Fitzroy ramble - 6 December 2020 - No14

Today a group of us went walking around the Fitzroy settlement.  It was a fascinating, largely coastal circular walk from the main farmstead to a now derelict bridge that used to carry the road from Goose Green to Stanley and back to the farmstead.   

Fitzroy is close to Bluff Cove where the RFA Sir Galahad and RFA Sir Tristram were bombed during the conflict with Argentina.  The chance was taken to sail the ships to Bluff Cove after a telephone call was made to the Fitzroy settlement to check whether there were any Argentinian forces nearby.    Having seen the topography - even if there weren’t any Argentine forces near Fitzroy - those on the surrounding hills and mountains would, as became all to painfully apparent, have had a clear view.

Today wasn’t about the 1982 conflict though.  Today was about experiencing the unique wildlife and the stunning scenery.  We were fortunate that we had Dawn and Helen were with us.  Dawn is a Falkland Islands registered guide and Helen has developed a keen expertise in the local wildlife.

The vanilla daisy is only found on the Falkland Islands.  It got its name because it smells strongly of vanilla.  I’ve been introduced to and tasted scurvy grass (it has an unexpected citrus taste) and was eaten to ward of scurvy.  I’ve seen tea berries, diddle-dee as well as sea cabbage growing at the edge of a sandy beach. 

Sea Cabbage

Walking is a slow process on the Falklands as there are few defined roads and paths.  You are constantly checking where you are putting your feet.  The ground is often very uneven and you often need to stop just to look at the scenery.

The end of the road?

A large seal (it could have been an elephant seal) watched us walk by.  It was obvious from the shells along the sea shore that there are abundant mussel beds in this area.  There were both pied oystercatchers (easy to spot with their white underbelly) and black oystercatchers.  As we walked along the coast we came across an oystercatcher’s nest - or perhaps better put a stone ledge where two eggs had been laid.

Note the pied oystercatchers on the left

Looking back to the bridge

The oystercatchers now use the derelict bridge as a nesting site

The return to Fitzroy took us along the old Goose Green Stanley road and followed the route of the telephone wires that no doubt carried the call made in 1982 that led to the disaster at Bluff Cove.

The old road

The smoko at Fitzroy could have been a scene from an Enid Blyton book.  It was afternoon tea.  It was only missing the ‘lashings of ginger beer!’  Many a farmsteads has ‘pet lambs’ - the orphans that have been hand reared - and who become family pets.  Many are allowed to live their lives out on the farm.  Fitzroy is home to a flock of over 1,800 sheep a couple of cows and many hens.

Bella provided the milk for our tea.

Bella

Vegetable envy

These slatted fabric fences protect the poly-tunnels from the worst of the wind

The farmstead in a sheltered location and grows some of the best vegetables on the Islands.  I’m sure I’ll be heading back for another look around!