Long Harry – East Ruggedy, 9.9 km

Thursday, February 14: Rainy and windy overnight, a couple of light showers during the day

GPS Tour
Youtube video

East Ruggedy Beach and Sand Dunes. Hand-held panorama

Slept in until 8:30 this morning and quickly had breakfast and was packed and underway. Long Harry Hut has moved from its position on the old map to a position more to the east. From approximately its old site I could see the new hut but was unable to photograph it, as the camera was packed into the rucksack (as was most other stuff because of the rain). Track was in reasonable condition, then it was on to the unnamed beach, but had a drink of saline before venturing out onto the rocks – this time boulder-sized – seems to be the roughest part of the island and the wind was howling all the time. Managed to avoid leaving the rocks prematurely (as I had been warned in Oban) and the exit was clearly marked at the end. Drank the remains of the saline water here and collected half a bottle of saltwater before heading up the hill.

From now on it was a fairly steady but very muddy ascent to a lookout where I attempted a hand-held panorama of East Ruggedy Beach, the dunes, Ruggedy Point and the Ruggedy Islands but was almost blown off my feet doing so. Then the descent to Ruggedy Stream and across the stream into the sand dunes. Markings were sufficient to find the way, but the going was tough. I could see some footprints in the sand but couldn’t make much sense of them – the wet sand from this morning had been disturbed and the tracks seemed to go in both directions.

On reaching the hut found it occupied with a foursome of hunters and a physiotherapist from Sydney, Andrew, who was photographing the area, and it was his footprints that I had seen. Spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with two of the guys who had stayed back to consume their beer, and the photographer. Washed the sox and boots. Had lunch of prunes, salami and the rest of the first packet of crackers while it rained on and off.

Fairly late in the afternoon, Andrew had his dinner and packed his stuff; just before 7:00 his helicopter arrived and he was gone. A hunting party consisting of the greyish bloke and the woman (Donna) returned with the rear end of a deer. I had my dinner – the last packet of instant noodles, the remainder of the mixed veg and half a cup of rice cooked in plenty of water. Consistency was slightly better, as the rice had been washed beforehand, and with one cup of saltwater everything tasted just fine.

All the hunters decided on taking an evening/night raid and loaded up (guy with distinctive dental crown had his gun with him) and the other balding guy with a beard and country accent intended first on some scuba diving and then on collecting paua. Off they went.

They weren’t back until 11:00, during which time I had first made myself comfortable by the fire, and then gone to bed. Made no difference to the returning party, however. Wood had to be chopped, paua fried, beer drunk and cards played to the early hours of the morning.

When I return I will see about filing a complaint to the DoC about these people. They acted as if they owned the place. As for hunters, if they’d wanted to hunt, then go ahead, but without the booze. Not that I would complain to guys with knives and guns.