The final leg of our trip was from Preservation Island across Banks Strait to Little Musselroe Bay at the North West tip of Tasmania. I awoke early, and sprang out of bed in the knowledge that just 40km separated us from our final destination and an end to a fortnight’s marathon paddle and a year’s worth of relentless training and preparation.We were all anxious to get on the water, and with the wind behind us we set off just after 8am. With renewed energy, we set a cracking pace, and as we rounded the western tip of Clarke Island, Tasmania came into view for the first time. Despite the obvious excitement of seeing our final destination, we were very much aware of the reputation of Banks Strait as a rough and dangerous stretch of water. With our focus solely on the land mass ahead of us, we quite quickly became separated from Peter and did not see him again until we were within five kilometres of Little Musselroe Bay.
With only a mild north easterly and a well timed turn of the tide to contend with, we made the final crossing in good time, and it was shortly after 3pm that we pulled on to the beach at Little Musselroe Bay in Tasmania. It was almost anti-climatic as we pulled the kayak up the deserted beach for the last time. I don’t really know what I had been expecting, but it felt as though the immense effort of having crossed Bass Strait deserved a greater reception. But, we had made it. There were casual congratulations all round, followed by a refreshing and well deserved swim.
The two hours spent waiting for the ‘retrieval team’ was spent lazing around in the sun and reflecting on the journey. It is difficult to describe the emotion of having achieved something for which we had spent so much time training and preparing, something that many regarded as impossible or reckless. Relief? Contentment? Satisfaction? I’m not sure. For now, we were just happy not to have to get back in that kayak.
By Myles Redward & Nick Lightfoot