Where Everybody Knows Your Name

"There may be no secrets in small towns, but there are no strangers either" R.A. Mathis

After 5 days on Flinders Island we have well and truly settled in. As there are only 800 people or so on the Island, it does not take long to get to know the locals. Staying in the only pub in town for three nights also helps as most locals either work there or drink there - It seems we are on a first name basis with most and it kinda feels like we in an episode the ABC show Rosehaven.

We had a great visit with Kim and Spud from Lady Barron today (we found out where they lived after bumping into their niece working at the general store). Kim and Spud have done numerous stints on Deal Island and we left their house with a wealth of info about the island, a bounty from their vegie garden, a jar of home-made relish and some freshly caught flathead fillets.

We also checked out the local museum today which was actually really cool - Dan had stayed up to 2am last night reading a memoir written by an old local so was all over it.

On Friday, the wind had died down so we decided to take the opportunity to hike up Mount Strelzelecki which peaks at 750m - the hike starts at 20m above sea level so it was a bit of a challenge. The views at the top were incredible but it will be a few days yet until we can walk without pain.

Yesterday we managed to secure a ticket to the Local Long Lunch which was put together by a couple of Flinders Island chefs and home cooks. We feasted on cray, whiting, abalone, wallaby, smoked lamb and more. It was a delicious! We have also eaten very well at the Whitemark Wharf restaurant which has recently been built and does some pretty awesome food. After lunch we headed north to Palana where we will be based until Tuesday. We are in a lovely beach house looking out over Bass Straight with wallabies, wombats and echidnas on the front lawn in the evening.

We have had word today that we should be leaving for Deal Island on Tuesday. A couple of last minute purchases tomorrow and hopefully we will be off, weather dependant.