Time Is Getting Short

Well time is getting short on the Island and although we seem to have been away from home forever we only have eight days left in Tasmania.

We spent a very enjoyable night at Myrtle Park which is a great camp site in the middle of the Tasman Highway. Our drive to get there was also an experience choosing to take the back roads as much as possible and seeing country not usually seen by the "mass" travellers. The camp site is maintained by the Launceston Council and has the exorbitant fee of $3 per night with showers, toilets, fireplaces etc, etc and it was just our luck for it to be raining all night and with no TV, mobile or internet reception I was starting to have withdrawal symptoms.

Next morning we decided to break camp and head to Bridport via Scottsdale and the drive up the range was interesting to say the least with rain and thick cloud necessitating very cautious driving. When we reached Scottsdale we made a quick stop at the bakery for the usual vanilla slice and it was pouring rain, heaviest we had seen in Tassie and guess who should drive past and pull up but John and Marion. We had a chat in the rain and then went on our way to Bridport. The weather slowly improved and by the time we reached the coat it was almost fine. Bridport did not impress so we just had a look around and then headed west to lunch in George Town and then settle in for the night at Batman bridge where it again rained during the night.

This morning we crossed the bridge and headed south along the Tamar River and stopped at the Swiss village at Gridelwald before venturing further south to the Cataract Gorge in Launceston. This beautiful spot is totally unexpected in the heart of a city and we spent quite some time walking the area. The climb back up to the car park had us both puffing and sometimes I wish we had started this motorhoming adventure  twenty years earlier.

The day was still young so we headed north along the East Tamar Highway to Greens Beach with it's really welcoming signs telling you there was a $500 fine if you camped outside the caravan park. Needless to say we spent nothing in this town and travelled on. I really object to councils who try to force you into their parks, what happened to free choice.

We travelled back via Beauty Point where we finally got to see a platypus or several actually at Platypus World where we did the conducted tour. There fascinating animals truly are amazing and we learned lot about this iconic animal. We then went on to Beaconsfield where we looked through the Mine and Heritage centre. The Centre now has a display of the mining tragedy and rescue and when you see the size of the cage these men were trapped in you get some idea of the enormity of this rescue.The picture at left is the actual entrance to the mine from where they emerged after their rescue

Tonight we are camped in the Beaconsfield show grounds with  local Tasmanians and we had the greatest happy hour of the trip so far. I have never laughed so much with one of them being a natural comedian. The real joy of travelling is the people you meet and tonight has been one of those special nights. Long live the tradition of the happy hour.