Too nice a day for marking another thesis

Or, indeed, doing any of several other things that are swamping me.

In fact, I did get some work done on the thesis and other jobs, but it was a Saturday, and a glorious day to boot, and there was a little kayak trip that I’d been wanting to do with my brother, and so upon seeing that the river looked nice and calm, I called him up and convinced him (and me!) that we should go.

I should point out he didn’t take much convincing.

Here, then, are some photos, and brief accompanying explanations, of our mid-day jaunt from Geilston Bay to Shag Bay and back.

As we headed up-river—bearing in mind that at this point the Derwent is more a broad sea-flooded estuary than a river—we were surprised at the strength of the tidal current/flow. If we stopped paddling, we drifted back at a walking pace, and I don’t recall experiencing it quite so noticeably in my other little excursions around the place.

Shag Bay is a long relatively narrow bay, which is sheltered from most winds. There’s a walking track that provides land access (see this account for a previous expedition), and the remains of an old quarry on the northern side.

As, I said, generally it is a peaceful spot,with Mt Wellington directly opposite the entrance …

… until the peace is broken by the MONA ferry that rushes past, sending a good series of waves into the bay that rushed up over the rocks at the water’s edge and took my brother somewhat by surprise (I’m sure he was in the middle of posting to Facebook and is worried about his phone!) …

… and leaving him deposited high and dry. (I’d anticipated the waves and had moved out into the bay, but failed to suggest the same to him, reflecting my deep sisterly concern for … trying to get an amusing photo!)

Once the waves subsided, calm was restored (which is one of my more obvious literary statements).

On the way back—made much easier with the tide/current in our favour—we had a closer encounter with one of the three feral goats we’d seen on the way up, negotiating a seemingly precarious set of cliffs and slopes with ease.

(PS Post #600)