Journal

Today a reasonably early 10.30am start and we repeated the OC4 trip of a few weeks back, but without the swimming. The water was very calm and it was a nice relaxed paddle. What made the event worth recording, besides the "usual" incredible scenery of the route, was the varied wildlife and the collection of seals that we saw today, not in the remote way we have become accustomed to from Gibson's wharf, but this morning, up close and at times, very personal.

Mothers and pups with seasonal fur coats, dappled grey and white, clinging to rocks or bobbing about in the water while watching the four odd humans cruise by in the outrigger boat. A dozen or more clustered around the rocks and the shores of secluded Preston Island, apparently disturbed after sleeping off an early morning feast of fish.

The special moment, at the end of our journey today, was an adult seal who welcomed us back into Gibson's harbor, wide eyed and interested like a black labrador in the water, barely six foot from the boat without any intention of rushing away into the depths, a greeting with almost a smile and a wink to the crew.

Waterproof camera (Mark 1) has been ordered.