Showing posts with label Tasmania. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tasmania. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Updates on the Tassie Devils trip
One of the other travellers is gradually adding updates about the details of each of our activities on the Tassie Devils research trip so take a look at her blog A-roving I will go which is also linked in the panel on the right of my page.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Hobart - back with Ian and Gail
Tuesday 15 March
Up lazily this morning and spent a few hours catching up on email, photo downloads and blog updates before Gail and I started working on our next project - a set of plant cards.
We spent an hour or so at the computer then quickly packed some snacks, picked Amelia up early from school and headed off at midday for Tribunna and the ferry to Maria Island. At the wharf we saw a squid boat with all its lights.
It was a little rough and too windy and rainy to stay outside on the way out but I did not have any troubles.
We had a few hours to wander around the old convict settlement area where Ian and Gail needed to scope the facilities for possible travel groups.
It is certainly a delightful place and there are Flinders Island Wombats everywhere just grazing during the day with the Cape Barren Geese and Tasmanian Swamp Hens. The island has become a sanctuary for endangered animals, a Noah's Ark in fact. Disease free Tasmanian Devils have recently been released on the island but the only sign of them were scats, as the devils are nocturnal.
The wombats had young ones with them and we saw a Pademelon with pouch young.
I wandered up the hill behind the now defunct cement works to get a fabulous view and then down for a little stroll along the beach finding shells, and sand plovers in a fenced area so people don't walk on their nests.
We boarded the 4:30 ferry to come back but two young people were late so we were about 20 minutes late leaving.
I stayed outside the whole trip on the way back as the rain had stopped and the wind was a little calmer. It was amazing watching the gannets flying around us.
Back on shore we bought fish and chips for dinner in the misty rain before heading home again after a magical afternoon.
As I had not done enough steps for the day I took myself for a walk around the blocks near Gail and Ian's then home to fall into bed.
Up lazily this morning and spent a few hours catching up on email, photo downloads and blog updates before Gail and I started working on our next project - a set of plant cards.
We spent an hour or so at the computer then quickly packed some snacks, picked Amelia up early from school and headed off at midday for Tribunna and the ferry to Maria Island. At the wharf we saw a squid boat with all its lights.
It was a little rough and too windy and rainy to stay outside on the way out but I did not have any troubles.
We had a few hours to wander around the old convict settlement area where Ian and Gail needed to scope the facilities for possible travel groups.
It is certainly a delightful place and there are Flinders Island Wombats everywhere just grazing during the day with the Cape Barren Geese and Tasmanian Swamp Hens. The island has become a sanctuary for endangered animals, a Noah's Ark in fact. Disease free Tasmanian Devils have recently been released on the island but the only sign of them were scats, as the devils are nocturnal.
The wombats had young ones with them and we saw a Pademelon with pouch young.
I wandered up the hill behind the now defunct cement works to get a fabulous view and then down for a little stroll along the beach finding shells, and sand plovers in a fenced area so people don't walk on their nests.
We boarded the 4:30 ferry to come back but two young people were late so we were about 20 minutes late leaving.
I stayed outside the whole trip on the way back as the rain had stopped and the wind was a little calmer. It was amazing watching the gannets flying around us.
Back on shore we bought fish and chips for dinner in the misty rain before heading home again after a magical afternoon.
As I had not done enough steps for the day I took myself for a walk around the blocks near Gail and Ian's then home to fall into bed.
Hobart with Julie - Day 2
Monday 14 March
I slept in until 7 am this morning and after my shower and a slow start was down to breadfast just as Julie was also ready. We decided that as it was quite cold and overcast we'd go to Mona today but it seems so did the entire population of Hobart who were not away for their long weekend. We had a quick call into Bunnings on the way and by the time we got to Mona the parking was just on full.
The art collection was not my cup of tea but some of the works were interesting like the White Room and the Poo Machine (Cloaca) and a collection of spider webs sprayed in metallic paint.
But I did like the buildings and the massive sandstone walls. The main building is mostly underground, cut deep into the sandstone.
After our few hours there we headed home for a light lunch then Julie showed me the photos of her recent European trip. One impressive site I'd not heard of before are the wetland gardens on the Somme near Amiens, France.
Eventually, after taking Boots for a short walk, Julie drove me home to Ian and Gail's where I was able to help clear away the last of the trip things and vacuum the floor after it was cleared.
Two vollies from the 2015 devil's trip, Joc and Trish, came to dinner. They have just spent the last 6 months as caretakers on Maatsuka Island, with the most southern light house in Australia. We heard their stories, asked questions galore and saw some of their fantastic photos of the experience. It was great to hear about it first hand rather than just watch a documentary.
I slept in until 7 am this morning and after my shower and a slow start was down to breadfast just as Julie was also ready. We decided that as it was quite cold and overcast we'd go to Mona today but it seems so did the entire population of Hobart who were not away for their long weekend. We had a quick call into Bunnings on the way and by the time we got to Mona the parking was just on full.
The art collection was not my cup of tea but some of the works were interesting like the White Room and the Poo Machine (Cloaca) and a collection of spider webs sprayed in metallic paint.
But I did like the buildings and the massive sandstone walls. The main building is mostly underground, cut deep into the sandstone.
After our few hours there we headed home for a light lunch then Julie showed me the photos of her recent European trip. One impressive site I'd not heard of before are the wetland gardens on the Somme near Amiens, France.
Eventually, after taking Boots for a short walk, Julie drove me home to Ian and Gail's where I was able to help clear away the last of the trip things and vacuum the floor after it was cleared.
Two vollies from the 2015 devil's trip, Joc and Trish, came to dinner. They have just spent the last 6 months as caretakers on Maatsuka Island, with the most southern light house in Australia. We heard their stories, asked questions galore and saw some of their fantastic photos of the experience. It was great to hear about it first hand rather than just watch a documentary.
Hobart with Julie - Day 1
Sunday 13 March
This morning Julie came to collect me at 9 am before Ian and Gail were up. We started driving to the Mt Nelson Signal Station but Julie decided that with the thick fog (known as the Bayswater Jerry) it would be better to go to the Botanical Gardens first while the fog lifted.
The Garden is quite beautiful and much more compact than Sydney's. There is a peaceful Japanese Garden, and extremely cold sub-antarctic house, a moist dark fernery and of course the famous vegetable garden. There seemed to be a lot of fruit and vegetables going to waste in the garden, just left on the ground to rot, even the quinces!
We enjoyed a great devonshire tea (with hot fresh scones) during our walk and visited the shop for a few minutes.
Our next jaunt was back up to the Mt Nelson Signal Station lookout and restaurant. Our fish for lunch was delicious and our table looked down over the Derwent River towards Opossum Bay. We could watch the fog move around and eventually lift entirely.
As we were leaving we met Menna and her family out walking their dog so introductions were made and we chatted for a bit. I was wearing a skirt and top and she had trouble recognising me in a "frock".
Julie then took me for a drive down the South Arm to Opossum Bay calling into the various bays and beaches on the way. It is very much the place for a beach holiday if you live in Hobart.
Back via the new Hill Street Grocers for a few supplies then home to a very excited dog, Boots, who Julie is minding at the moment. We took Boots for a walk then spent the evening sipping pinacoladas on the deck then lazing inside over dinner and a bit of TV
This morning Julie came to collect me at 9 am before Ian and Gail were up. We started driving to the Mt Nelson Signal Station but Julie decided that with the thick fog (known as the Bayswater Jerry) it would be better to go to the Botanical Gardens first while the fog lifted.
The Garden is quite beautiful and much more compact than Sydney's. There is a peaceful Japanese Garden, and extremely cold sub-antarctic house, a moist dark fernery and of course the famous vegetable garden. There seemed to be a lot of fruit and vegetables going to waste in the garden, just left on the ground to rot, even the quinces!
We enjoyed a great devonshire tea (with hot fresh scones) during our walk and visited the shop for a few minutes.
Our next jaunt was back up to the Mt Nelson Signal Station lookout and restaurant. Our fish for lunch was delicious and our table looked down over the Derwent River towards Opossum Bay. We could watch the fog move around and eventually lift entirely.
As we were leaving we met Menna and her family out walking their dog so introductions were made and we chatted for a bit. I was wearing a skirt and top and she had trouble recognising me in a "frock".
Julie then took me for a drive down the South Arm to Opossum Bay calling into the various bays and beaches on the way. It is very much the place for a beach holiday if you live in Hobart.
Back via the new Hill Street Grocers for a few supplies then home to a very excited dog, Boots, who Julie is minding at the moment. We took Boots for a walk then spent the evening sipping pinacoladas on the deck then lazing inside over dinner and a bit of TV
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Arthur River Expedition - Day 8
Saturday 12 March
Up at about 6:30 am and had coffee watching the very thick fog rise slowly over the valley while I wrote diary and chatted to Joy who was also up.
After a breakfast of croissants, packing for the last time, then goodbyes to all our team and new friends, Gail and I headed south along the high road leaving Ian, Paul and Seb to ferry the other vollies to Launceston for their flights home.
We arrived home by just after 1:30 pm and unloaded with the help of Rosa, Amelia and two of her friends.
By the time we had lunched and unpacked some of the boxes Ian arrived home to help us continue the wind down unpack. By about 3:30 pm we were all ready for a nanna nap so having sent everyone on their way to bed I started updating the blog so that at last everyone who wanted to could see and read about what I've been doing for the last week.
Some days have been very active (over 15000 steps) while others with lots of driving have been under my 10000 goal but every day I've been well and truly ready for bed and slept soundly.
Up at about 6:30 am and had coffee watching the very thick fog rise slowly over the valley while I wrote diary and chatted to Joy who was also up.
After a breakfast of croissants, packing for the last time, then goodbyes to all our team and new friends, Gail and I headed south along the high road leaving Ian, Paul and Seb to ferry the other vollies to Launceston for their flights home.
We arrived home by just after 1:30 pm and unloaded with the help of Rosa, Amelia and two of her friends.
By the time we had lunched and unpacked some of the boxes Ian arrived home to help us continue the wind down unpack. By about 3:30 pm we were all ready for a nanna nap so having sent everyone on their way to bed I started updating the blog so that at last everyone who wanted to could see and read about what I've been doing for the last week.
Some days have been very active (over 15000 steps) while others with lots of driving have been under my 10000 goal but every day I've been well and truly ready for bed and slept soundly.
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