All Aboard!

Day 80 - All Aboard!

Thursday, 17 April 2014

Thought it would be a noisy night! Something with an oversized exhaust drove past during the night!! Why??

Heard the ferry come in and then the hot rods came off. Now we know why we have been passing them the last few days - coming over for a competition in Hobart. These must be the late comers. They will be racing down to Hobart today. When we went to bed last night we were in the midst of fellow campers waiting to get on the ferry. When I stepped out of the camper I discovered they had already gone to line up and we were surrounded by the hot rods that had just come off. They didn't realise we were going on, but one of them kindly manoeuvred out of the way so we could get out.

Made coffee in the 'line up' whilst chatting to everyone else. Quite social. The rain had stopped, but we had still packed up wet canvas. Oh well, nothing we can do about that.

Eventually on board, level 1, at the bottom. Even though we were one of the last to line up, because we are not oversize we went to the bottom. Guess what, yup! Fourth last off the boat at Melbourne, didn't think we would ever get off.

Armed with lots of ginger tablets, and a relatively calm crossing I was alright this time. Went straight to deck 10, where it is a little bit cooler. The boat was rolling (gently) from side to side and discovered that so long as I sat sideways, so I was face on to the roll (not side to side) I felt ok. Must remember this. Maybe when HH is throwing me around the mountains when he is driving it is that sideways motion that is unsettling??

Trip seemed a lot longer going back, and eventually we disembarked and were warmly greeted by the most gracious of hosts, Mona and Emile, who had waited patiently to have dinner with us, and my favourite, homos and tabouli. Felt very spoilt.

We slept so well that night, no hot rods!!!! Or rain on the canvas.

	Photo 1 [Map]		On my door step [Map]
	Beside us [Map]		Still surrounded [Map]

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The not quite handover

Day 79 - The not quite handover

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

Oh no, what a day this is going to be. HH had emailed Stephen and Helen a couple of days ago(we met Stephen when we first got here at Lorinna) and asked if they wanted to catch up in Sheffield. Didn't hear anything from them until last night, yes they would like to have lunch. However, since then Ross had also called to say he could like to buy our Travelander, but could we please come back and show him 'the ropes' again, so to speak. What a rush this is going to be. And a lot of kilometres. A LOT!!!

A great lunch to see Stephen again and to meet Helen as she was away before. Fortunately they both had massage appts, so we could leave after an hour and head off to Ross, not quite 100km.

I had hoped on the way back we might have made it to Railton to sample a Seven Sheds brew, but not a chance. Straight up to Devonport to get ready for the ferry.

Were going to camp out of town, but Doug, whom we had met 2 nights before had said you could park by the loading zone. HH had just wanted to familiarise himself of the roads, but when we got there and saw the parking area, with toilets, we decided to stay.

Doug found us, and we had a nice social time, and dinner at the cafe nearby.

	[Map]		Photo 1 [Map]
	Photo 2 [Map]		Showing Ross the legs! [Map]
	That strange peninsula to South Arm [Map]

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Lake Barrington - Pioneer Park

Day 78 - Lake Barrington - Pioneer Park

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

	Hot Rod [Map]		Gunn's Plains [Map]
	Same [Map]		Mt Roland [Map]
	Closer [Map]

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Bracknell - Lake Barrington

Day 77 - Bracknell - Lake Barrington

Monday, 14 April 2014

Making the most of our last few days we headed out to Liffey Falls. Quite a few cascades and a good walk down to the bottom.

Hoping to get to Railton to sample some of the Seven Sheds brews, however discovered they are closed Mon/Tue!!! So disappointed, have been waiting for this since we arrived here. Oh well on to Sheffield to see the murals. Don't know if it was the sky, my disappointed mood, but wasn't impressed with the town or murals.

On to Lake Barrington, where we discovered this was where the 1990 world Rowing Championships were held. Wish I had counted all the hair pin bends driving down to the lake. Good job we had new brakes, they were being tested.

Decided to camp on the west side so climbed back up the hair pins and around the bottom on the lake. All a lovely area. Nice clearing to camp. Spent a nice evening with Doug from NSW and Rod from QLD enjoying their camp fire.

Rod was very knowledgable with the IT stuff, so we were all ears learning the tricks of the trade. Hope we can remember what we learnt :)

	Liffey [Map]		Liffey [Map]
	Luminous Fungi [Map]		Railton, Topiary Town [Map]
	Sheffield Art [Map]		Huon pine, in junk shop! [Map]
	Reflections [Map]		Hot rods [Map]
	Sheffield Mural [Map]

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Bagdad - Bracknell

Day 76 - Bagdad - Bracknell

Sunday, 13 April 2014

Got a quick chance to take some more photos of The Harman's unique home 'cabin'. Just love all the quirky uniqueness. All too soon we had to say our farewells, we were very quiet as we drove off, but we had an appt near Launceston to show the Travelander to a possible buyer.

We drove out through Bothwell again, where we saw Harmony's overloaded little red and white car parked in the camping area. No stopping to say hello or we would never get to Langford to see Ross. Climbing higher we headed West to Interlaken, quick lunch by Lake Sorell. HH trying to stay off the road as much as possible, just for the heck of it, but we eventually made a decision to hit the Tarmac as we felt the track might be gated at the far end. A lucky guess, as of course we had to divert a few kilometres at the other end, just to see.

We eventually found Ross in his garden/farm. Gave him the guided 'tour' of our home and answered all his questions. Very interested, said he would get back to us.

We went off to a nice little free camp in Brqcknell for the night. Noisy birds.

	TV Room [Map]		The Harman's beautiful cabin [Map]
	Unique Bathroom [Map]		The Harman's [Map]
	Door knobs [Map]		Handles [Map]
	And catches [Map]

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Bagdad

Day 75 - Bagdad

Saturday, 12 April 2014

A cold but bright day. In for a treat. Kay was singing with the Bagdad Singers in a concert at Bothwell. We were up for that so off we went. As well as the Bagdad Singers, there was the Hobart Veterans Bank, violin soloist, upbeat organ stuff and a few other performances. All thoroughly enjoyable,we did tease Kay though. Being little, she disappeared behind the front row singers:)

We came back via Kempton, where Chris had done some renovation work. An architect who specialises in 'historic building' renovations/restorations. We were very impressed with the restoration of the old jail, behind the police station. Not restored to be used, but to show how it would have looked. Done with a modern tweak. Then we went off to meet Kevin. A friend of many years who showed us around his wood turning, bowl making business. I just love this stuff, want it all :)

That evening we went off to a BBQ at a neighbours, quite a gathering. How nice to be included, we were made to feel very welcome, even by their crazy Doberman.

	Chris, at home [Map]		The Retreat [Map]
	Camped at The Retreat [Map]		Ziggy [Map]
	Ziggy's family [Map]		Chris's restoration [Map]

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South Arm to Bagdad

Day 74 - South Arm to Bagdad

Friday, 11 April 2014

Left Richmond in the rain with wet canvas. Off to Bagdad to camp at Chris and Kay's again, driving via South Arm, the last peninsula to explore.

Such a curious shape on the map, shame about the visibility. The little township of South Arm itself quite quaint, lots of 'retirement' fishing shacks, and a bit more than shacks, seemingly impossibly built on the hillside with decks over the beach. Hmm, high tides and storms would be a bit alarming:)

Up the west arm of the Derwent (other side from Hobart), through Bridgewater and through Brighton (not via the bypass in support of our host Chris, who protested against it being built, something to do with aboriginal land).

Found our way back to the Harman's with ease, it was just as lovely, despite rain. Said I would cook dinner, but I ended up only cooking the risotto. Kay kindly took over the lamb for me, a bit too meaty for me to handle. A great night, it even stopped raining.

	South Arm Map [Map]		South arm [Map]
	Photo 1 [Map]		Photo 2 [Map]
	Thong Tree [Map]		More [Map]

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Richmond

Day 73 - Richmond

Thursday, 10 April 2014

Another day of Rest. More conversations with Harmony. Really enjoyed her company. Was even more amazed when she drove up in her little car, filled to the brim and overflowing. HH has a hard time with the flask and travel mugs living in a crate in my footwell. Well Harmony has her tent in her driving footwell!!!! Eventually after several hours she was on her way.

We meandered into Richmond to do the tourist bit, again, not only did we walk over the oldest bridge in Australia, 1823, but walked up to the oldest Catholic Church, forgot to take camera.

Back at camp gave the hairy one a haircut and enjoyed styling a Mohawk.

	Harmony's Home [Map]		Loaded up [Map]
	Garden Gnome [Map]		Mohawk [Map]
	Birds Eye View [Map]

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Triabunna - Richmond

Day 72 - Triabunna - Richmond

Wednesday, 9 April 2014

Explored the harbour of Triabunna, wow some amazing properties with views to Maria Island. Cloudy day so not many photos, they just don't come out.

Heading south hugging the coast we took a track out to what we thought was a beach. Turns out private property, but walking access to the beach. 25 houses here, proper houses, not fishing shacks, although we learnt from someone in his garden hosing down his boat that only one house is lived in permanently. The story goes that the farmer that owns a large part of this area needed some extra cash and sold off 25 blocks, it really is the most scenic bit of coast, right opposite Maria Island so relatively sheltered and a great fishing spot.

We meandered through old forest and plantation, glimpsing some amazing coastline before heading into Richmond. Checked out the Wicked Cheese factory, oh so yummy, smoked Brie, mmmm, before checking into the local CP. Our batteries are just about their use by date and are not holding a charge for very long, so if it cloudy, we either have to drive around, a lot, or plug in overnight for a bit of a boost.

	Check out the horns? [Map]		Maria Island on horizon [Map]
	And again [Map]		Wicked Cheese maturing [Map]

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