FAREWELL TO TASSIE

8^th March, 2014

We have only three nights left before we catch the ferry back to the mainland.  The vans are hitched up and we head to the small inland village of Forth about eight kilometres west of Devonport.  There is free camping in Forth at the recreation grounds and we set up camp for the last time in Tasmania.

Our campsite at Forth

We intend to use this as a base while we do a bit more sight-seeing and some last minute household chores.  The following morning we all pile into the Prado and take the back roads to Sheffield – home of the many murals.  All three of us have been here before but Wayne missed seeing the Marble Shop which we thought was interesting – so here we are back again.  The mural are also fascinating and we liked the 3D effect of this one.

Wok liked this 3D mural in Sheffield

It was a bit of a drizzly morning so being inside the marble shop made good sense.  We spent quite a lot of time playing with the marble race games and wandering along the display cases which had the most exquisitely hand-made glass marbles of all sizes and colours.

Only a fraction of the marbles on display

As it was a Sunday the local vet (on his day off) was at the workbench trying his hand out at making a flower inside a marble.

Robyn watches the local vet at work in the marble shop

We watched entranced as the flower slowly took shape.  Each colour was carefully applied and worked until finally there it was - a perfect flower inside a glass ball.  What a wonderful hobby to have.  It was fascinating.

From Sheffield we took a round trip back towards Devonport, passing through Railton which is noted for its topiary.  We spotted quite a few of these trimmed and hedged wonders and took a couple of photos as we cruised by.

Topiary horse, rider and dog in Railton
 

Topiary locomotive in Railton

At Latrobe we stopped at a bakery for lunch and Wayne insisted that we have dessert.  Vanilla slices and cheesecake was hard to resist and we all came away knowing that we had over eaten.  We made a quick call at the Cherry Shed so Wayne could take photos of the giant cherries

Giant cherries at the Cherry Shed in Latrobe

and then it was on to the House of Anvers for some chocolate tasting … yummmm!

The House of Anvers - Chocolate Tasting Room - YUMMMM !

After taste testing half a dozen different types of fudge and then re-checking to make sure which one we liked best, we just knew that we shouldn’t have had those slices at lunchtime.

Wok and Wayne at the chocolate factory

We finally waddled our way back to the Prado and made a beeline for Forth.  Needless to say a bit of vegging out was called for to round off the day.

It’s Monday – Labour Day holiday in Tasmania.  Wok has gone off to meet John and Shar at the airport.  He was very excited when he left as John is going to take Wok up for a fly in his Skyfox.  While Wok is having fun the more mundane household chores have to be done and Wayne and Robyn head off into East Devonport to a Laundromat and once we’d finished that mission we drive to the airport to meet up with Wok who has had a great time in the wide blue yonder and is now watching Shar do practice landings.  We don’t have long to wait before John and Shar bring the plane back to the hangar area.

Wok watches John and Shar bringing the Skyfox back

We watch fascinated as the Skyfox is folded up and tucked away in its purpose built trailer.

Wayne, Wok and Shar watch as John gets the Skyfox ready for the trailer

One wing is folded back

Both wings are folded back - ready to go into the container

Ohh - this is a really tight fit !

There you go Wok ... Told you it would fit !

Once everything is locked up we hop in our cars and drive to a small café near John and Shar’s home for a quick lunch before saying goodbye and then heading back to camp.  We spent the rest of the afternoon polishing off the leftover cheese and crackers accompanied by suitable liquid refreshments to toast our last night in Tasmania. 

It’s morning – our last day in Tasmania!  We couldn’t believe that four months could go so fast.  We’ve really enjoyed travelling around this island state and although it is small there are lots of interesting places to see and things to do.  The day is spent making sure everything is ship shape and ready for our cruise across Bass Strait before following the Avan for the last time to the boarding area for the Spirit of Tasmania.

Well here we go - following the caravan in front onto the Spirit of Tasmania

Once on board we checked out our cabins and then had dinner at the restaurant before retiring for the night.  At 5.30am the bell sounded and the public address system advised we were approaching the docks in Melbourne.  Wonder of wonders!  We’d had a smooth crossing – the complete opposite of the one we’d had getting to Tassie.  There was a knock on the door – it was Wayne … all packed and ready to go.  It was sad saying ‘Adios’ to Wayne.  The three amigos were parting ways.  He was turning right after leaving the boat and heading for Queensland while we were turning left.  At least that’s the general consensus at the moment …

HIGH COUNTRY and HIDDEN VALLEYS

6th March, 2014

We’re climbing into the high country today – following the road past Cradle Mountain. 

Following the Avan into the high country

It’s cloudy but the temperature is in the low twenties.  We stop to walk up to a lookout.

The little dots at the bottom of the track are Wok and Wayne heading for the lookout

The view is fantastic and we can see Cradle Mountain in the distance.

Wok at the lookout - Cradle Mountain in the distance

Below us the valley winds its way through the ranges to the North.  And even up here at this remote lookout it is hard to escape civilization.

Wayne does the neighbourly thing and helps two bikies with their photo op

By noon we are pulling into Waratah.  A few months ago the tiny campground behind the Council Chambers had only three vans.  Today it was choc-a-block with two overflow areas accommodating the excess.  We manage to snaffle a powered site behind the hall for the night and Wayne gets a site beside us.  By running a lead from our van to his he can also get electricity and is able to run his fridges and charge batteries.  After lunch we take a look around.  The old tin mine at Mount Bischoff is within walking distance of town and the falls which were once covered by walkways, waterwheels and sheds is visible once again.

Waratah

We thought this town with its waterfall right in the middle was one of the prettiest places we had seen in our travels.  This second visit has not changed our mind.

Waratah Falls - Our vans can be seen just behind the hall

We had told Wayne about the platypus we had seen in the lake beside the campground and that afternoon we sat on the bench and hoped it would make an appearance.  To our amazement the platypus came paddling along

Wayne videos the platypus (it's that little dot in the water)

and Wayne saw his first platypus in the wild.

Mr or Mrs Platypus paddling in the lake at Waratah

He even managed to get some really good video.

 

In the morning we said goodbye to the picturesque village of Waratah and the high country and made our way to a campground at Wings Wildlife Park in the hidden valley of Gunns Plains.  We set up camp, unhitched Mitzi and drove into Ulverstone to attend to some bank business and then it was off to Pedro’s for lunch.  We reckoned Pedro’s served the best fish and chips in Tasmania and they didn’t disappoint this time either.

Wayne is eager to get stuck into his fish and chips (with side salad)

Back at camp we took a walk through the campground and passed some interesting accommodation options along the way.

These two little wagons (Betty and Joyce) have seen better days

There were lots of native animals in the enclosures but the buffalo reminded us of the herds we had seen in the National Parks in North America.  They were definitely out of place here in Tasmania.

Home ... Home ... on the range ... in Gunns Plains

In the morning we opened our door and called Wayne for breakfast :-

All paths lead to the Avan

Knock knock ... Wayne!     Knock knock ... Wayne!     Knock knock ... Wayne! 

Coffee or Tea …?

We sure are going to miss not having the Avan outside our door when we leave Tassie …

CAMPS, CAVES and CELEBRATIONS

3^rd March, 2014

By lunchtime we were pulling into the free camp at Deloraine.  We’d camped here a few months ago before Wayne joined us and thought he might enjoy staying here for a couple of nights before moving on.  The horses in the neighbouring paddock were still as curious as before

Our horsey friends at Deloraine

and were not averse to a feed of fruit.  It was settlement day for Wayne’s town house in Brisbane and by mid-afternoon his solicitors advised that all had gone according to plan and the money was being transferred into his account.  Woo Hoo!  Celebrations could commence!  We joined our next door neighbours (Geoff and Monica) beside their blue bus for happy hour

Settlement Day celebrations

and a couple of bottles of champagne were quickly consumed along with an abundance of beer followed by scotch and coke chasers.  There were a couple of sore heads in camp the following morning but a leisurely walk across the swinging bridge

View of the river from the swinging bridge in Deloraine

and along the river soon cleared the fuzziness away.  There were some modern sculptures in the riverside park which we are positive would not have looked out of place at MONA in Hobart.

Wok and Wayne ponder over the modern sculpture in the riverside park

From the river we walked up into Deloraine’s main street and strolled along checking out the Arts and Crafts workshop as well as the sculptures along the footpath.

This fishy footpath sculpture was titled 'Got one ...!'

We stopped for lunch at a café and chose a table on the footpath and ordered hamburgers.  The vote was unanimous – best hamburgers we’d eaten in Tasmania!  On our way back to the vans Wok and Wayne decided to try and work off some of the extra calories on some exercise equipment near the bridge.  

Wayne and Wok really didn't put too much effort into using the equipment

Eventually we made it back to camp and needless to say took it easy for the rest of the day.  In the morning we awoke to find everything covered in heavy dew.

Sunrise at Deloraine - from the Avan

Temperatures during the day had been hovering around the 23 degree C mark but night time temperatures were in the low teens.  Just perfect for sleeping snuggled up under a blanket.  We break camp and head west into Mole Creek Karst National Park.

Mitzi and the Van heading to Mole Creek Karst National Park

There are over 300 limestone caves and sinkholes in this area and we stop to take a tour of King Solomon’s Cave.  This cave is small and compact but offers the same wonderful formations that larger caves exhibit.

Wayne tries for that perfect shot in King Solomon's Cave

Our guide is very informative and we duck our heads and squeeze thru narrow openings between the chambers.  Sparkling calcite twinkles everywhere.

Cave formations in King Solomon's Cave

It’s always fun to find a cave dwelling insect.  Most of the time you never see them but this time we find a ‘Harvestman’ bug high on the cave wall and our guide is very excited.

Harvestman bug in King Solomon's Cave

Our tour takes 45 minutes and although only a small cave we are impressed with the variety of formations it possesses.  It is better than many of the larger caves we have seen.

Wok and Wayne at King Solomon's Cave

We continue our drive through the hills and scream to a halt beside the road.  Blackberries!  Out came the plastic containers and the three of us spent the better part of an hour happily picking berries off the thorny vines.  If it wasn’t for those pesky thorns it would be even more fun!

Stopping to pick blackberries

With more than enough blackberries to fill the pot we make our way over the mountain range and as we round a bend in the road Mount Roland comes into view.

Mitzi and the Van round a bend - Mount Roland comes into view

We descend into the valley and stop at O’Neills Creek Picnic Reserve at Gowrie Park where we make camp for the night.  The striking Mount Roland serves as a backdrop for our campsite.

The view of Mount Roland from our campsite at O'Neill's Creek Picnic Reserve

While the freshly picked blackberries are cooking on the stove the boys settle down for ‘happy hour’.

Beer, chips and blackberries and ice-cream for dessert .... yumm

Life is good ….

CONVICT HERITAGE and a MARKET

1^st March, 2014

It’s a warm day and time for some household chores before we set off to Woolmers Estate not far from our caravan park in Longford.  Woolmers Estate is on the World Heritage List because of its significance within the Australian convict system.  The home and farm have been owned by six generations of one family (the Archers) and in 1994 when the last of the Archer family died (Thomas Archer VI) he left the property to the Archer Historical Foundation – now the Woolmers Foundation.  With Woolmers (named after an estate in Hertfordshire England) having been lived in and maintained continuously by one family for over 170 years the property is in wonderful condition.  There is a long circular drive leading up to the main entrance.

Circular Drive at Woolmers Estate

From the northern side of the house it is easy to see where the addition of the 1840’s stone Italianate front was attached to the older timber cottage built in 1821.  All of the building work was carried out by convict labour.

Woolmers

By 1836 the estate was running 25,000 sheep with the help of more than 50 convict workers and covered 5,000 hectares.  Thomas Archer I was also very active in public life service on the first Legislative Council in Van Diemen’s Land for almost 20 years.  He was apparently a very large man with Lady Franklin once calling him ‘the bulk of the Legislative Council’.  Thomas Archer I was bed ridden for almost a year before he died in 1850.  He had the foresight to have his two bedroom windows enlarged so that his coffin could be easily removed and we also suspect that he could then much better see the view over the Macquarie River and across the fields to the mountains from his bed.

Original home at Woolmers - note the two larger windows

We take a tour through the house and are amazed at the large collection of furniture and domestic items which are little changed since 1859 and were used by the family through the generations.

Dining Room - table setting made for the Archer family

Outside we wander around the grounds taking in the coach house and stables

Coach House and Stables

the cider house and wool shed

Cider House and Wool Shed

where we look across the sheep pens to the blacksmith’s shop, farm stables and workers’ cottages.

View over the sheep pens at Woolmers

Near the main house was the Store where a good stock of supplies were kept.  The barred windows protected the bounty inside from bushrangers and the convict workforce who although well fed and clothed were always on the lookout for something useful to trade for a drink in the pub or to hoard for an escape.

The Store

The kitchen was originally a small timber building but it too was upgraded in the same Italianate style as the main house.  A kitchen, larder, pantry and bakehouse occupied the ground floor and bedrooms upstairs accommodated the domestic servants.

Wayne and Wok head for the Kitchen

Prior to the bakery being built in the 1840’s kitchen addition the bakehouse was situated a short distance away from the store.  Two larger cottages housed the bakers while the third cottage was the bakehouse where the bakers supplied bread to the family and the workforce of up to 60 people.  The cottages are today being used as accommodation for the caretakers of the estate.

Bakers Cottages

Other buildings on the estate housed free workers and their families.  Near the main house croquet was played on the lawn next to the fashionable garden area.  Woolmers gave us a slight insight into how the affluent lived and is a marvelous example of colonial heritage.

Back at camp Wayne tried to redeem himself by cooking another Lamb Shanks Roast Dinner – this time without the lavender colour.  This was accomplished by adding only a glass of wine to the cooking process – and not a whole bottle.  The end result was a lovely dinner with appropriately coloured vegetables.

Wayne and Wok - ready to 'tuck in'

It’s Sunday – so we drive to Evandale to browse through the markets.  It’s quite an eclectic mix of stalls – fresh fruit and veggies, food stalls, wines, clothing, handicrafts, car boot stuff, plants and bric-a-brac.

Wayne and Wok at Evandale Markets

We have lunch under the trees at the markets before finally making our way back to camp.  The following morning it is time to pack up and be on our way once more but before we leave Wayne finds time to give the friendly camp ducks a handout.

Here duckie ... duckie ... duckie

And all he gets for his trouble is a lot of ‘quacking’ – probably duck speak for ‘thank you’.