A stroll up Mt Beattie and shift to Moulters Bay

Jo and I decided to climb Mt Beattie, as the day had dawned considerably cooler than yesterday. Cloudy and looking as though rain was coming we set off and true to form a light drizzle set in just before we reached the summit.

The view was worth it despite the increasingly heavy drizzle, tending to rain, and it must be truly spectacular on a fine clear day.

Whilst we were expending energy the boys decided to stay below and check out the cottage of  Wyn and Clyde (Clayton, after whom the bay was named). A library for book swaps lies within, as well as a collection of not for swap reference books - one of which ‘ The Shanks’ would be on my list to purchase if I was ever again to think of exploring Tasmanian waters. 

The cottage would have been so isolated and grim in winter,they were obviously made of sterner stuff than me. The fascinating story of Wyn’s piano is on display in the cottage . The piano which she inherited from her mother survived bushfires, boat transportation and a house fire. In 1968 the piano was moved to Maleluca where it still is. 

We shifted from Clayton’s Corner into Moulters Bay after our stroll up Mt Beattie. It was now decidedly cold and windy,which added to the overall feeling of desolation and isolation that anyone who had ever lived here must have been familiar with. 

I found it quite beautiful- possibly as I knew it was for such a short term, but I’m certainly pleased we made it to the SW corner and the beautiful and remote and still unspoilt Bathurst Harbour.

Before cabin fever set in Peter got the weather fax via HF radio up and running and we weighed up the options available to us . Continuing further north up the west coast was not going to be easy with the prevailing weather pattern. A potential window of opportunity to head back towards Hobart was on the cards, but we couldn’t see anything reliable enough to allow us to go north up the west coast without risking being stuck in Macquarie Harbour (the next anchorage to the north ) for some time whilst  waiting for another window to then progress further north again.

So alas the decision was made to abandon any attempt to circumnavigate Tasmania, by ourselves in the opposite direction to the rally, which we had already had to abandon when the jib car disintegrated.
I guess the opportunity to pass through Hells Gates into Macquarie Harbour will just have to wait for another opportunity, but better safe than sorry.