Up
early as departure was timed for 8 am with full crew on board,Garth and Rod to
follow in Solquest. Required at Sarah Island at 9 to miss the cruise boat
crowds.
Crew arrived on time except for Nick, he had left something behind.
Cast off about ten minutes behind. No big deal.
Out of the harbour with Solquest leading, us warming the engines up.
Just about to rev up and the ever watchful Gilly says "that would make a good shot can we follow for a bit" Ok Gill so we take her steaming along with the mist shrouded hills in the background.They need a certain amount of film each day and Gilly likes to start early.
That accomplished we took off for the island ,slowing every now and then to film the size of it as it grows on the horizon, it is 16 miles from Strahan.
Arrive roughly on time and tie up to the old cruise boats jetty,Not much water there,When the boats got larger the logs and rocks on the bottom used to cause havoc with their props and shafts.I can remember the bent ones sent back for repair.
The new jetty on the inside of the island solved the problem.I have a track into the old one on my plotter which seems to work ok.
Solquest will have to use Trevor Norton's mooring when she arrives.
Our guide Kiah is waiting on the jetty, I think she welcomed the chance to stay a night on the island alone .I forgot to ask her if there were any ghosts there.
She told us she would fill the time in by doing some weeding.It is unbelievable,the Parks budget allows for the fuel for their vessel to do one trip a year to the island.No wonder the place is looking tired! The blackberries are taking over again and the signs almost unreadable.There was a recent storm which damaged the lower walkway,now closed.She said it was to be fixed next week .
I had walked to the other end of the island before so Ben and I asked her if it was ok for us to go.She said yes but it is a bit overgrown.Parks want it closed.Too much trouble.Amazing to me as it really is an interesting walk.You do not appreciate the size of the island until you walk it.
They had the signal station there and the gardener built his cottage on a little bank with a view to the Gordon River..By now the day had brightened up and the view was excellent.There are a few tracks going down to the little coves along the main one.Went down one for a look with the Man ferns towering above us.
By now my long pants were sopping as the ferns were still wet from the night before's rain.
Ben was a bit better off in shorts but the blackberries were a problem for him.No leeches yet.
Maybe the Greenies ought to take over and fix it all up.But they have just had their chance and nothing happened.
Just then the Lady Jane Franklin showed up.First the throb of the engines and then the loud speakers shattered the silence,Gary will be pleased we said.
We reached the other end which has a high bank down to the point,might give that a miss we decided as it would be a good climb to get back up and we could see Solquest approaching.Ben would be required to get Captain Garth ashore to put in an appearance and film the arrival and departure of the farmers.We do not always film the events in their sequence.
We returned to the boat only got off the track a couple of times going back.Had a look at the humpy used by the staff.Rough but adequate,it would be noisy when raining.The film crew going about their business .They have infinite patience ,I get bored quickly watching them,I guess they are weighing up the best way to film each piece,they probably would be the same watching me make something at work on the lathe.
By now the crowds were swarming over the island,guides calling their spiel.
After a while they all got back on the boat and throbbed off.
The two vessels pass in the entrance of the river,so half an hour of peace.
We finished up with the arrival and departure scenes.The farmers back on Solquest and crew on Masterpiece.Garth left for the river we had a lazy lunch at the jetty .We aimed to catch up later.
Caught up about the landing and filmed alongside for a while,Solquest's crew now expert at looking like they are doing things when they are really not.
Pulled up and transferred my crew to her for some onboard shots.They have to remember where they were to keep a bit of continuity in the show.
Ben ,Toby and I dropped back a bit to keep out of sight.Kaih had told us there were some old lime kilns near the limestone reach.Just look for a little cove on your Starboard hand going up.There is a short track about a hundred meters where they are.
We had a good look but could not find them.Ben and Toby put the dinghy in and had a closer look.They decided to go ashore at one spot,bad idea,Toby went up to his knees in mud!
Gave it away eventually ,need more info.
Steamed up to the landing at St Johns falls after being warned off while Solquest was filmed docking.Rod has nearly trained the farmers to tie the boat up,he is banished below decks when filming.
Swapped places ,us alongside and Solquest rafted up.
Most had not been here before so they were suitably impressed I think.
Then the fun started first Nick and Mathew jumped in.Not for long the water was only 13 degrees.
Nick came out like a seal straight up onto the seaplane pontoon.Mathew braved it a bot longer.
Later on Gilly and Gary did the same,could not persuade Josh to go in,I am a queenslander he kept saying.
Things settled down ,had a cook up on Solquest,Toungue and Oxtail from Granville.
Got dinner late after watching what was going on next door.
Into bed, we have a big day tomorrow.
Crew arrived on time except for Nick, he had left something behind.
Cast off about ten minutes behind. No big deal.
Out of the harbour with Solquest leading, us warming the engines up.
Just about to rev up and the ever watchful Gilly says "that would make a good shot can we follow for a bit" Ok Gill so we take her steaming along with the mist shrouded hills in the background.They need a certain amount of film each day and Gilly likes to start early.
That accomplished we took off for the island ,slowing every now and then to film the size of it as it grows on the horizon, it is 16 miles from Strahan.
Arrive roughly on time and tie up to the old cruise boats jetty,Not much water there,When the boats got larger the logs and rocks on the bottom used to cause havoc with their props and shafts.I can remember the bent ones sent back for repair.
The new jetty on the inside of the island solved the problem.I have a track into the old one on my plotter which seems to work ok.
Solquest will have to use Trevor Norton's mooring when she arrives.
Our guide Kiah is waiting on the jetty, I think she welcomed the chance to stay a night on the island alone .I forgot to ask her if there were any ghosts there.
She told us she would fill the time in by doing some weeding.It is unbelievable,the Parks budget allows for the fuel for their vessel to do one trip a year to the island.No wonder the place is looking tired! The blackberries are taking over again and the signs almost unreadable.There was a recent storm which damaged the lower walkway,now closed.She said it was to be fixed next week .
I had walked to the other end of the island before so Ben and I asked her if it was ok for us to go.She said yes but it is a bit overgrown.Parks want it closed.Too much trouble.Amazing to me as it really is an interesting walk.You do not appreciate the size of the island until you walk it.
They had the signal station there and the gardener built his cottage on a little bank with a view to the Gordon River..By now the day had brightened up and the view was excellent.There are a few tracks going down to the little coves along the main one.Went down one for a look with the Man ferns towering above us.
By now my long pants were sopping as the ferns were still wet from the night before's rain.
Ben was a bit better off in shorts but the blackberries were a problem for him.No leeches yet.
Maybe the Greenies ought to take over and fix it all up.But they have just had their chance and nothing happened.
Just then the Lady Jane Franklin showed up.First the throb of the engines and then the loud speakers shattered the silence,Gary will be pleased we said.
We reached the other end which has a high bank down to the point,might give that a miss we decided as it would be a good climb to get back up and we could see Solquest approaching.Ben would be required to get Captain Garth ashore to put in an appearance and film the arrival and departure of the farmers.We do not always film the events in their sequence.
We returned to the boat only got off the track a couple of times going back.Had a look at the humpy used by the staff.Rough but adequate,it would be noisy when raining.The film crew going about their business .They have infinite patience ,I get bored quickly watching them,I guess they are weighing up the best way to film each piece,they probably would be the same watching me make something at work on the lathe.
By now the crowds were swarming over the island,guides calling their spiel.
After a while they all got back on the boat and throbbed off.
The two vessels pass in the entrance of the river,so half an hour of peace.
We finished up with the arrival and departure scenes.The farmers back on Solquest and crew on Masterpiece.Garth left for the river we had a lazy lunch at the jetty .We aimed to catch up later.
Caught up about the landing and filmed alongside for a while,Solquest's crew now expert at looking like they are doing things when they are really not.
Pulled up and transferred my crew to her for some onboard shots.They have to remember where they were to keep a bit of continuity in the show.
Ben ,Toby and I dropped back a bit to keep out of sight.Kaih had told us there were some old lime kilns near the limestone reach.Just look for a little cove on your Starboard hand going up.There is a short track about a hundred meters where they are.
We had a good look but could not find them.Ben and Toby put the dinghy in and had a closer look.They decided to go ashore at one spot,bad idea,Toby went up to his knees in mud!
Gave it away eventually ,need more info.
Steamed up to the landing at St Johns falls after being warned off while Solquest was filmed docking.Rod has nearly trained the farmers to tie the boat up,he is banished below decks when filming.
Swapped places ,us alongside and Solquest rafted up.
Most had not been here before so they were suitably impressed I think.
Then the fun started first Nick and Mathew jumped in.Not for long the water was only 13 degrees.
Nick came out like a seal straight up onto the seaplane pontoon.Mathew braved it a bot longer.
Later on Gilly and Gary did the same,could not persuade Josh to go in,I am a queenslander he kept saying.
Things settled down ,had a cook up on Solquest,Toungue and Oxtail from Granville.
Got dinner late after watching what was going on next door.
Into bed, we have a big day tomorrow.
 |
| Gardeners cottage. He picked a nice place away from the mob. |
 |
| I hope we do not hit a snag! |
 |
| Have to bleep this one Gary. |
 |
| Cook up on next door. |
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