Arthur River Research

Saturday 21 February

We had a bit of a sleep in until 6:30am. Gail and I busied ourselves this morning distributing food to all available fridges and generally sorting food for meals when Gail realised that the butcher had not packed meat for one of the meals. While she headed back to Smithton, had her Visa card rejected, dealt with the bank and picked up the meat, I wrapped potatoes and finished off a few chores like moving into my new room.

By the time the others arrived for afternoon tea we were all ready for them and had even scrounged the 4 extra dining chairs we needed.

We all walked along the shore line to The Edge of the World to take in the view. We found some animal prints on the sand, the best ones being Pademelon.

Menna gave the first of our evening talks and we spent the rest of the day chatting and introducing ourselves.

Bed was a welcome relief after a very long hot day.

Sunday 22 February

After a restless sleep and a windy night we went down to the main house for breakfast. We were then delegated to make bait balls for the traps before leaving for the morning on our allotted duties.

I was in David's team and first set a camera trap then set out lots of Elliot traps for small mammals, Mascot traps for medium mammals. Both of these sorts of traps were baited with bait balls. Then there was a line of devil and quoll traps to bait with lamb flaps.

It was a really hot day, probably 28-30 C and we were quite exposed in the heathland for most of the morning.

I found lots of plants that I recognised but was quite excited to find a ground orchid I had not seen before.

We returned to the house for lunch and I decided to stay in for the afternoon to sort and identify the  plants I'd found.

Chris's talk before dinner was about why and how animals become extinct and what has happened in Australia over the last 40,000 years. It was an interesting talk about the interplay of magafauna, man, and fire and what can happen when top predators are removed from an ecosystem. This is what will happen if the Tasmanian Devils die out because of the facial cancer.

Dinner was delicious baked chicken and tomatoes with cauliflower/tomato cheese. Dessert was a selection of three gourmet Tasmanian cheeses. The wind had dropped so we were able to have dinner outside watching the sunset and the rain come in from the west.

Monday 23 February

Up early this morning (5:30 am) to have a quick breakfast then out bird counting with Chris along four transects. We spent half an hour at each site identifying and counting the birds we saw or heard then at the last transect we also did four habitat surveys to describe the habitats mathematically.

When we were at the first forest site it rained which brought out the leeches but we saw a spotted tailed quoll in one of the traps. We left her to be found by the team checking the traps after we'd done our bird count.

When everyone returned to camp there were to people with very bloody leech bites. I found one on my coat but luckily got it before it found skin. Lots of talk over lunch.

My afternoon was spent identifying plants again, some for the science team and others brought in by interested vollies. Luckily I have two other vollies who know a bit of botany as well so we work together to sort things out. I can also get on the internet this year which means I can use the online key to Tasmanian plants if I have to.

Arthur River arrival

Friday 20 February

Today I said farewell to my tiny car and was picked up at the airport by Gail who had driven up from Hobart after packing the ute.

Most of the day was spent driving but we had to stop at Burnie for fresh fruit and vegies then Smithton for meat (already ordered and vacpacked) and dairy from the IGA. By the time we arrived at Arthur River we were loaded to the hilt but I did not have to nurse anything.

Then there was the mammoth job of unloading food supplies for 22 people for 1 week and somehow fitting it into the two fridges we have. Tomorrow we have access to 3 other houses but today it just all has to go into one house.

By 8 pm we had actually cleared most of the crates and benches and had eaten our takeaway chicken so were able to veg in front of TV for a while before collapsing into bed. I am sleeping in the main house tonight but tomorrow will move to another house. The others will all arrive then too.

Cataract Gorge and the airport again

Launceston has many one-way streets and it is very easy to be directed onto the main expressway before you know it. To compound this issue many junctions do not have street names displayed clearly.n So this morning, even though I could actually see where I was headed and it was only about a 30 minute walk from my unit, I ended up headed for the airport again with very few exits.

Eventually, after a tour of the 'burbs I arrived at Cataract Gorge!

I spent a lovely, peaceful, slow morning just putting one foot in front of the other along many of the tracks. I started with a chairlift ride across the gorge to get my bearings, a coffee to start the blood flow, then walked to two lookouts, across the suspension bridge and up along the gorge and back.

This wallaby met me at the end of the chairlift ride.

 It is a lovely park and I found lots of great views and little treasures to photograph.

I enjoyed a burger for lunch - far too big so I left half of it.

Just down the gorge a bit is Kings Bridge and Ridge's Mill that looked interesting for a visit. Ha! But the trick was the maze of roads again.  Another tour of the 'burbs saw me crossing the gorge on the highway north. Again, I could see my destination but there seemed to be no direct route. Eventually I got there, found an easy parking spot and spent a while on the bridge and browsing the mill area.

By then I had done over 10000 steps so returned home to gather my thoughts and belongings ready for an early start tomorrow - to the airport yet again - to drop off the car and meet Gail.

Off to fill up with fuel and I actually had two attendants come out and fill it for me! This is not Sydney.

Tours around Launceston

What a full day I've had today! First I enjoyed a delicious cooked breakfast in a sunny and pleasant dining room at Fiona's. I then returned to the airport. A complete confusion of hire cars being returned but I happened to see the lady that had rung me about my folder and she ran in for it while I double parked.

Next the drive north to Beauty Point and Seahorse World, the reason I came to Launceston rather than Hobart. The tour through the labs was very interesting. I learned a lot about seahorses and sea dragons. Seahorse World breeds for the aquarium market worldwide. Apparently they are very expensive but they are painstaking to grow.

The newborn babies are only about 1cm long (one of the tanks had some day old babies in it amongst the adults. There had be a birth overnight. The tiny ones below are about 6 weeks old.

The aquarium also had some huge crabs, hermit crabs and lots of other aquatic animals.

Next door was Platypus House. They have some platypus and some echidnas in captivity but unfortunately the platypus were too fast to photograph. The tour was informative and of course the animals were cute.

It was lunch time by the time this tour finished but there was no lunch to buy so I had a beautiful ice cream churned with Tassie blackberries.

On the way south again I had a quick stop at Brady's Lookout with fantastic views both ways along the Tamar River.

Just before Launceston I stopped at the Tamar Island Wetlands. I walked the 1.5 km of boardwalk to the island but it was very hot and sunny so there was not much to see - a copperhead snake as it disappeared into the reeds, some purple swamphens (actually blue), black swans, white faced heron and various ducks. There was even some Triglochin but not flowering.

Time then to return to the unit and escape the heat and sit for a bit.

I decided to walk the three blocks into the city centre to find dinner. I passed Strand Bags with specials on carry-on bags like the one I have been looking for. The girl serving was aware of the size limitations of all airlines so I now have the two wheels (that I've been looking for), light weight (1.9kg), 15 year guarantee, and fits my A4 travel folder in a front pocket, PLUS it is small enough for the smallest requirements of all airlines.

I found some salad and fruit for dinner to go with the wine I bought at Platypus House. I'm a real connoiseur - I bought it for the label.

Home again to collapse after nearly 13000 steps with no stick!

Launceston at last

I had a long delay at Sydney airport in which I paced the corridors increasing my step count and learning my music for St Stephens (under my breath so no need to be embarrassed). We eventually took off and I was really surprised that I had been given a $5 voucher for food. I had a coffee and muffin - free - on Jetstar! I've no idea why I got a voucher.

Late in to Launceston then to Fiona's B and B where I found my keys waiting for me and quickly accessed my fabulous unit - quite palacial! It is amongst a collection of old houses that are set in the centre of the block and have been renovated as motel style accommodation.

I spent the evening just chilling out, checking email and exploring my little unit. There is even wifi with good reception. It felt like home with the wonderful sound of the town hall clock chiming every 15 minutes and counting down on the hour as well. My whole introduction to Launceston has been very easy and welcoming. I even got to the address using the map in my head as I'd left my folder of maps and tickets at the Budget Car Rental counter at the airport. Oh well, that is first job tomorrow. They rang me and it is safe so all should be well.