Sun circuit’ing

Tilt half towards the sun, tilt half away from it…..

Captains Log - 0020/ 16th February 2025

We all measure things in different ways. I used to measure days by an outlook calendar. Today I am measuring the exact timing of putting another log on the fire as this little blast from the Southern Ocean passes over us. Not complaining though - dropped a third of a tank into rapidly diminishing concrete tanks of cloud juice. Measure a year on a Ship on a mountain (might be a stretch) overlooking the Tasman Sea and contemplate that into words….seems like a nice way to spend a Sunday morning….let me make a cuppa and get a macadamia nut and white chocolate cookie and get into it.

If you have been watching the metaverse then you probably know all the happenings here. We have figured out the way it all works and we find it rather fun having a digital memory bank of stuff. But for those that are still reading books (me), I will sum the year up without rambling on too much.

All the ticks - One year on a Ship. Transition lifestyle from Launceston to the Bay of Fires (or Binalong Bay - they are the same). Chainsaw whispering. Chook whispering. Vegetable and soil compost whispering. Band room cables into right places whispering. Electric fence whispering (except that one time I leaned against it - that wasn’t a whisper). Short term holiday visitors from around the planet whispering. Tasman Sea swimming no wetsuit conditioning. Whales passing by binocular focusing whispering (our 1960’s binoculars need an upgrade for the next time they pass by). Wake up with a smile on our face every day - no training required.

Michelin Star Choker’ing as rated by Toolla.

It hasn’t been all beer and skittles of course. Every Ship navigates different conditions and we have had our share of storms. The winds come from all the points on the compass at different speeds. But it helps to have a strong structure and crew to bunker down when needed - we have that.

Unless you missed it, The Bay of Fires just got the Willy Wonker Golden Ticket from Tourism Australia when the department of discovering Australia’s Best Beach chose The Bay of Fires, Tasmania as Australia’s best beach. I mean technically it is a stretch of many beaches, but we will take it regardless. Thanks. Last time I was close to something somewhat famous was when the Chantoosies came and stayed at our house in Launceston - that’s another story though. How does one get the gig of “ranking” Australia’s best beach? Tough job but someone has to do it. As a result of this OAM of Beaches, we have been enjoying our most recent guests stays a lot lately - it is quite cool being able to give tips to folk that have never been to our neck of the woods, or Tasmania (in a lot of cases - even Australia) before. We have a new level of pride in presenting what lies before them.

Willy Wonker Golden Ticket!

It really is as amazing as words allow me to portray on the East Coast of Tasmania. We seem to be living in this amazing bubble of defined seasons which changes the landscape sometimes hourly. After a year here, we have followed the lives of the resident wallabies, kookaburras, magpies, parrots, wrens (the list goes on) as well as the incredible 27 hectares of coastal forest which has it’s own life that we hardly see past those tracks and into the dense vegetation (although a few Tiger snakes has made us quite comfortable to let them have their forest if they let us have our cleared area in it - so far this deal is working). We have loved swimming in Grants Lagoon during that one in five year time when it is opened to the Tasman Sea - floating from the bridge to the ocean and parkouring the rocks in the rapids at the end. Diving into the waves. Soaking up the sun. I have discovered the cure for sitting still and eating rubbish - carry wood up 16 stairs twice a week in Winter…..I’d say I have dropped around 15KG. Motors are good too - Yee Ole John Deere is getting a hammering but with a few nuts and bolts being replaced with fencing wire, it is still going strong. Despite one of the wheels falling off, the CB Moto 500 chariot of Gods is an excellent way to do a recce of the tracks around the 27 hectares (and you are high up if one of those Tigers are sunbaking). Every now and again I hop on the electric skateboard and take it for a spin on the bush tracks - good for balance and challenging navigation - haven’t fallen off ever. Chainsaws - my scalpel for warmth.

Found the end of the rainbow…..it’s just outside our lounge room window.

Debi and I are still in the shipping world - it’s like the Hotel California (you can come anytime, but you can never leave). You will find Debi on the phone during the day explaining to a cubicle worker why it’s just not good enough - you need a good navigator for moving stuff around the world - The Debstar is the best. Me on the other hand has slipped into “Consultant” land. This means I don’t have to wear suits anymore and I have seriously considered buying a sports car. “Shipping on The Ship” - seems like a cool tee shirt.

The next star circuit is exciting as we are no longer newbies wondering what a Westerly 120KM wind gust feels like. We have a list of wistful projects for the next twelve months, no doubt some or all of them will come to pass. I am particularly looking forward to building (with others) the temple of Glasshouse that will be the water catchment for the tank to gravity feed the vege beds and chooks - the sooner the better!

Our accommodation has been very successful for what is really a new venture pulled together by a couple of dusty shipping folk. We must be doing something right though as we have been pretty much booked out since Christmas, although the “season” has changed and bookings are slowing down as the thin blooded look at weather maps. We will be convincing them that a fire, a flannelette shirt, a beanie and a wee dram of Tasmanian whisky is the cure to that misconception. All of our guests have given us the Michelin Star equivalent of accommodation - a five star review appears on Air BNB or Google and if not, it is written in the guest book. It is great to see so many smiling relaxed faces here - if they enjoy it, we do as well (no one has not enjoyed it to date).

Which segway’s nicely into the “offer".

Now that the white MG’s (someone at MG did a great deal with the rental companies down here) are thinning out and interstate numberplates are the trend, it is A LOT quieter down here. You can choose a beach and pretty much have it for yourself. Grants Lagoon has closed again, so you missed that one sorry. Whilst there is a Southerly today and the fire is on, the weather gurus tell us it will be 26 degrees next Saturday and hardly a cloud in the sky for the rest of the week. A somewhat controversial warming current off the coast shows continuing warm Tasman Sea. Tomatoes, potatoes, egg plant, onions, zucchinis, more tomatoes, every herb you could think of, more potatoes and eggs are all in harvest stage - we literarily give a box of veges and herbs to our guests as they are leaving for their next meal. Every meal here has tomatoes….and potatoes….and more tomatoes.

We have a couple of ideas.

In short it is two nights away for two couples. Two separate rooms with own bathrooms. Use of the communal area with Deep South Ales, Tasmanian Whisky and Priory Ridge wines (for purchase). Smokeless fire pit. Overlooking the wallabies and the forest to the Tasman Sea. We will cook breakfast and make coffees for you, or supply the fridge downstairs so you can do it yourself. Early check in, late check out.

The rooms are currently on Air BNB for A$280.00 per night. In this (not for Air BNB) offer, we charge A$600.00 for the two nights (plus A$160.00 for cleaning and laundry) - includes breakfast and coffee’s both days - so total of A$780.00 for a two couples escape. Bring your parents, cousins or mates - escape and unwind.

The second offer is basically the same but you buy it for someone who is amazing. It could be an employee of the month, a friend’s special birthday, conference between CFO and CEO with wives or anything really - basically a fancy gift card, but for awesome people.

Drop us an email at thecaptain@theship.au and we will work it all out with you.

It has been a nice morning reflecting on the past year as well as looking into the future somewhat. Debi and I pinch ourselves each morning when we have our coffee overlooking the forest to the Tasman Sea with wallabies munching away on the front lawn. We hope to see you soon.

Thank you for reading my ramblings again – keep safe and see you next time.