Blacksmith beach (Or Pelican, we're not quite sure which). The very end of the land you can see in the distance is the tip of Redhead beach which we visited last week - this is a bit further down the coast. ... and that's down the other end of the beach to the right.
A rather bedraggled dragon fly affording some entertainment, and then, some Very Fresh Fish in Abundance. These are the 'Australian Salmon'.
Someone pretending he's caught a nice piece of fish off his own bat... quite convincing, really.
FIsh Slapping Techniques demonstrated.
... and later that evening... Yum, Australian salmon Sashimi...
Must share a little of the LOVELY day we’ve had today with you, we’re just droopy with delight – and it’s only 8:30 (well we may be a tad droopy with copious quantities of white wine as well but mainly delight, I’m sure).
Actually the morning was once again very pedestrian, we went to the library, went to the fish market (got some ocean jackets), went to the supermarket, stocked up, came back, made the Non a quite extra ham sandwich and loaded up the car ( we took the leftover cucumber sandwiched from yesterday for us – most of them were still quite reasonable… odd exception here and there, we found later). It was gone noon when we set out on our ‘explore’… this time went down past Redhead beach to one called ‘Blacksmith’, had our picnic on the beach, chilled out, then took a 45 minute walk or so down to the end of it. As usual, it was almost deserted… a few surfers who kept themselves the to waves, a few dogs having a good old frisk with their owners in tow, and the odd mad fisherman doing very odd things with a flounder in the shallows (I was going to ask what was going on but actually suddenly became aware that there was a distinct possibility that he was stark raving mad so desisted). At the very end of the beach we came across a group of three fishermen with TONS (and I mean tons in the literal sense, not just to say ‘lots’) of fish they’d obviously just landed and were hauling into crates and putting into trucks on the sand. We looked, we ooed and aaahed, they were all the same type of fish. Stacks and stacks of them. About the length of an adult forearm and a bit, good and fat and heavy. I asked what they were, and they said, Salmon. I asked, are you selling any here? They said – nah – but if you want some, take a couple, you’re welcome. The what?? No no, we’ll pay – the fish looked fantastic and we were only too glad to give them some cash but they’d none of it – so we waltzed off back down the beach with this huge thing in tow.
Afterwards we found out that it’s not salmon as we know it – it’s what’s called Australian salmon (which as usual with things that are Australian) has nothing to do with its namesake. The flesh is very much like tuna or Bonito – and we got home and had it sashimi with a bowl of rice – absolutely divine – much, much better than salmon. Well, I guess the insane degree of freshness might have had something to do with it. But we looked it up and as usual with blue fish it’s much reviled, no-one wants it (which is no doubt why we’ve never seen it at the fishmonger’s), and it’s generally either smoked or canned to ‘enhance the flavour’. (!!!) Well, all I can say is, people are simply mad. It’s gorgeous. Ian fried a tiny bit just to see what it was like and that was melt-in-the-mouth lovely as well, we’ve got he other half of the fish to have fried tomorrow, too. Oh, the bliss.
Well, that was about it. Good bit of walking about, nice bit of beach stroll, finished off with lots of booze and fresh-as-you-like, free-as-you-like Australian fish supper. It might get better than this but I can’t quite imagine it. Hope you’re all doing very well out there and having just as much fun,
Nancy xxxx
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