons Bay.

And through dunes along the beach.

On our final day thete were black cockatoos in the trees at the lodge. After a delicious breakfast and a yoga session (a first for me) we walked through the bush to our bus which returned us to Launceston via lunch at Easy Tiger in St Helens.

A final group photo on the lodge deck. Our 8 plus 2 other lovely couples and our wonderful guides Ryan and Anneke. 

A truly gorgeous experience. A special place. 

Fells and lakes

 

A week in The Lakes. The heat seemed to follow us. Temperatures in the mid to high twenties. At least it wasn't in the thirties, but still too warm for comfortable walking in the middle of the day. And not a drop of rain in what is normally the wettest area of England.

We stayed in Keswick on the shore of Derwentwater. This pic taken on my way up a fell, aka mountain, called Skiddaw. I got up before 5am to beat the heat. 

Top of the world on Skiddaw, all to myself. I walked alone. Too early for normal people. Mountains and hills in all directions. Stunning.

Skiddaw viewed from Keswick.

Another fell climbed. Catbells viewed from Derwentwater in Keswick. 

Keswick and Derwentwater viewed from the top of Catbells. 

Looking the other way from Catbells.

We both did the shore walk around  Buttermere. Beautiful, quiet, peaceful.

We rode the boat on Derwentwater. Beautiful lake but the boat was crowded and hot.

At Ullswater we walked to Airaforce waterfall.

A short shady walk. Admired the beautiful oak, beech and spruce trees.

And then walked along the shoreline of Ullswater to find lunch and board the steamer.

The steamer cruise was a very pleasant hour on the 20km long lake, sitting on the shaded top deck.

Ullswater is less developed and less crowded than Derwentwater and Windermere, possibly due to the railway never coming. We prefer it that way. The mountains were closer and more dramatic too.

Our final full day in the lakes. We walked around lakes, through forests, up over fells and indulged at some very nice cafes. 

An unplanned but fitting end to my walking trip. The next few days are devoted to travel. Sheryl heads to Cornwall and I head to Windsor and Heathrow for the long flight home.