Pinchgut camping

Loading the gear

Dean had promised to take a co-worker, novice kayaker, kayak camping this weekend. He couldn't make it but Dean, Dennis and I went anyway. It was an overcast morning as pulled into Colinet where we loaded our boats to head down to the resettled community of Tickles for our campsite.

Entrance way

As we approached the entrance to Pinchgut Tickle, the body of water between Pinchgut Island on the right and the mainland to left, it started to brighten up.

In the grass

The water as falling all the while as we made our way south. The tickle is not very deep as it is but in low water the eel grass was breaking the surface. There were places it was difficult to get a full blade in the water making the going bit difficult as the eel grass tried to cling on to our hulls.

U pick!

We pulled a string of mussels to have a look and, happy with the size, helped ourselves to a few to taste test.

Home sweet home

We landed on the beach at Tickles in a bit of a breeze. We walked around to decide on where we'd pitch the tents so we could be out of the wind. It was warm but pleasant in the wind as we unloaded our boats and set up camp. Dennis strung a clothes line, we gathered some wood along the shore for our evening fire and I took a short stroll to look at the one house left standing in the abandoned community.

Fallen

It had undergone dramatic changes. Not that long ago it still stood upright, derelict but still showing its original character. Now it was a jumble of broken timbers and broken dreams. It looked like it may have been pulled down on purpose or it may have succumbed to the winds of Hurricane Igor that blew through last fall. I felt saddened. Things change, I know. However, this fine, popular kayak destination campsite didn't seem the same now.

BBQ pit

We used a section of chimney for a barbecue pit. Dean brought a bag of charcoal and a grill that fir perfectly on top of the opening. Dean and Dennis had steaks to barbecue and with the few mussels we harvested they had surf and turf.

Roaring fire

We were told there wasn't much wood around for a fire. I found a stash of wood which along with the wood we collected on the beach made for a rip roaring good fire.

Flankers

Flankers blowing from the fire filled the night sky like the stars in a galaxy. It took a long while for the fire to die down. When it did, we retreated to the tents for the night content with the world.