KI Day 3

Back to having Kevin as our driver today. 8 am start and all are on time. Fair bit if cloud cover and cool so doubt it will get to the 25 or so promised. We head off to the Flinders Chase National Park and as it was about a 90 minute drive we decide it is time to stop at the visitors centre and have a cuppa, then back on the coach to the spectacular Remarkable Rocks. Had a really good wander and clamber all over them. Each person imagined something else from all the different shaped rocks which are the same type if rock as Eyre's Rock, or Uluru if I am forced to be politically correct. Then a quick photo stop at Cape du Couedic Lighthouse which was built of beautiful sandstone in 1906. The top light area was being repainted and the 2 fellows high atop the light house swinging on ropes and scaffolding had better be paid a lot of money as to do the job as you wouldn't get me up there! Then on to Admirals Arch where we saw heaps(don't know what a large group of seals is called... Herd???.) anyway we saw lots of New Zealand fur seals, mainly lazing about on the rocks below. Did you know that seals are in the ocean for 3 days hunting for food the whole time, and then 3 days back on land, lazing about and digesting all their food? As they eat the likes of crayfish and other shellfish whole, they also swallow about 6 or so rocks which crash about their stomachs helping smash up the cray shells, etc. and what doesn't get broken down sufficiently to pass through them gets regurgitated back up, but the rocks will stay inside them forever. I've heard about people having rocks in their head but never about seals having rocks in their gut. Kevin explained it much more scientifically than that, but that's my version of events.
As we are doing well for time we sneak in an extra visit that isn't on our itinerary, and we head to the Emu Ridge Eucalyptus place. Very interesting how the business came into being, and heaps of products on sale in their store. Then on to Andermel Marron farm for lunch. This place is one of the largest best practice Marron farms in Australia, or at least that's what they tell us. A Marron is a step down from a crayfish and a big step up from a yabbie. We had a lovely Marron lunch and citrus tart dessert. Then a demonstration explaining how the Marron are farmed, plus the compulsory bush tucker produce tasting and  Two Wheeler Creek wine tasting!
Back on the coach and we are then off to a working studio and art gallery of Neil 'Shep' Sheppard at Shep's Studio. We got to see him slap oil paint in a canvas and in about 10 minutes create a painting. Not really to my taste and certainly not to my budget. Apparently he is award winning, but no one is saying which award and who decides the awards...
Then, back into Kingscote where we have half an hour to have a wander through the Main Street which is about 300 metres long. Back to the hotel  where there is just enough time for a much needed cuppa and then off to dinner where I had a lovely plate of salt and pepper prawns. No room for dessert but it was nice to sit after dinner with a few from my gaggle and simply chat over a second glass of wine. Then back to the room and pack the case ready for tomorrow's departure.
What was really nice after our main meal, was one of the gaggle did a little speech to thank me for looking after them all so well and ensuring that they had a great time....... Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh shucks, sigh.... So that was a very nice end to our evening and trip.
Back to civilization in the morning. Not looking forward to having to cook for myself again, but needs must.