Arthur River Expedition - Day 2

Sunday 6 March
Out into the field by 8 am (a reasonably late start). I was teamed up with Menna and Paul and our job was to work with Chris and his team to set up permanent habitat transects at each camera trap site, record dominant species of plants at each site and take photos of the vegetation looking N, E, S and W.

By the time we had bush-bashed to each camera trap on foot then bush-bashed along each 20m transect at five sites our time was up for the morning and we returned home for lunch. It was interesting that the sites we were working at were not sites I had been to in previous years as I had not been involved in working with the camera traps before. Unfortunately we were unable to complete the task as the lidar technology (a Zebedee scanner) had a flat battery so that task was to be done later.

After lunch we were booked on a cruise up the Arthur River. This was another first for me this year and it was great to see such a pristine river flanked by dense forest so typical of Tasmania. We were lucky to see a number of sea eagles and their huge nests as we travelled along. Afternoon tea was supplied and augmented with delicious slice from Gail and Ian.

At the furthest point the boat docked and we were taken on a walk through the forest and treated to wine and nibbles at the half-way camp site. The guides Les and Greg gave a most informative commentary as well as taking time to chat to small groups of us during the afternoon or supplying pillows when required.

Home then to dinner which was supplied by one of the locals tonight. The wallaby pad-thai was fabulous and there were accompanying dishes as well. Gail supplied dessert of passionfruit slice, caramel slice, strawberries and blueberries.

My homework for the night was to ID the plants we had collected in the morning and begin the botany wall for the week.

Arthur River Expedition - Day 1

Saturday 5 March
This morning Ian, Dianne and I were up at 5:30 am to have a quick breakfast, pack our few things then into the bus to drive north to collect our first two fellow travellers, Jessica and Simon, at Launceston airport.

Then there was a quick tour of Launceston as we picked up the other travellers at their various hotels - Lynda, Helen, David, Pam (who came last year and to the Kimberley) and Joy.

Our long drive then took us across the north coast of Tasmania eventually stopping at Wynyard to collect our lunch. We found shade in the park to eat it while we watched the water. On then to Fossil Bluff where, as the tide was quite low, we could really see the shell fossils and the various layers they came from. They are mostly 500 million year old molluscs and bivalves.

On again to Arthur River to find our home for the next week; meet the scientists, Menna, Chris, Gini, and Sebastian; and find Paul (who also came last year) and Gail organising our supplies.

On a walk to the Edge of the World we discovered footprints of Tasmanian Devils and Pademelons on the beach and I was able to photograph one of the plants I was unsure of last year.

Back to the house to make icky sticky bait balls for the traps in the morning then have dinner and listen to our first talk by Menna giving us an overview of the issues with Tasmanian Devils and the research being done all over the world both with the DFTD cancer and the effects of top predator extinction.

A Few Days in Hobart

Wednesday 2 March
Up with the alarm and ready for our taxi to join the peak hour crawl to the airport. We did get there in plenty of time despite the traffic.

A smooth flight to Hobart to be met by Gail and Ian. After collecting an ocean trout from a fabulous fish shop for dinner we went home for a welcoming catch-up and a cold drink with temperature around 31C.

Di and I went for a walk around a very long block after she'd had a nanna nap and I'd caught up with downloading photos from our Sydney jaunts.

The normal comings and goings of the family was followed by dinner outside in the cooling evening air. Amelia and Rosa were both home for dinner so more catching up to fill the evening.

Thursday 3 March
Up, breakfast and out early this morning to find a few last minute supplies for the trip.

Gail and Ian needed to check goods with those who needed them. What better way than to send a photo for each thing.

Back to collect Dianne and off again to the Bruny Island Cheese Company in Salamanca Place for cheese tasting and purchases. Ian and Gail left us there to browse at our leisure and we had a great time looking at all the specialty shops, sharing a delicious lunch and taking a walk along to see the CSIRO research vessel 'Investigator' which is standing in harbour as the government has cut funding for science and CSIRO.

Once we had spent enough money we rang Ian and Gail to come and collect us again as arranged.

Back at the house it was time to collect the hired ute, water the garden, and start tesselating all the equipment that has to be transported for a week of research and catering for about 16 people.

Once all was organised all six of us went to dinner at the Italian Club. It was a delicious and very filling meal accompanied by lots of happy chatter.

Friday 4 March
This morning we finished packing the back of the ute and sent Gail on her way to set up the house at Arthur River. As a last minute decision I had to pack my bag so it could go in the ute as well. The minibus will be filled with people and their bags tomorrow.

By 9am we started organising our day. Ian dropped Di and I off at the Elizabeth St mall with instructions on how to walk home.

After a beautiful morning tea we walked slowly along the mall then down to Constitution Dock and Victoria Dock.

By chance we came across the Mawson Hut replica (a museum) and had a short time contemplating the hardships and cramped conditions faced by explorers to Antarctica such a short while ago.

Back up the mall to find Rivers having a sale and then a bank for Dianne.

We then faced the long climb up Liverpool St to Peace Park and home.

A time of rest then for both of us with leftovers for lunch while Ian finished up some of his work with plans to drive up Mt Wellington after he picks up the minibus at 4pm.

Tasmania in March

This is my third time working with Tassie Devil research at Arthur River in the NW of Tasmania.

March actually started on 27 February when Di (whom I'd met on trips to the Kimberly) arrived to stay with me in Sydney for a few days before flying south together.

Sunday 28 February
We had an early start this morning after Dianne's late arrival last night. I had to sing at church for the morning so Di took this opportunity to see the church and surrounds.

After church we headed for the Botanic Gardens and had a walk to Surrey's tree which is progressing really well. As this is Di's first time in Sydney I was keen to show her some of the major tourist things that she would have heard of first. So our stroll then took us to the Opera House and along the Quay to Buckley's where we had a really pleasant late lunch.

By then we were quite done in after our late night, early start and Di's jetlag so we headed home for a laze until dinner time then had an early night.

Monday 29 February
Up a little later today with no alarm and off to Southgate to recharge Di's phone.

Back into the city where we met up with Geoff in the QVB for morning tea. Di and I then visited the Chinese Gardens which was on Dianne's wish list. It was most inspiring to walk slowly through such a peaceful landscape on a slightly overcast day - so many magnificent views and vistas or even tiny framed glimpses.

We chose an Asian lunch but it all seemed a bit tired, dried out and cold.

A bit of a wander further along Darling Harbour in the heat before exhaustion set in and we headed home again.

Tuesday 1 March
This morning we headed for Manly. The ferry ride was great with wonderful clouds but we arrived to find the surf was flatter than Gerroa.

Anyway we had a wander along the beach so Dianne could feel the temperature of the water (too cold for her but actually quite pleasant for Sydney) then headed back along the Corso for a bit of shopping for Di and an ice cream when we go to the wharf.

Back at Circular Quay we decided there was time to catch a ferry to Darling Harbour and visit the Aquarium with the promise of seeing a dugong.

We were both delighted to be able to watch two of these ponderous creatures feeding and we actually did the circuit twice. They are quite hairy and look a bit like 'Michelin Man' sea creatures.

There were also a few other huge fish.

Further around we were amazed by the Barrier Reef display and the thousands of tiny pearly bubbles emanating from one of the forms of life. The variety of forms and colours in the corals was amazing too.

On again to find the saw-fish which are like sharks with saw-blade noses.

By now we were both exhausted yet again and made our way slowly on another very hot afternoon to Town Hall station. We decided to buy takeaway Chinese for dinner as we'd actually missed lunch and were quite hungry.

We arrived home to find Jen and Ivy and Ponyo waiting for us.

By the time we had eaten and watched a TV show we sorted our final packing and dropped into bed.

Autumn harvest

Geoff, Jen, Ivy and Ponyo went down to Underhill last weekend and harvested peaches and pears. Netting the trees has worked very well and we get to reap some harvest instead of letting it all go to the birds.

A cool weekend at Underhill

We took the opportunity offered by no Sunday commitments to stay over at Underhill to give us 2 days there. We had more jobs to do of course. Jen finished their family shed by vacuuming the floor and reassembling all the beds. The things now left in there are Geoff and Jen's stuff and the electrical materials on the trolley. Geoff finished off the wiring so they have softer lighting at night and it is all wired permanently into the caravan solar power source.

Another job was to fix the downpipe into the tank system that had fallen apart some months ago. This time Geoff had the right lengths of pipe and glued it all together as last time it was really only a temporary measure. The top tank inlet was also quite blocked causing flooding through the 'loungeroom' so he cleaned out that as well. We'll have to watch that and clean it out regularly or the tanks don't fill. Geoff was most appreciative of Greg's help, especially with the downpipes.

Ponyo's main job was chewing sticks and having lots of swims, coming back to shake all over us when we were most vulnerable.

The far dam is slowly receding with the summer heat.

Greg and Evelyn came for a Saturday visit. How fantastic to enjoy their company again. They are so much help with all sorts of tasks.

Elaine came down with me so that meant I brought my car and had lots of room to take home rubbish for the bins. Thanks for the company Elaine. After Geoff and Jen left on Sunday, Elaine and I were able to tidy the 'carport' area and Elaine swept out all the leaves that had accumulated on the mats throughout all the living areas.

On Saturday Elaine and I mapped the remaining fruit trees. There is a total of 49 living trees of various ages although some of them look as though they are struggling, like the pistacios that were planted about 30 years ago and are still only a foot high. The only fruit harvested was about 30 damsons.

Ivy loves the block and loves being on the  mat where she can find all the dirt and leaves and sticks.

She also loves all the cuddles she gets.

Elaine got this great photo of a lizard we saw as we were mapping the trees.

Thanks to all who came and helped in so many ways. It is always so relaxing to be there even though there are always jobs to be done.

The weather was kind and was overcast most of the time with some rain. The sun came out for a while on Saturday afternoon just to make us feel it really was the height of summer. The night was cool.