So after a few hours we were on the ferry, the only vehicle, being treated to some dolphins skipping past. The tide being low, the barge touched the bottom a couple times on the way over and landed us on a natural sand landing. We drove up the dirt road that is only a four wheel drive track past the 50 acres of common land (being mowed round the gums) The island apparently has around 40 odd 1/2 acre sections, but only about 10 have been built on I think. There is a small resort down the other end of the island, the owner looks after sick and injured Wallabies as a hobby.There is an island population of 'Pretty face Wallabies' and another pair of kangaroos.. we only met cocoa.
On arriving at Laurie and Colleens lovely island home, there were quite a few of these beautiful wee animals wandering between the houses..of which on the inside harbour side, there are only 3. We got a tour of the garden, sporting lovely paths featuring Lauries and Colleens mosaic tiling handiwork..fish and seahorses and other designs.
We came across an envious array of edibles, Feijoa trees, Paw paws, Pineapples, Limes, kaffir Lime, Coffee trees (this had me almost in seventh heaven imagining fresh roasted coffee as they also have a small hand tumble roaster...mmmm), passionfruit ( a yellow variety thats absolutely delicious.)
We kicked back on the deck looking out over the harbour while Laurie fired up the Pizza Oven which he loves to cook in, and not just Pizzas, he put in a piece of Kid to roast along with potatoes, I made Vegie bean burgers to cook in there.
Laurie and Colleen have spent the last 8 years building their house as they can and have made a wonderful job thus far, as they still have some finishing to do..gibstopping etc. The Wallabies and a bush turkey cruised in for their nightly treats from the neighbours next door..pellets their neighbours keep in bags under the house.
Sunday a beautiful day..breakfast on the deck and more wallabies, now not so timid of the strange visitors..us! As luck would have it the only male kangaroo Cocoa cruised on up for breakfast, and also visited us up on the deck..Bevin being very wary of him as Greg next door told him he liked to play and box. After brekky Bevin and Laurie went down to plant the fig tree we'd bought over on a trailer along with a spa pool..not destined to be a heated one in this climate. I meantime was splitting pineapples sprouts and replanting them ..all too easy but hellishly hot work so when Bevin yelled out "Come down here" and upon looking down saw the pair of them lolling in the tide, I was on my way as fast as I could manage, not cold but oh so refreshing. They told me a large loggerhead turtle was swimming around them, so we floated round waiting for him to come up..he swam off through the mangroves so didn't get to see him. We went for a drive to the other end of the island and back and decided if we managed to win Lotto we would definitely buy ourselves a half acre of this island paradise for 160 thou.. not bad really we thought.
Time came all to soon to head back on the barge to Australia ..hahaha we weren't so far away at all but for a wee time it seemed like we were. It was definitely a peaceful serene beautiful little island , thanks very much to Laurie for sharing his and Colleens wee slice of Paradise..
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