The Octopus Islands

The Octopus Islands

”I’m heading to Octopus”, people say. It’s not exactly true, though. The group of small islands are called the Octopus Islands but the waterly bits are Waiatt Bay.

Why do boaters like this place so much? I think it’s because there are quite a few small nooks for anchoring, the shoreline and islands are easy to land on for a walk, and there are hiking trails. More on the trails later.

My favorite spot is a rundown shack on one of the small islands.

Passing boats have left driftwood art as mementos of their presence for decades. It’s a different experience every time we visit because new contributions arrive and the oldest are retired.

Ann and Peter look for their contribution.
Raffi investigates some of the retired pieces.
This is new, at least to me: names and dates on bottles.
Wisdom seems to like it here.

Yesterday, when the temperature hit 90 degrees, we took a four mile round-trip hike to Newton Lake to go swimming. The swim was appreciated after the steep 600 foot climb to the lake. Peter, Ann, and Raffi, who you last saw at Nimmo Bay, joined us.

The trail passes Small Inlet before turning uphill.
Partway up the hill to the lake.
Newton Lake
Mary Anne and Peter prepare to swim.
Raffi is not so sure.
Ann waited on shore.
Genius idea of the day: Ann repaired my broken Teva using two dog poop bags.
Hiking and swimming done, we prepare to return to Étude.

6 thoughts on “The Octopus Islands”
  1. Beautiful! Glad you’re getting your share of the heat!
    It looks blissful! The driftwood shack reminded me of my home.
    (I also always have to look for the last thing I left here!)
    There’s something interesting about octopi, but I can’t put my finger on it.
    Maybe I’ll google them tomorrow! Love, MEB

    1. There are a zillion things that are interesting about octopuses (the plural is not what most think it is). Each tentacle has its own “brain” and can act somewhat independently with a central brain giving overall direction. How to they match color to their surroundings when they only see in black and white? We can move because our muscles pull against our bones. Octopuses have no bones. How can they move at all?

  2. Agree with MB, shack reminds me of our basement. Our kids loath us for the possibility of leaving them with it!
    file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/dd/13/0A70E2C0-E950-436C-9AC7-D3E667EF5157/IMG_0181.jpg

  3. At least the clutter of the cabin is in the fresh air…..no bad smells.
    You all earned that swim in the pristine lake , after a 4 mile hike!
    B. 🥰

  4. Lovely spots. Looks like a good place to spend the next 4 years. By the looks of the cabin, the boating visitors must find a good supply of mushrooms in the forest to, er, enhance their creativity.

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