From the previous post
A Walk in the Park - Part 1 Clive and I had arrived at Bauer Bay hut after an idyllic walk from station along the west coast in near perfect conditions.
After a great nights sleep in the hut. Chris baked the beautiful multi grain/seed loaf which we eagerly consumed for breakfast and morning tea.
After a relaxing morning we set upon the task at hand - the Bauer Bay cleanup of marine debris.
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| Gentoo penguins at Bauer Bay |
The Bauer Bay clean up is carried out each month around the same time. The idea was to systematically pick up any debris (rubbish) off the beach and rocks of Bauer Bay. Chris split up the area into different (manageable) areas. Then Clive, Chris and I walked in lines parallel to the shore, spaced around 3 metres apart. We then walked the length of the beach picking up any foreign matter and placing it in a bag that each of us was carrying.
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| The wide expanse of Bauer Bay beach with Chris pointing out to Clive the area we were to cleanup |
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| Systematically scouring the Bauer Bay beach for marine debris |
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| Regalia Creek marked the northern boundary of the Bauer Bay cleanup area |
We also removed bits and broken glass and other debris from another area up in the dunes on the northern side of the bay. Here we found remains of a old penguin research hut that was active in the mid 60's.
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| Clive looking over the old penguin research hut site |
Above the high tide mark on the southern side of the bay is a old tree trunk that has been washed up on the beach. It is unknown how long it has been there. It would be interesting to find out where it came from and what species of tree it is.
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| The tree stun at Bauer Bay, complete with moss garden |
Just below the hut is a pile of timber that has been placed there by many of the expeditioners from previous ANARE. Now days the policy is to leave any timber washed up on the beaches where it is or place it somewhere above the high tide mark.
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| Part of the cache of old timbers just below the Bauer Bay hut |
After finishing the cleanup (at around 3pm) we went back to the hut and had a cuppa and another piece of the nice bread that Chris had baked. It was then decided that we still had enough daylight to do some more rubbish pickup. This time we went to an area just north of Bauer Bay, the rocky coastline near Boiler Rocks. This area had not been cleaned before.
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| Heading to the Boiler Rocks area to pick up marine debris |
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| Boiler Rocks coast - another beautiful part of Macquarie Island |
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| Just inland form Boiler Rocks coastline was another GP community |
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| Clive searching for marine debris at the Boiler Rocks coast |
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| Green fishing twine was by far the most numerous pieces of marine debris |
We covered an area of 400 metres of coastline at Boiler Rocks. We were so engrossed with the task that time ran out and we had to head back to Bauer Bay hut. The last part of the walk was under the illumination of outré head torches.
Amazingly we had each filled our bags with rubbish - bits of plastic, fishing twine, plastic drink bottles, various lengths of nylon rope and several fishing floats. Once back at the hut we weighed each bag and collected 16.5 kg of stuff off a 400 metre stretch of coast. Really quite sad what is thrown into the ocean.
After another amazing meal of left over chilli beans and rice, Chris amazed us with his baking skills - making another loaf, this time filled with a variety of dried fruit and nuts, which we ate for supper. It had been another satisfying and productive day, covering 9.2 km.
The next morning we were up early eager to start the day. As it was Sunday we had a relaxing morning and were treated to Chris's culinary skills again. This time we feasted on a omelette for brunch.
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| Late Sunday morning, getting ready to eat brunch |
After the meal, we got ready and left the hut just a little a after 11am. We headed south through the beautifully scenic Labyrinth.
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| Heading south out of Bauer Bay towards the Labyrinth |
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| Walking through the stunning Labyrinth |
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| In the Labyrinth - Chris telling Clive about the Latin names of the various plants |
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| Coming out of the Labyrinth onto the wet and boggy featherbed |
After leaving the Labyrinth and coming to the featherbed, Chris made his way to the coast to carry out some more marine debris cleanup while Clive and I proceeded across the featherbed towards Aurora Cave. Parts of the featherbed were very wet, spongy and boggy and on more then one occasion both of us were up to our knees in the bog.
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| After we crossed about 1.5 km of the featherbed we came to Flat Creek, which is home to thousands of royal penguins during the summer (Oct - Mar) |
Upon reaching Flat Creek we proceeded down the creek bed to the coast and walked along the coast for a while before crossing the boggiest part of the featherbed to Aurora Cave. Once again we were blessed with sunshine.
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| Clive standing in the northern entrance to Aurora Cave |
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| Clive silhouetted in the southern entrance to Aurora Cave |
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| The view from the southern entrance to Aurora Cave - towards the distant Aurora Point |
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| The sun was out and the southern end of the cave provided shelter from the wind and a great place to have lunch |
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| Clive silhouetted in the northern entrance of Aurora Cave |
After about half an hour at Aurora Cave it was time to head back, as we only two and a half hours of daylight to get back to the hut. So off we went across the featherbed. Not to far from Aurora Cave Clive fell through the bog and sank to his waist. He had to crawl out. I made sure I didn't follow the path he was on.
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| Just about to leave Aurora Cave |
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| View to the distant north from Aurora Cave |
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| Somewhere on the featherbed - by this stage Clive had wet boots and clothes after stepping in a hole |
When we reached the beach we decided to try and pick up as much marine debris as we could. Pieces of twine and string, and small bits of plastic we would jam into the small pouches on the sides of the back packs. Plastic bottles would be emptied, squashed flat and I would hang them from the back of Clive's pack.
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| Clive taking a large rubber fishing float further into the tussock, well beyond the high tide mark and sheltered a little from the wind |
We met up with Chris at Flat Creek, who took us to a large cache of debris and rubbish that he had collected that afternoon as well as on other occasions. We stashed all the rubbish that we found on the way, then made our way towards the Labyrinth, though this time close to the coast near Cormorant Point and passing west of Duck Lagoon.
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| Chris provided us with another tasty fruit loaf |
The next morning we were all up early. We had breakfast then packed our gear, cleaned the hut and were ready to leave. At around 9:30 we had a visitor. Nick, one of the MIPEP hunters had arrived, with his dog Waggs, from station. After joining us in a cup of tea and some left over fruit bread he headed off to the south. While he was getting ready to leave, Chris, Clive and I sorted, counted and measured all the marine debris that we had collected from the Bauer Bay cleanup.
The final tally 178 pieces of fishing twine (measuring around 75 metres), 36 bits of plastic, 7 fishing floats (of various colours and sizes) and around 70 other bits and pieces.
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| Waggs, one of the MIPEP dogs, waiting for Nick to gat ready |
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| Bauer bay hut with Nick and Waggs just about to set off for the Labyrinth |
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| Sorting, counting, measuring and cataloguing the marine debris from the monthly Bauer Bay cleanup |
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| Chris, Barry and Clive with the marine debris and rubbish that we collected from Bauer bay and Boiler Rocks coast |
Around 10:30 we set off for in different directions - Clive and I would go via the West Coast featherbed back to station and Chris would go across the island to Brothers Point.
The conditions were so different from when we arrived, four days before. We had walked from VJM over frozen ground and through deep snow, whereas our walk home would be in drizzly, misty and warmer conditions. The featherbed was very boggy, but at least we could see the holes and wallows.
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| Walking north across the featherbed in the mist |
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| Coming out of Douglas Bay through some tough terrain |
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| Clive walking along the beach at Langdon Bay |
When we reached the northern end of Langdon Bay, we decided to try and find some ancient whale bones somewhere on Unity Point. We walked the length of Unity Point, not finding any sign of the bones. We did however find a large dead elephant seal in the tussock just above the high tide mark. The strange thing was that it hadn't been touched by any scavengers. We knew about this seal - it had been there for nearly 5 weeks. Also strange was that it had no odour.
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| Clive stands next to a large dead elephant seal on Unity Point. |
We then made our way across the featherbed again to Eagle Bay. Along the beach on Eagle Bay we found a huge piece of polystyrene, which we cached further in the tussock. All the while we picked up larger pieces of marine debris.
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| Between Langdon Bay and Eagle Bay - still signs of damage done by the rabbits |
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| Just as we came out of the tussock onto Eagle Bay we stopped for a lunch break |
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| The large piece of polystyrene on the beach at Eagle Bay |
We then crossed over to Half Moon Bay. As we left Half Moon Bay crossing the tussock and wallow I thought I was going to get away without falling into a hole. Clive had stepped in quite a few. Despite seeing the large holes I stepped onto what I thought was solid ground. I went in up to my waist in slimy water and mud, with the momentum of the fall I face planted the opposite bank of the wallow. Not only did I haver wet boots and cloths, but also a mouth full of dirt and grass.
We finally crossed the last of the featherbed. Then it was a final 2.5 km walk up the coast to the station. We only sighted the station when we were 200 metres away. The whole 13.6km walk from Bauer Bay had been in thick fog.
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| At the jump down from the featherbed - only 2.5 km to go |
Once back at station the first thing we did was to unpack all the rubbish we had picked up on the way.
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| The rubbish we picked up on the way back from Bauer bay |
Then it was off to have a nice hot shower followed by a hot cup of tea. All up over the four days we covered 46 km. What a wonderful trip. I cant wait to get off station again.
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