Bermagui, Summer 2022
Society members Sal, Tim Briscoe, Timmy, Nell, Maddy, Dom, Dan, Isaac, Bella, Archie, Hamy, Billie and Darcy once again made the journey to the Sapphire Coast to base ourselves at Bermagui for another fine week of adventures and family time.
With Nell pregnant, there were no mountain climbs, but there was plenty of beach combing, shell collecting, swimming and exploring far down river on boats, kayaks and stand up paddle boards. We celebrated Archie’s 8th birthday in style, including with a nocturnal adventure through ‘The Grotto’ to test out a new LED headlamp where we saw some amazing spiders spinning webs, and where a frog hopped unexpectedly onto Isaac’s foot causing quite the reaction..!
We also took to sea. This was the epic voyage of the SS Bubbles, which took us on a circumnavigation of Montague Island/Barunguba. An amazing place, full of seals and sea birds, all was going well until we rounded the eastern side of the island and were exposed to the full force of the Pacific Ocean. This was not pleasant for Dom or Maddy who retired inside with sea-sickness. Isaac, Bella, Dan, Archie, Hamy and Billie remained outside on the bow of the boat facing down the swell and braving the force of the sea as we rounded the island and returned triumphant to shore!
This was also the holiday that ended with almost everyone catching Covid, with Isaac taking the wheel to drive Nell and the boys back to Melbourne whilst everyone else dispersed homewards to also discover the joys of Covid and isolation for the next week.
Explorers Hamish and Billie take to the river - well protected by sunscreen and zinc.
The happiest explorers! Darcy and Billie enjoying the outboard motor picking up.
Simply messing about in boats…
On the rocks above the Blue Pool enjoying everthing that makes holidays so awesome.
A pause from adventures to assemble epic birthday projects (Happy 8th Birthday Archie!)
Aboard the might SS Bubbles on our way from Bermagui to Montague Island/Barunguba. All was relatively calm at this stage though we were all hanging onto each other as we ploughed over the waves. Things were to intensify as we rounded the island.
Dom looking confident and displaying fine seamanship. The return journey would not prove as peasant…
With new birthday headlamp and preparing to explore. We walked through ‘The Grotto’ shortly afterwards. The light worked splendidly, though attracted some wildlife including curious frogs.