TASSIE, YES WE ARE STILL HERE AND WILL BE FOR A LONG TIME IT SEEMS!

Any thoughts of a quick run through the “Holiday Isle” have been forgotten as we continue to travel very slowly through the delightful country side. After spending some time at SORRELL (interesting for me as I followed the career of Neil Davis who came from here) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAXSSq6sxxg

We drove the longest we have for a while with a 40k run to DUNALLEY to camp behind the pub. Nice spot. 

Then the next day onto EAGLEHAWK NECK to check out the beautiful area called PIRATES BAY.  

Overlooking Pirates Bay

Walked the beach and saw some LITTLE PENGUINS, sadly dead ones washed ashore. There were about 6 of them. Brenda being a wildlife carer was most concerned (quite rightly) and informed the bloke at the Tasmanian Devil Park who said he would let Parks and Wildlife know (bet he didn’t!)

Enjoyed the “Devil Park”, well run and doing the best they can to overcome the cancers that are killing so many Tassie Devils. They are cranky little shits, the Devils, and I wouldn’t one chomping on a finger!

Oh Those Little Devils !

Brenda spotted a boutique chocolate factory a few hundred metres from the Devils so, off we all went. After much tasting we left with enough chocs to last a week, of course, two days and they were all gone. Very yummy in this cool climate.

Back to a great camp spot at Pirates Bay overnight and then more beach walking. Just near our site Brenda picked Blackberries more yummy tucker, went well with the jelly I made the night before.

Then after coffee at the local hotel overlooking the unique sounding and looking TESSALLTED PAVEMENT we moved on to more historic sites,

The Coal Mines. It was here the convicts in the 1830’s dug for coal. Must have been horrendous, looks pretty now and must have then but I am sure the convicts didn’t care. We spent time looking at the remains of the Gaol, (we are doing a lot of Gaol visits on this trip with more to come) and camped in the car park surrounded by the bush and the ghosts of convicts past.

Tuppence looks for 'relics"

Next day we wandered slowly through some of the back roads of The Tasman Peninsula and found a small place called Gwandalan where Brenda gathered Mussels from the rocks for tea. Local Mussels and Blackberries for free and chocolate for tea! Looked at some cheap (prime) real estate and ended up at the Nubeena RSL for the night. Used their showers for a few dollars and camped in the back yard (near the big gun) for free.

Mussel hunting. (Tuppence helps Brenda)

Then off to PORT ARTHUR, but that’s for the next blog.

TASMANIA HERE WE ARE!

Arrived in Devonport, Tasmania, on the night of Thursday 4^th March. Easily found a place to stay at the East Devonport Footy Ground. Sunny day but bloody freezing night! Winds they did howl! Stayed all day in DEVONPORT and as always managed to check out a few Vinnies and Red Cross stores. Next day took a lovely run (drive that is) to the delightful town of DELORAINE and camped not far from The Meander River. During the morning we went to the markets and picked up a few things.

Tuppence investigates at the Lakes.

Next day we headed through the Lakes Area for another historic place, (they all are here in Tassie it seems), BOTHWELL.

The "Twin Cottages", Bothwell

 Here Brenda managed to attend the last few hours of the “Spin In”, an international weaving event. http://www.bothwellspinin.com/spinin/

Tuppence and I walked through the old town to await Brenda’s return. Then off to check out the shops and a garage sale! Moved on that night to RICHMOND, yes another town of history!!!.

Richmond is such a pretty and quiet place with the famous bridge built by convicts in 1823.

England or Australia?

The Gaol was interesting and Brenda lost me and thought I was seeing how long I could stay in the solitary confinement cell before giving in. She did find me eventually, bet she wished she hadn't!

Brenda in the Gaol with the Gaolers house behind.

Stayed there for two nights(not in the Gaol) then headed off to SORRELL for the night, on the way to PORT ARTHUR.

For the new readers to this blog pleased check out earlier postings by clicking on the link on the right. And of course post any comments if you feel inclined.

Arrived from Bourke at the LACHLAN RIVER for the night. This area would be packed with caravans’ in the season, tonight like all the other stops on this trip we were the only ones there. Camped right by the water with a view of the WILLANDRA WEIR.  Still warm with plenty of insects but still a nice plaace to camp. During the day we spent some time in COBAR an old copper mining town where we had lunch, cold curry left overs. Oh the joys of the road!

Then on the next day we travelled south towards Victoria heading through a little bit of Ned Kelly country to JERIDERIE, TOCUMWAL, and FINLEY and later into COBRAM for the night. I haven’t been through here since I used to work for Cadburys in 1971 selling chocies to the shops. All changed now and I cannot remember much of the “old days”.  Stayed the night beside the Murray River in COBRAM but the NSW part of it looking at a sign saying “Welcome to Victoria”!

Then we travelled deep into NED KELLY country first stopping at a road side rest area near Thoona where we had arrived too late for the annual “Wheelie Bin races”. Shame. Then on to and up a track into the hills to camp within 50 metres of the site where Ned Kelly and his gang shot 3 policemen. The Ghosts walked that cold night in the bush.   http://www.nedkellysworld.com.au/history/murder.htm

Moving down towards Melbourne we just had to stop and see The Kerrigan’s house at Bonnie Doon featured in the great Aussie classic, “The Castle”. It’s for sale now only $195,000. 

Brenda and Johnno have a "selfie" at Bonnie Doon

Then after a night at Lake Eildon we went down the highway to the big city of Melbourne and camped near the Port for a night. Did not like paying $10.00 to park for a few hours.

Next morning the van the dog and the grownups trundled aboard “The Spirit of Tasmania” for a 10 hour (sometime bumpy) trip across The Tasman to Devonport. Bloody cold and windy when we got there but soon warmed up in the van.        http://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/

Waiting to board.

                                                    http://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/

Off now for the coming weeks to explore Tasmania.