19.2.17 to 6.3.2017 No pictures at present as using too much data

19^th February

An update on Darryl’s cellulitic right leg – it is only about 1cm different in size to his right leg.  The skin has completely peeled off that leg and the redness is gone.  The discolouration of his leg will remain as the long-term oedema has restricted the blood flow in the skin.  He is continuing to wear his compression socks/stockings without and trauma and it is great to see him with skinny lower legs. :D  He is continuing his Antibiotics and has just commenced his second month of a four month course.  My left knee is still painful and continues to lock or give way when you least expect it.  It cracks and clicks all the time.  I am wearing a brace and can depress the clutch on the car and am trying to build up strength in the knee.  I alternate massaging it with Karma Rub and Fisiocreme.

Monday 13^th we headed for Smithton.  The winds were back up to 55kmph and pushing us in the bum, so we decided that the free camp on the beach at Green Point would have to wait for another time.  On arrival at Smithton we arrived at the caravan park so that Chris could have power to fully charge her battery and we could brace ourselves for the predicted foul weather.

Here we were having high temps of 18degrees and all our friends and family were experiencing temperatures over 40 degrees on the mainland.  We have decided to stay here for the week and do all the little trips from here. 

Tues 14^th Valentines Day.  Darryl thought it was tomorrow :D.   I kept saying – no its today.  He kept saying – but it’s on the 14^th.  And I said but today IS the 14^th. :D

We headed out to Tarkine Adventures – Dismal Swamp, but on the way we went to the Tier Lookout in Smithton and whilst there bought some Leatherwood honey.  Beautiful tasting.  Dismal Swamp is actually a 310-hectare Sink-hole, of which you can follow a boardwalk path system that covers 1.6km.  The cost of entry is $20 per adult $14 per child and $18 per senior.  There is also a slide which will take you 15secs to reach the sink-hole floor at $2 per slide.  Several local artists have got artwork throughout the swamp and it is interesting looking for them in the ferns etc BUT the entry fee really is too high for what you manage to get out of it.  Most people spent 1.5hours here, and that is what we did too, even including our coffee stop at the end.

From here we drove out to Redpa, Marrawah and Green Point.  There is free camping at Green Point in a small area that fitted 2 caravans in parallel, 3 small whiz-bangs (campervans) and a tent up on the grass.  It was quite windy whilst we were here but sunny.  We could look to the north and see some of the Wind turbines from Woolnorth Station.

We then drove back into Marrawah and to the hotel for a pub lunch.  Darryl and I enjoyed ours but Chris found her mixed grill over cooked and dry.   The countryside is variable, they do a lot of strip-grazing of cattle (with more cattle in the paddocks then what I am used to seeing :D) and this year most farmers have harvested three crops of hay or silage from their paddocks.  Last year they were barely able to get one harvest and this year they have multiples.  The silage has been in a variety of coloured plastic – black and green stripes, yellow, pink, blue, light blue, bright blue, green, light green, white – name a few.  I don’t know whether the colour makes any difference or not.

We then headed down towards Arthur River and turned back towards Smithton.

Wed 15^th We got a call from Fellow ACC members who were in Burnie, and have arranged to meet them at Rocky Cape Tavern [approximately ½ way from Smithton to Burnie) for lunch.  We called into the chemist and picked up Darryl’s script that we had dropped in on Monday, and headed off.  Arriving at the tavern at about 11.30am.  We went in and got some drinks and waited for the kitchen to open for lunch orders. 

What a lovely day catching up with Margaret and Trevor Aird from South Australia.  We spent a total of about 3 hours with them and we were exchanging information about places to visit and stay.  They have been here for 3 months and leave for Melbourne a fortnight before we do.  Unfortunately today, doing something – Darryl has pulled a muscle in his back.  It is being treated with heat packs (as he finds cold packs aggravate it), Fisiocreme and T.E.N.S. [Transcutaneous Electronic Nerve Stimulus] machine.

Thurs 16^th.  Today would have been Darryl’s Dad’s Birthday.  He would have been 84.  Happy Birthday Alan.  Loved and missed every day.

Today is our Woolnorth Tour. Woolnorth was originally owned by the Van Diemen’s Land Company after a grant from Governor Arthur.  I wanted to do this when we were here 12 years ago and today it is happening :D.  We headed off at 10.30 for the 11.30 tour – only to realise 15minutes into the journey that Darryl had not picked up his camera and therefore all the photos would be on my phone.  I have not been able to upload them to DRIVE so am unable to put any on this update of the blog.

We arrived at 11.10am at the pickup point and within 5 minutes our tour guide was there too so we all hopped on the bus and away we went – the five of us.  Out to see the turbines of the windfarm first.  The original towers are 60meters high with 32 metre blades.  The control box on the back of each turbine is the size of a 50-seater bus.  The second windfarm that was made at Stradland Bay has 80metre towers with 42metre blades.  We only visited the ones at Bluff Point.  We went into an information building after being told that we could do a ‘selfie’ with the reflection of the ocean or windfarm in the glass.  We did both :D  From here heading WEST it is 11,800km to South Africa and 20,000km to South America following a straight line.

Back to the bus and out to the Woolnorth Homestead.  Here we went into the shearing shed with a 13 stand, raised floor shearing platform.  They used to have Corriedale and Poll Dorset sheep on the station, but the last sheep were here in about 2007.  They now have 9 dairy farms on Woolnorth and 4 others throughout the north west.  There are over 1800 cattle per dairy and they milk them twice a day, and they strip graze them.  Since the sale to the Chinese last year, 4 dairies have been ear-marked to close and they are going to put in organic vegetable farms.

After leaving the homestead we drove out to the Wind-assessing station at Cape Grim, where it has been determined that Woolnorth has the cleanest air on the planet (there are about 9 other wind testing stations scattered throughout the globe) but the ‘gas’ levels have been gradually increasing since the first test in 1976.  Apparently you can Google ‘Cape Grim’ and find the levels.

We then visited ‘The Doughboys’ which is a set of three islands that were named such due to the way they looked like freshly baked breads to the first explorers.  As you look at some of them you and imagine an elephant lying down with his trunk in the water.  There is also a bay that has a raised rocky formation that looks a bit like the island of Tasmania.  We saw Trefoil Island which has been handed back to the Aboriginals of Tasmania and is a breeding ground for Mutton Birds.  We also saw Black Pyramid in the far distance and Hunter Island with Three Hummock Island in the rear with Walker Island off to the right.  We did not get a clear look at these but a hazy outline only.  At one point the bushy point of the furthest North West point of Tasmania was indicated and then we returned to Woolnorth Homestead.  We saw Cape Barren Island Geese in the fields as we returned.  At the homestead we were able to exit the bus and wander through the ‘Cookhouse Cottage’ built in the early 1840’s.  Beautiful wooden floors, rocks in the kitchen, ?lath and daub? walls and painted calico ceilings.  Tiny rooms in which a family of 6 lived and the wife was also the cook for the station-hands and the convicts.

We arrived back to the car at 1.15pm.

Off towards Smithton and called into Montagu Campground to have a look.  Darryl found some HUGE stingrays coming up to where the fisherman was cleaning his catch.  We arrived in Smithton at about 1.45pm and decided it was time for lunch.  It has been hard enough finding something for me to eat that is Gluten free, but our friend Chris is Grain-free, no potato, starches or sugars.  Mind you -- we have come across some places that have a bulk amount of gluten-free treats and meals but because most of them still have grains (flours) then Chris is unable to eat them.

Friday 17^th we headed in to Stanley.  Some of Chris’s branch of the ACC – the Lakeside Drifters – were going to the NUT and having Morning Tea at the top, so we dropped Chris at The Nut and Chairlift and Darryl and I headed out to Highfield House.  We stopped at a lookout on the way up and took a ‘selfie’ looking back toward Stanley and then spent nearly 2 hours going through the House and the property that belonged to Van Diemen’s Land Company. A beautiful home designed by Henry Hellyer, who was an architect/surveyor in the colony for a whole 6 years prior to committing suicide in 1832.  In the time that he was here he completed most of the survey of the north west, the Woolnorth properties and built individually Hellyer Road in Burnie – forging through the rainforest.  There was a lot of speculation over his death but it was officially recorded ‘that he met his death by his own hand’.

After traipsing through the property we headed back into Stanley and up to the Nut to get Chris.  Had a coffee here before going back to the information Centre – where Chris stayed for the free WiFi – and Darryl and I followed the history walk, but by Car.  His back seems to be improving and then it gives him a good spasm and we are back at square one.

After during the drive around, we collected Chris and headed into town to Touchwood Café for lunch.  An up-market establishment but the food and service was very good.  Would have liked the soup but unfortunately it was sold-out.

Saturday 18^th.  Today we headed out to Dip Falls and The Big Tree before heading along the back roads to Edith Creek and up to Allendale Gardens.  These gardens have been a labour of love for Loraine and Max Cross and it was lovely to wander them and see so many flowers in bloom.  It is also starting to look like it needs a lot of help.  Max and Loraine are not young anymore and some of the gardens are overgrown.  How they manage to keep on top of the growth in the forest area and keeping it cleared of fallen trees and branches is amazing.  If you get the opportunity – go and see it.  What a wonderful garden by two beautiful people.

After Allendale Gardens we headed back down through Edith Creek to Sumac Lookout in the Tarkine. We crossed the Kanunnah Bridge over the Arthur River To get to the Lookout and then travelled back to Smithton.  Got some more groceries and fresh Chicken for dinner and back to the van.

Sunday 19^th.  Got the laundry done and dried and have spent the day getting the blog updated. :D

So now to try and get some internet coverage, upload to blog and add some photos .

8^th March new update

Mon 20^th Feb Left the Caravan park at about 9.30am and travelled through Wynyard to Burnie and on to Waratah.  We camped in the council campground and then went for a drive around the town and checked out the Waterfall and the Water Wheel, before checking the Stamping Mill and the ‘Philosophers hut’.  I did the driving today as Darryl has pulled his back – somehow.

Tues 21^st. up and on the road by 8.15 as we were heading to Cradle Mountain to do the Dove Lake Walk.  We weren’t sure how Darryl would go but he started out and completed the 6km trek in just over 3 hours.  The last part was the worst as it was all stairs UP and then down. (We had gone clockwise on the recommendation of the lady who gave us our shuttle bus tickets [better views of the lake] but I think we should have gone anticlockwise to get all those steps out of the way first up and then we could have taken it easy on the boardwalk).  My knees played up for about a week afterwards :D

Once completed we caught the bus back to base and then had lunch and then went back to Waratah.  On the way back we continued on to check out Savage River mining.  They mine magnetite here and send it through a slurry pipeline to Cape Latta (out from Stanley) but there wasn’t much to see as it is all closed to the public.  So back to Waratah.  The pub at Waratah was sold and the new owner is using it as a B+B and only serves canned/bottled beers on a Friday or Saturday.  We were hoping to go for dinner but no meals are now served :C

Wed 22 We left Waratah at approx. 11am after visiting the local museum and headed down through to Tullah.  The road from the Cradle Mountain turnoff to Tullah is being widened so we had to stop several times for the stop/go controls.  This journey was only 49km but took us 1 ½ hours.  We then headed out to Lake Macintosh and the campground.  You are able to camp here for up to 7 days.  A nice protected spot from the winds.  We had lots of campers coming and going whilst there.

Thurs 23.  We were planning on doing the drive out to Reece Dam today BUT the weather was very overcast with misty rain and heavy/low cloud cover.  So we drove down through Tullah to Rosebery.  A great little town.  The mine there is now 7 on/ 7 off and the miners aren’t spending their money here.  We had a great coffee in the bakery before having a walk up and around town.  There was a really good ‘feel’ to the town.  They have a community garden and on the way back to the car, they had put some of the veggies out for sale by donation.  We had also visited the local heritage centre which at $5 entry was VERY interesting for such a small centre.  We then returned to the van after having a good drive around Rosebery.

Fri 24 was much the same as yesterday – but colder – so we stayed around the camp.

Sat 25 was bright and sunny so off we headed for our drive.  Out past Bastyan Dam, Reece Dam and down to Zeehan.  Wonderful country and great views.  We stopped at the ‘Pit Stop’ café before heading back to Tullah and the vans.  We decided that because most things were closed on Sunday that we would stay at Lake Macintosh and head down to Zeehan to camp on Monday

Mon 27^th Feb.  Headed off for Zeehan at 9.15 and arrived at 10.30am.  Booked in and stayed for 2 nights.  Got the washing done and dry and then did some weaving.  Our friends – Doug and Leura Cathcart (from the ACC) – are doing the ½ day train trip from Queenstown today and will be in the park about 7.30.  We look forward to catching up with them.  They have not long completed the 3-capes Walk from Port Arthur.  Darryl cooked up the prawns that we got from the markets in Penguin BUT they weren’t very nice – they were full of sand and gritty. 

We had a lovely 2 hours with Doug and Leura before we called a goodnight :D

Tues 28^th – Doug and Leura left at about 10am heading to Wynyard.  Chris and I headed out to the heritage Museum in Zeehan.  We were given a 10% off voucher from the park owners.  Adults $25 concession $20 Children $14.  We didn’t use the 10% voucher as it was cheaper for us as Concession holders.  What a great place.  We were just going up the stairs when we heard a ‘Piper’ playing.  We went back down stairs and out the front to listen to him play.  Absolutely lovely.  Back in and through the rest of the exhibits.  This Museum covers about 7 acres and includes the Police Station, the Theatre, the Masonic Lodge and many outbuildings and even has a couple of tunnel displays and experiences.  It Took Chris and I about 2 ½ hours to go through it all.  Afterwards we headed back to the vans and Darryl – as he had decided not to come along.

Wed 1^st March – Happy birthday to Darryl’s brother Neville – and we are headed off again – 45km down to Strahan on the ‘straightest road on the West coast’ and checked into the Strahan Golf Club RV Park.  The two caravan parks were booked out.  We then went for a drive into town and along the waterfront and found somewhere for lunch and then collected our tickets for both the Gordon River Cruise and then the West Coast Wilderness Train. 

Thurs 2^nd – up and out by 7.45am as we have to be on the train by just after 8am.  What a great day!!!!  We pulled out of the Regatta Point Train Station at 8.35am and reached Queenstown at 12.25pm.  We then had our lunch and a 15min guided tour of Queenstown main street before boarding the train at 2pm and arriving back in Strahan at 6.15pm.  We were in the Wilderness carriage and had champagne on arrival with Canapes before our first stop at Lower Landing – where we had honey tasting and the Leatherwood Honey was --- delicious.  We then had Morning tea before the second stop of Dubbil Barril – where we had a 10 minute walk through the rainforest.  Before continuing we had to await the arrival of the train from Queenstown with the half-day trip and then we could progress onto the ABT rack and pinion part of the track.  This uphill journey in a 1:20 gradient and down the other side is 1:12 and 1:16 gradient.

On the return journey we were given a fruit platter before we stopped at Lynchford – where we could try our hand at Gold-panning – unfortunately we didn’t ‘strike gold’.  We then had  a cheese platter before another stop at Dubbil Barril and then we were given a sweet treat before another stop at Lower Landing.  What a Day!!!  We were almost feeling like we had to ROLL off the train after all that food.

Back to the van and preparing for tomorrow.

Fri 3^rd – we were out again by 7.45 am and onto the Gordon River Cruises – Lady Franklin II Catamaran for our day on the water.  We boarded just after 8am and then on our way by 8.30am.  We went around through Macquarie Harbour and out through ‘Hells Gate’ and because the sea was calm and the weather good – the captain took us right out so we could see Cape Sorell Light House – one of the tallest in the Southern Hemisphere at 85m.  We then went back through the ‘Gate’.  It is known as Hells Gate as the convicts that were on Sarah Island said it was ‘the gates of Hell on Earth’.  We then went down through the harbour and past several Salmon farms before slowing right down to enter the Gordon River.  We then travelled 15km up the river to Heritage Landing and a very short 200m boardwalk through the vegetation before returning to the Lady Franklin.  The reflections on this part of the river were amazing!!  We were then served our buffet lunch whilst going back down the river and into the harbour to Sarah Island.  Sarah Island was a penitentiary for 12 years PRIOR to the opening of Port Arthur.  It has an amazing story to tell.

After our hour-long guided walk of the island we boarded the catamaran and headed back to Strahan – arriving just after 2pm.  We then drove around to ‘People’s Park’ and I did the walk to Hogarth falls.  2.4km round trip to a small Cascade falls.  Darryl and Chris stayed in the car.

We then went to ‘Molly’s Café’ for dinner.  A very filling meal and then back to the vans.

Sat 4^th – we left Strahan and headed for Queenstown.  A windy road that took about ¾ hour to go 35km.  It was great arriving in Queenstown and actually seeing trees where 12 years ago there was a lunar landscape.  The mining of Mount Lyell and the smelters had produced lots of sulphuric vapours, which when it rained caused ‘acid rain’ and it killed all the vegetation.  Over the past 12 years the locals have been amazed with the vegetation regrowth.  We camped at the ‘Gravel Oval’ which is the ONLY Heritage listed – Gravel Sports Oval in Australia.  We went for a walk down into town, through the Galley Museum and then to the Empire Hotel which has got a wonderful Blackwood Staircase.  Wonderful.  We are camped with a lovely couple from Beaudesert – Wayne and Jenelle Patricks.  Amazing who you meet on your travels.

Sunday 5^th – a Meniere’s day – not a very nice day at all :C

Monday 6^th – we managed to go up to Spion Kopf lookout to get a 360degree shot of the town.  Then we did a drive down past the golf club, through Lynchford and out to Crotty Dam and Darwin Dam on Lake Burbury.  We then came back past three power stations before returning to town.  Back to the vans and collected the washing and into town to get it done.  We also topped up the groceries.

I then had a rest as my head wasn’t quite right after yesterday.  A brain fog and residual headache and nausea were not real pleasant.  Wayne and Jenelle moved on to Derwent Bridge today.

Tues 7^th we headed to Derwent Bridge.  Up the ’99 bends’ of Mount Lyell to Gormanston.  I then think that there were 200 bends before we reached Derwent Bridge. :C  We were surprised to see that Wayne and Jenelle were still here too.

We set up in the front yard of the Derwent Bridge Hotel, before making lunch.  We then drove out to Lake St Clair and then on to ‘The Wall’.  A 100m Sculpture wall from Wood.  There are 100 1-metre-wide by 3-metre-high panels that make up the wall and a few independent sculpted pieces throughout the display.  We then went for a drive toward Tarraleah and a side road to bypass the hills down into the power stations and back out again.  It is a narrow dirt road with about 6 narrow single-lane bridges.  We then turned left and went into Tarraleah and checked the power station.  We then returned to the main road, down into Tungatinah power station and back UP the road toward Derwent Bridge.  We called in to Binney lake and then Brady’s Lagoon and past Bronte Lake before arriving back at the vans.  We then visited the pub for a drink and stayed for dinner.

Chris has decided that she will travel the bitumen tomorrow and we will do the gravel road.

Wed 8^th – Happy Birthday to myself :D, and Chris and also our ACC friend Jo and Malcolm.  We went across the road to ‘The Hungry Wombat’ Café at the service station [because they serve a hot breakfast] before returning to the vans and preparing to move on.  Whilst packing up Darryl got chatting to Wayne and Jenelle again and found out that Wayne is the cousin of Janine Beckett – Matthews mum.  Janine’s Mum and Wayne’s Mum were sisters. A very Small world indeed.

We travelled on to Mount Field National Park Campground and will be here for a few nights whilst doing a few day trip and checking out the Gordon River Dam and some waterfalls in the National park.