A practice run

The beach & headland near Stumpy's #4 campsite

While a camping trip to the far North East of Tassie, camping at Stumpy's Rocks had been mooted by Kris a while back, it turned out to be a wonderful test run for my 2024 trip to the mainland:  a reasonable length list was made of additional (albeit mainly small) items that might be particularly useful to add to my packing.

Some of the items will involve shopping - so hopefully that will not be too tedious.

But back to the practice run.  

To break a rather long journey (by Tassie standards) I drove to Bridport on the Sunday afternoon to stay with Kris in her shack.  I arrived marginally before she did and had only just unlocked the place and transferred from the car what I needed for the night when she arrived.  

A hint of an auroral glow to the south

We duly consumed dinner and indulged in an episode or two of my current favourite TV series while regularly checking outside to see if the forecast for an aurora to beat even the previous night was showing its colours.  Despite extensive time outside, including making ourselves comfortable in our camping chairs, the best we achieved was a faint glow on the southern horizon accompanied by some lovely images of the Milky Way.

Campsite at Stumpy's #4

On Monday we headed for Stumpy's Rocks campground, intending to set up camp at campground #4.  Kris, marginally behind me, was aware that there was a school group headed our way - so we got on the road before the buses did, but were still behind the ute and trailer of gear which has passed me as I waited for Kris at Gladstone.  

An unfortunate incident just 8km before Gladstone was a much too close encounter with a Wedge Tailed Eagle as it took off from it's snack of roadkill wallaby - it flew smack into the corner of my windscreen.  I stopped and walked back to check but it clearly had not been damaged sufficiently to prevent it flying off.  I could only hope that the excessive chorus of forest ravens further into the trees was not a flock of them harassing an injured eagle.

Bennet's wallaby by the lagoon

We breathed a sigh of relief when the school gear trailer did not turn off to Stumpy's but when we stopped to do our camping registration, the ute pulled up and confirmed it was what we thought and acknowledged we probably wanted to avoid being in the proximity of the school group - which turned out to be easily achieved;  while others were camped in grounds #2 & 3, we were the only campers in #4.  Some time was spend deciding on the best orientation, setting up a fireplace and gathering a little kindling etc to supplement the firewood we had brought with us before repairing to the beach for a short walk.  For Louise, who had joined us, it was a very short walk.  Kris and I walked a little further then managed to get a little saturated at the skies opened.

A threatening sky over the lagoon at Stumpy's #4

Once we returned to the campsite, the fire was lit and drinks and food all round were the order of the day.

Physalia physalia washed up on the beach

Sea Tulip washed up on the beach

The lagoon was much more inviting on Tuesday

Tuesday dawned much clearer, albeit windy.  The birdlife was rather varied and prolific and most enjoyable. A little scouting round for additional firewood provided quite a bounty and justified the early lighting of the campfire which Louise enjoyed while Kris and I walked on the beach later in the day.

Stunning beach scenery

Early wattle

Stargazing on Tuesday night

Wednesday was designated as the day to tackle the 'summit' of Mount William, if an altitude gain of just under 180m can be designated with the title 'summit'!  The sign said 5 hours return, which we found hard to believe but it turned out to be accurate -  13 km, so with stops for water, food, removal of stones from shoes, photographs etc, it did take the 5 hours.  Mostly easy walking although the last push to the trig point was a little steep and required some clambering.  I was more concerned coming down, having managed to land face first the previous time I had walked similar terrain.

Panorama from Mt William summit

Xanthorrhoea - Grasstrees

The various ecosystems on the route to Mount William were rather lovely.  In places there is serious domination of very healthy grasstrees, Xanthorrhoea sp., which always seem to me to appear as if a talented topiarist has recently been at work.  There is low coastal scrub, higher scrub, some stunted gums lower down, then gums getting larger as we ascended.  Wattle was already starting to flower and on the slopes, there were orchid species - leaves only at this stage but Acianthus, Pterostylis, Corybus, Chiloglottis and Dockrillia were present.

A pleasant evening was spent around the campfire.

Thursday was packing up and heading south - via a coffee in St Helens and a glass of something lovely at Milton - I'd intended having lunch there also but lunch was not available that particular day!

It was a long drive home, but nice to be back home (and after camping, to enjoy a long hot shower and complete change into clean clothes)