The night was horrific. Rain belted Gstring from all angles, threatening to rip the paint off her sides. Wind was relentless, shaking the van worse than the keynote act at a Parkinsons convention.
For a brief period the day looked like it had promise. Then it rained again. About very late o’clock, we decided that come hell or high water we were going to see some seals and sea lions today. Soon we headed off to Point Labatt.
Upon arrival we were greeted with a short few moments of sunshine, a colony of sea lion and a few seals thrown in for effect. Not that any of them turned on a circus act or anything. Still, looking at an overgrown slug lie about almost motionless on the beach in the freezing wind has its alure. We were stunned by the magic of these creatures. Once they realised we were from Queensland, they began to interact. The big one taught a young one a few lessons in ‘don’t piss the old fella off’, whilst the seals went fishing all within 50 metres of our elevated position. This was special.
With seal and sea lion still pulsing through our veins we were attracted to Barid Bay where you are guaranteed to see seals. Baird Bay is a fraud. We got there, realised it was but a broken-down fishing village and saw the sign, ‘for seal tours drive up the beach 50 metres’. You heard it here first, Barid Bay has never seen a seal in its poor pathetic life. It is but a boat launching ramp to go around the headland to where we had seen them before! There was nothing left for us in Barid Bay save a visit to the toilet.
The afternoon was spent late lunching at Drift restaurant in Streaky Bay. Fantastic fish and calamari were the order of the day. A quick trip home to do some car and washing chores and that day was done.
