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 …