The recent storm has washed away the foreshore and exposed the walking path. It was good to see contractors repairing the damage before the holiday makers arrive. But are constructed sea walls to become more common as our bay is impacted by climate change?

View from St Leonards Pier

 

It was a gorgeous morning for our Saturday ride. We cycled around the Bellarine including along the St Leonards Pier to check out the locals fishing for squid.
The black ink splats decorating the pier was evidence of their success

Given today’s gale force Northerly winds there were few birds flying about. On a sandbar a flock of shags (cormorants) were huddled together all facing into the wind.

Shags face into strong Northerly wind

Storm clouds forming

Years ago I attended an interesting lecture by a meteorologist from the bureau focused on how to predict storms. He explained that one needs to look out for cumulus clouds whose shape changes so that their upper side forms an anvil shape. On a recent beach walk on the Bellarine coastline this cloud pattern was evident – storm clouds were forming.

 

Over the summer months, Victoria’s traffic hot spots transfer from its cities to its seaside towns along the coast.  The early morning rush is usually around the popular boat ramps.  The public ramp at St Leonards is always busy due to its close proximity to good whiting, flathead and snapper fishing grounds.  The last hour of the ebb tide is traditionally the best time for catching whiting.  Time is of the essence as fishermen seek to maximise the time spent in the water before the tide turns, the wind changes and/or the sea blows up.

St Leonards boat ramp

Hence boaties using these ramps require advanced trailer backing and boat launching skills.  This ramp has three lanes and tempers can become frayed if people take too long launching or recovering their boats or lose control of their boat during either process.

Fish cleaning station beside boat ramp

A fish cleaning station is provided beside the ramp which is a great extra feature. Consequently the St Leonards ramp carpark is always overflowing at the weekend during the summer and there are always a few pelicans waiting patiently nearby for their next feed.

Pelicans waiting for their feast

Whenever we see crested terns at the beaches along the Bellarine they are always gathered together in a large flock, sometimes with additional sea birds.

Crested terns perched on rocks at Pt George

Crested terns gather on fishing boat at St Leonards

Portarlington 4th annual mussel festival was a hit with locals, campers and day visitors. The seaside town turned on a ripper summer’s day for the event. Hundreds of kilos of mussel were consumed in recipes from simple to spicy and exotic.

The Enterprise was busy taking passengers on one hour sails and sunset cruises. She looked very stately under sail on Port Phillip Bay.

Enterprise under sail with You Yangs in background

The main beach was crowded with families enjoying the hot summer day. The pier was packed with mussel boats and luxury cruisers here for the festival. Children had fun jumping from the pier into the cool water below.

View of Portarlington Pier from bluff	Crowded Portarlington beach
Portarlington Pier	Portarlington Mussel Festival logo

Today’s strong north-easterly winds have created beach conditions more typical of the surf than the bay.  These winds churn up the sand making the sea into a gritty, brown slurry.  Old salts claim wisely that you won’t catch fish when the wind’s in the NE. Although with 30+ temperatures the water was still the coolest place to be.  Children camping at Indented Head had fun with their boogie boards or surfboards.  Meanwhile the fleet of tinnies stayed at anchor as for the dads – there’d be no fishing today.

Tinnies at Indented Head

The other unhappy group was of the feathered variety. For no fishing meant no leftovers – the expanding flock of pelicans and seagulls would also miss out on their usual feast today.

Pelicans & gulls waiting for their next feed

The sea is a tough teacher.  A few young men, new to boating, learned the hard way not to leave their boat on anchor overnight when the wind is in the North East.  They returned this morning to find it swamped and the motor shaft broken.

Waves swamp boat at Indented Head

The recent rains have been welcomed by farmers and contributed to good harvests on the Bellarine Peninsula.  The countryside is dotted with the large hay rolls awaiting collection and wheat fields are ready for the harvester.

Hay rolls on Bellarine

Wheat field ready for harvesting

Mr P's flourishing veggie garden

Even in the backyards of many locals, the veggies are doing well.

At low tide it is possible to discover all sorts of amazing creatures hiding amongst the rocks and seaweed or just lolling about in the shallows.

• yummy squid – start their lives inside these squid eggs
• yucky jellyfish or sea jellies – are increasingly common in our bay and are widely despised
• dangerous blue ringed octopus – hiding out during the day, this creature should not be handled if discovered. Its bite can be fatal and first aid using a compression bandage should be applied ASAP and medical aid sought immediately.

Squid eggs

Jellyfish

Rockpool rambling is a fun summer pastime and with sturdy footwear and a little common sense – loads of fun for all the family.