Enjoying the quiet pace

Wednesday had a lazy day, apart from my usual animal chores.  When I went to feed them after lunch found one Bantam dead, it didn't look well when they left so when I phoned was told to bury it under the artichoke bush!! Oh well that's farm life I guess.
Thursday was really windy so was good for getting washing dry, it has been cold by my standards and I still need winter type clothes.  I was going out about 4.30 in the afternoon so tried to fool the fowls by feeding them a little earlier so I could put them to bed earlier than usual but it took some coaxing.  My mail finally caught up with me, I had left Launceston by the time it arrived there so they sent it on to me at Don.
 Friday I rode my bike along the path beside the Don River (though it was low tide so I didn't see much water) to Coles Beach.  There were a few brave swimmers but not me today.  When I arrived home 4 of the Bantams had escaped the area they should be in and I had to persuade them to go back through the small hole in the fence from whence they came!!  Cooked pumpkin soup for dinner, with pumpkin from the garden, I will miss having all these fresh fruit & vegies when I leave next week.  This afternon I sat doing some embroidery for the 1st time in months, not sure where all the spare time I thought I would have goes.


Looks like fun?



Just saw the view before the cloud decended

Saturday was a day for the garden, watering takes a while then I pruned some of the roses.  Peter a Solo CMCA member invited me to his place for a BBQ to celebrate his birthday, his cat's 21st birthday and his farewell from Tassie, his sister Mary is who I climbed Cradle Mountain with.  I will include a few Cradle Mountain photos here now as Mary has given me copies of hers, my camera batteries went flat & I didn't have spares, Oh Bother!!
Sunday I had planned to go to the little Church just up the road but when I checked they didn't have a service this week, I enjoyed listening to a CD from Bal Ram in Hervey Bay.  One of the Bantams has gone broody so is sitting on 4 bantam eggs and 2 guinea fowl eggs, hope she doesn't get confused.  Peter's daughter loaned me a rotary cutter yesterday (I left mine in Melbourne) & I spent the afternoon cutting out bags for Oncology patients to use.  This is one of the ways people who attend the CMCA Rallies help in the communities they meet each year.  Cath loaned me the Barchester Chronicles series on DVD, I have been enjoying watcing these in the evening on the computer.
Monday I did some pruning in the garden this morning, after lunch I rode my bike to the Don Rail Museum and had a ride on the steam train to Coles Beach, much easier than riding my bike.  I was the only passenger so rode up front with the driver.
Tuesday a big washing day as the forecast is wet for the rest of the week, and I leave on Friday.  Mary came to me for lunch, I made salad sandwiches with produce from the garden and Mary brought Hedgehog slice for afters.  I pruned the last rose bush today and hope the exercise results in lots of roses in the summer for Robyn.  Have checked the maps for my next trip which will take me down the West Coast, I am looking forward to getting on the road again, photos are not playing the game today and I have been at the computer long enough.

Housesitting in Don Part II



Would be spectaclar after rain



After a sleep in and a lazy morning, I will continue.  On Thursday we drove to St Columba Falls, a beautiful 10 min walk through Rain Forrest into the highest falls in Tasmania, a drop of 90mtrs had picnic lunch there before visiting the Holy Cow Cafe and Cheese Factory and indulging in REAL ice creams. Had a quick visit to St Helen's on the way to The Bay of Fires, the water was the most amazing colour blue which beckoned for a swim, then we sat on the beach watching the board riders till after 5. 

Friday after talking to locals last night decided against going out to Cape Naturaliste, the roads were not good, so I didn't get to visit Gladstone in Tassie and came back to Scotsdale to stay the night, Therese was heading south so stayed it was such a lovely spot, it was nice to have a travelling companion for a few days.



Any guesses what this is?



Saturday morning I walked through the wetlands behind the camp spot and heard then saw lots of Paddy Melon wallabies then drove up to Bridport.  Had fish & scallops (wasn't specific and got the fishy kind Yuk, not potato ones I was inticipating!!) for lunch.  Then to George Town a place with lots of history, at the Bass & Flinders Centre I climbed aboard a replica of the "Norfolk" and had a rest on the Captain's bed then Ivy the volunteer guide explained the bathroom facilities and I decided it wouldn't be much fun after all!!  Drove out to the Lighthouse and walked around the cliff edge, before camping with others at the Information Centre.

Sunday I attended the Baptist Church and again thought I knew someone.  While having morning tea later realised we had worked together in Gladstone in the late 70's on CWCI Committee for a year, Mary Hawkins is now an accomplished author, a long held dream so look out for her books.  At Low Head the Fog Horn goes off at 12noon, there are only a few working "G" Diaphones left in the world (all done by volunteers).  A powerfull yet eerie sound, likened to the roar of 1,000 elephants.  Visited the Pilot Station Museum then went to the George Town Watch House, a local had made a scale model of the town in pioneering days and there was a DVD of the work started by one woman to tell the story of the convict women and babies in those harsh times.  Then drove to Don which is a suburb of Devenport to housesit for 12 days, I talked with the owners for a few hours then set up camp, it was raining so I got into bed to read.

 Monday  I did some washing early then Robyn showed me round their little farm, I have 5 sheep, 8 guinea fowl, 4 geese and 11 bantams to care for.  There is a vegie patch and an orchard so I will be enjoying eating apples, pears and grapefruit (occassionally) straight from the trees and picking my tomatoes, lettuce etc as needed.  They left about 11 and I began a thorough clean of my little vehicle, I had picked up grease at a car wash bay in St Helen's and walked it on my mats, Napisan did the trick, then I rearranged all the bits behind my seats making better use of the space.  I fed the animals about 2.30 then go again about 5 to put the bantams to bed looking like farmer Joe in my wellington boots as there are snakes about.

Tuesday The sewing machine is getting a workout, I bought a flanelette sheet and Doona cover and had to cut them down to size, then I set about making bags for all my electrcal appliances (which I haven't used at all yet!!) to stop any rattles.  Mary who I walked up Cradle Mountain with invited me to morning tea today and I met her brother, another Motorhomer from Tasmania who will be going to the Rallies at Yarram and Sale that are on my itinerary.  I check the creek each evening in the hope of seeing a Platypus, no luck yet but who knows.

Housesitting in Don

It is nice to be going at a slower pace for a while as my days have been filled to capacity.  While still at the Rally my bowling partners & I spent Sunday morning together, first at the Worship service then the local markets, I bought some f & v along with a Teddy I just couldn't resist for $1.  After lunch Therese & I went looking for the Planetarium we were given directions and walked for half an hour only to find it was back where we started and closed!! 

On Monday 4 of us went to the Planetarium and watched the film on the 'Dawn of the Space Age', after lunch of Tasmanian Salmon on Sourdough Yum! we looked through the new Queen Victoria Museum and I enjoyed the incredible display especially the fauna and birdlife.  There had been a tram running each day from our camp site to the Museum, I kept missing it so decided to wait the 1/2 hour for my 1klm ride (still a big kid) the others walked to their Vans.  I had the benefit of a guided tour of the Tram Museum as a group of Probus people came and I was allowed to join them.  Back at camp we were treated to a BBQ Dinner tonight followed by another concert.

Tuesday and time to leave Launceston, said my goodbye's and drove into town to collect my phone (that's another story) but it is now working properly.  I caught the free Tiger bus around town and visited the National Trust 'Odd Umbrella Shop' built in the 1860's, there was a parasol that was made for a horse among other things.  I found the 'Honey Tasmania' shop and bought blackberry honey. Then I rode the Tiger Bus on the River run and got off to see the old Queen Victoria Museum building that is now an Art Gallery.  Left to drive to Scottsdale for the night where I was to meet up with Therese, I met another Solo at a Lookout who said there was no room, in van parks or free camps so we stayed there the night.  Along with a Korean girl and her mum, they gave us a pkt of noodles each in exchange for hot water, we talked till 9.30 with the daughter translating.

Wednesday I went to look at the Memorial Tree carvings at Ledgerwood then to Branxholm, where Therese spent the night.  This little town has lots of history of the Chinese tin miners and the famous Red Bridge.  On the way out of town I stopped to take a photo, that could have cost me dearly.  I backed into a ditch and with one front wheel off the ground I needed a tow, but a couple of Forrestry workers had me out while I was on the phone to RACT, giving thanks to God for His protection.  We had lunch at the Berry Shop at Moorina of home made soup followed by shared scones and jam.  Camped tonight at the 'Pub in the Paddock' at Pyengama.  Fed the pigs a bottle of (watered down) beer before yes another meal, this time the biggest steak I have ever seen and I enjoyed every mouthfull.

To be continued tomorrow.

Enjoying Inveresk Rally

Well I wasn't too far out when I thought I might be blown away while at Stanley, I stayed the night on the wharf with about 20 other brave campers and experienced the Roaring 40's, there were some dedicated fishermen out on the jetty with waves crashing about them!! I attended Church on Sunday morning, then drove to Green Point via Forrest a pretty drive through farming land. I had a great view at a favourite surfing spot but not even the surfers were out, it was wet and windy again, after dinner I decided to drive to a safer spot and sheltered in Marrawah the night.  The winds still rocked my van all night and on Monday I was told they were about 150+kph.

Monday the sun came out so I took a Cruise up the Arthur River, had a gourmet lunch then walked in the Tarkune Forrest to Warra Falls which are not high but covered in moss and looked spectacular.  Saw tree ferns up to 1,000 years old. Fed White Bellied Sea Eagles and watched Wedge Tail Eagles soaring above us hoping for their dinner.  Drove to the Edge of the World, what a strange feeling to know there is nothing between me and South America.  Decided to stay at Peppermint camp ground in Arthur River for some protection but as is usual in Tasmania the weather had come good.

Tuesday I went to the Tarkune Adventure Camp at Dismal Swamp, the forrest floor is in what's called a sink hole which you can walk down to but I took the slide - twice!! Had to get my money's worth, the second time I was lucky enough to get a ride back up in the staff buggy and not have to walk.  After a Hot Chocolate and lunch I visited the Allendale Gardens, what was a family farm that in 1980 the couple lovingly began turning into acres of gardens of all different kinds with something always in flower and a section of forrest.  I drove to Penguin and camped the night at the surf life saving club.

Wednesday as I had such a great spot I decided to stay another night here so it was time I got the bike off the back.  It was 3k into town and I took what I thought was a bike track to avoid the hill only it ended about 1k along so I walked along the railway line till I met the road again.  Had the best spinach & fetta pastie yet for lunch and checked the op shops and got supplies.  Surprised myself and made it over the hill on the way back.  I walked along the beach and watched the dragon boat teams practicing the water looked so lovely I had a swim about 5pm, it was wonderful.  Thursday no back roads today I came down the highway stopping at Deloraine for washing and sorting the van for my week at Launceston at the CMCA Rally, I collected my new glasses from Specsavers ( had ordered them while in Melbourne with Cath), Telstra still haven't got my phone sorted I left it here 3 weeks ago.  Was greeted at the Rally by Ross, I had met he and Lyn when they were travelling in Qld 2 years ago.  About a minute later Richard was waving at me (he lived near Maryborough till a few years ago) my concerns of not knowing anyone were put to rest.  Happy Hour was at 4pm to then after dinner an official opening by the mayor followed by entertainment which was a great C & W singer Gina Timms.

Friday a lot of the morning was spent learning about LED lighting for the van and changing some of my lights over. then catching up with others I had met on the road or Solo's I had been emailing prior to coming to Tasmania. Played in the Disc Bowls competition with John and Barbara so our team was called the "Tall Stories". Dinner was at the Bowls Club and they did a mighty job for a little club to accomodate so many extras, it was a wait but as one of the last to eat the meals were still delicious.  Only problem was I got the last dessert (4 missed out, I did offer to share my cheesecake).  The local Rock & Roll club came in and some of us danced till 10.30.

Saturday, Rainey bought some new LED lights today, she blew a fuse as one bulb was a wrong fitting so we all learned a lot.  At 11.00 Rainey Therese and I left to spend the out, we visited the Farmers Market (a first for Launceston) where I tried rhubarb ice cream.  Then went to Festivale' a food, wine and entertainment fest (Chefs in photo at Festivale'), we enjoyed tasting (the Tempura Mushrooms were good) and listening to musicians till almost 4.  Back for Happy Hour & I was surprised when called to get a medal for coming 3rd in the Disc Bowls competition.  A quick snack before being entertained by a concert put on by the Tasmanian chapter groups which was lots of fun.

Cradle Mountain Adventure

The Toparies at Railton were amazing, about 50 of them all very creative.  Sheffield had their 25th Anniversary of Murals with lovely artwork all around town. I was picked up on Tuesday morning by Mary for a day at Cradle Mountain.  We left Dove Lake Car Park at 10am to attempt to climb to the top and arrived at the Summit 1545m above sea level at 1.45pm WOW!!  The 1st section to Marion's Lookout said rough & steep and took an hour then some easier walking to our lunch spot at Kitchen Hut before two hours of climbing over large boulders, we had 15mins of Celebrations and Contemplation before coming back down, doing much of the boulders sliding on my bottom.  At Kitchen Hut decided to come back a different way along the Face track and then down via Lake Wilks (a rock face with a chain to hold). Then had to walk the length of Dove Lake which brought us through the Ballroom Forrest (the most exquisite rain forrest I have seen). Wednesday I mostly rested, with short walks so I didn't cease up.  Thursday I left Sheffield and walked the circuit of Leven Canyon, with it's 697 steps.  Friday a quiet day at the Rhododendron Garden at Emu Valley then camped at Sisters Beach, today at Stanley I visited the Highfield Historic site before climbing The Nut, I was tempted to use the Chair Lift but didn't, if I am not blown away in the night tomorrow I am going to The End of the Earth.



Mary "Are we there yet?"





Tranquility at Sisters Beach