Wednesday 14 February: TRIABUNNA to FREYCINET NATIONAL PARK

I We wake to great skies, rain and the prospect of gale force winds. We could be in England. We feel grateful for our lovely day on Maria Island yesterday. Battening down the hatches we set off on the road again travelling north along the east coast. We pass the Spikey Bridge, built by convicts in 1841 which is, well, spikey and unfortunately involved a rather rough off road bit of driving which did not please Simon. In between the rain showers the scenery is beautiful with eucalyptus trees, sheep grazing and dramatic coastline with views of the Freycinet Peninsula beyond. Our guide book recommends Kate's Berry Farm as a venue for sampling fruit and icecream. Despite the weather there are 2 coaches of Japanese tourists already there and it is just a busy cafe with nothing to taste. Disappointing. Onwards to Devils Corner vineyard with fantastic views of the vines, Moulting Lagoon and the mountains of Freycinet beyond. We do a little tasting of course, enjoying the unoaked Chardonnay and the fresh Pinot Noir. It is incredibly windy by now and we take shelter whilst sharing a plate of fresh local oysters and some fish and chips. We stop at the Freycinet Marine Farm (where the Japenese tourists are eating lunch) and buy some mussels to cook this evening. We find our pitch at the Richmond Bay campsite which is right by the beach in the national park. Still too windy to bask in the sun we walk along the coast wondering how many of the tents will survive the night. Ellie spots a Pademelon in the bush, a small breed of kangaroo. Beer on a windy deck on the beach with fine views before preparing for supper.