Day 4: Travelling to Smithton

 

After a lovely 2 Course Breakfast at 

Grain of the Silos - Launceston

we hit the road once more.

A short 4 km sidetrack took us to Cataract Gorge.

Unable to cross the Suspension Bridge as it was being restored, I took the opportunity to take some awesome Reflections Photos.

By the time 10:00 came we were looking for Morning Tea and it didn't disappoint - 

Tea and Scones at the Van Diemens Land Creamery. 

(With Icecream tastings too!)

Anyone would think that all we did was eat - But with a lot of miles to cover today our next stop was 75 km down the road at the delightful coastal town of Penguin, where we enjoyed a Picnic Lunch with the Ducks at Hiscott Park.

Next Stop - Stanley.

Standing 143 meters above the Town of Stanley The Nut is the core of a long extinct Volcano 

It was here that I truly tested going outside my comfort zone.

A Chairlift ride to the top 

And if I had let fear get the better of me I would not have enjoyed the magnificent 360 deg views over the Town, Across Bass Strait and towards Rocky Cape National Park.

Safely back on the ground we head off to Highfield House.

"Highfield Historic Site offers a historically accurate vision of a gentleman's home and farm of the 1830s. The house is being restored over time and its elegant Regency design, convict barracks, barns, stables, and a chapel are surrounded by a large ornamental garden."  **

Highfield House, built by Edward Curr who was Chief Officer of the Van Diemens Land Company in 1824 as a home for his growing family. Times were Brutal and the environment inhospitable.

It has been sympathetically restored over the last 20 years and interesting sections retained.  

I particularly liked the selection of wallpapers on the staircase.

"The approach has been more to stabilise and retain the patinas of age than to restore it fully.

You can see the effects of time and almost feel it's passage at Highfield and the ever-present gusts of the Roaring Forties further adds to that feeling." ***

There is a haunting soundtrack playing in some rooms adding to the atmosphere, bringing a connection with the Past.

Some say the house is haunted... 

I did not sense anything but the coolness that accompanies these Historical properties.

 

Well, that concludes our trip today.  

It has been a big day, travelling 256 km. 

Dinner and accomodation for tonight is at Tall Timbers in Smithton.

Further reading and quote references:

The Nut - Chairlift

Highfield House

Restoring the Timber Floors

** Highfield Quote:

***  Restoration Quote

Day 3 - The Road to Launceston

8:00 am may have bit a BIT early to arrive at a Winery but we were not here for the Wine Tasting,

although that was on offer, 

We were here for an appointment with ...

... A Helicopter!

After the mandatory Safety Briefing it was Off to see Wineglass Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula from a different perspective.

And it was such a beautiful morning too!

We went out over the water and beyond the breakers

Coming around to see the paths we travelled yesterday..

If you are able to look closely at this photograph  - you can see The Cape Tourville Lighthouse and our Companion 'Chopper.

It was an absolutely awesome experience.

That we both thoroughly enjoyed!

But it ended all to soon and it was time to Hit the Road.

This afternoon we toured the Historic "Woolmers House" circa 1820 - Early 1840's.

There is more to this estate than what our tour covered, but taking into consideration other Historic Properties, we thought it needed a lot of restoration.

Next we were treated to an unscheduled stop at The Tea Equation.

I didn't know that tea was grown in Tasmania having the most Southerly Tea Farms in the World.

And we were treated to as many samples of the different varieties as we wanted.

Back on the Bus and 10 minutes down the road we pulled in to our stay for tonight. The beautiful Peppers Silo Hotel  - Launceston.

Situated on the confluence of the Tamar and North Esk Rivers it is a repurposed heritage building made up of four 35 m Grain Silos.

Today we travelled 190 km - Tomorrow is another Adventure

 

Click the link for more Info:

The Tea Equation:

Peppers Silo Hotel

Freycinet and Wineglass Bay

Day 2 of our tour and we are starting to get to know our fellow travellers and Crew. 

At the end of each Evening Meal we were introduced to "The  Board".  It was 

- of course- Tomorrow's Itinerary.

We were advised to "Take a Photo of this... 

That way everyone knows what we are doing and more importantly WHEN."

(I found it useful to send our DD this so family also knew where we were.)

Our Morning Tea Stop was the beautiful township of Richmond.  Here we were sent off to explore on our own.  We could have had Morning Tea at the Bus but DH needed a 'Real Coffee' so, after asking the locals we arrived at "The Best Cafe in Town"

 

Built in 1823 with Convict Labour, the Iconic Richmond Bridge with its 6 Graceful Hand Laid Sandstone Arches spans 41 meters across The Coal River.  It remains Australia's Oldest Stone Bridge still in Use.

And behind it is Australia's Oldest Roman Catholic Church!

Moving on - Our next Stop.

An Easy 600 m - 20 minute Walk to stretch our legs.

Cape Tourville Lighthouse - At just 11 meters this small unmanned lighthouse dosent need to be tall on this cliff - giving it an elevation of 126 meters.  

It was built in 1971 to replace the inaccessible Cape Forestier Light.

Gotta love a Hike with a Map... 

and a recommendation to "Take a Photo of this before you set off"

Not that it was too useful once we started walking, there was only one option and that was to follow the path!

And Follow the Path we did - until we reached the point where we could return to the Bus or Keep going..

Somehow I got talked into the latter.

I hadn't packed my Hiking Pole as I knew that there was a stash in that Aladins Cave that is "Under the Bus" - so taking a firm grip on that borrowed Pole - I carefully set of.

Was it worth it?

To quote our D.DIL - 

OH Heck Yeah!

Wineglass Bay Lookout is a 3km Return trip on a Grade 3 Track that is supposed to take 1.5 hours.

Well, If you want to actually enjoy the Hike and take many Photos and stop to listen to The Bush, and lay down Memories...  

It is going to take you longer.

Well, from here it was on to our accomodation for the Night at Freycinet Lodge.

Click the Links for Further Information on the places we have Visited:

Richmond Bridge - 

Cape Forestier Light

Wineglass Bay

Hobart to Port Arthur

Today we set off on a 12 day Adventure.

When we discovered that Outback Spirit did a tour of Tasmania, and it was on sale... 

We didn't hesitate to  book our next adventure.

After all - the best way to Tour is to get someone else to do the driving! 

Without stops it will only take an hour and a half to drive to Port Arthur. 

We will be taking all day with stops at Dunalley, Pirate Bay and Eaglehawk Neck.

(Picnic Lunch at Dunalley)

Between 1832 and 1870 The escape route from Port Arthur at Eaglehawk Neck was protected by a line of (up to) 18 Ferocious Dogs - Chained close enough to touch but not fight each other.  Known as "The Dog Line" it was an early warning system and an effective and Cruel deterrent. 

Port Arthur is possibly the most well known Tourist Stop in Tasmania. 

 

We spent 3 hours in the Peaceful Quiet wandering it's well kept grounds - reading many Plaques that reminded us of its Convict Past.

The Convict Settlement here didn't change Australia - It closed in 1870.  

Today I stood at a Memorial for an event 22 years ago that shattered the quiet of Port Arthur and changed Australia forever.

A day when a lone youth with too many guns senselessly murdered more People, than in any event in Australia's history.

35 including 2 Children, and wounding 23 others.  

It was the event that shocked a Nation - 

It was the event we said "NEVER AGAIN" and led to the Gun Reforms that we have today.

Exploring Hobart

We have Friends and Family living in Hobart, and it was time to make good on the 

"When we come to Tassie - We will catch Up" promises.

So Coffee with a Friend (ex-Colleague of DH) 

and Dinner with my Niece.

(Stowaway Frog was a bit shy but came out of my pocket long enough to check out the menu.)

We went to the Museum where we could touch actual Antarctic Ice. 

 

And learned that unlike the North Pole, which is all frozen Sea Ice.

 

Antarctica has solid ground under it with Mountains, Plains, Valleys and Lakes!

We Strolled along the Famous Constitution Dock

- Finishing Point for the Melbourne and Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races.

...and home to some pretty awesome Restaurants.

And we are off...

... well, we will be eventually.

Today's flight from Melbourne to Hobart was delayed because QANTAS didn't want to send us off in a defective aircraft.

Then, when we were all onboard the replacement, the Pilot tells us that they can't leave because "We have no Snacks and Water" and so we waited until ..

The Pilot announces "Hey, you know what?  We have sat here long enough.  We can live without Snacks - we are going...." 

2 Minutes later ... (very dejectedly)  " they won't let us go without Water.... ".  

So Our 75 minute, 11:40 am Flight Melbourne to Hobart finally touched down at 6:09 PM

Just as well 

(once we arrived in Hobart) 

We had nowhere to Go and All day to get there!

Gone Forever ...

It was once a New Home in a New Housing Estate.

Built with Hopes and Dreams of a Family to share.

The elderly owner - All alone when we moved into the street, taught me how you can live your Senior years with Grace and Good Humour.

She eventually moved to be with her Son in Queensland and I missed those conversations at the Gate.

Today, The heavy equipment came in and reduced it to a pile of rubble - to be taken away and Hopefully, Recycled.

More of Our Street's History - Gone forever.

Another pair of 2 Story Townhouses are taking it's place.

What Hopes and Dreams will come and share our Street? 

We may never know, because Unfortunately, these Homes no longer come with Conversations at the Gate.

More Work ...

March was mainly spent plodding along with the Repairs at DD's.

An important part of this exercise was allowing the Children to Help. 

Showing GD#1 (Miss A) to paint the wall was something she quickly lost interest in.

But GD#3 (Miss P) was certainly not going to miss out -  2 years old and ready to Pitch in and help.

Encouraging her older Sister by example!

And once the Flooring Contractors were finished - It was decided that Grandpa needed help to measure up for the Skirting boards ...

I am sure DH really didn't need the help of a 6 foot long hand puppet but - Sometimes Memories are more important than Measurements ..

(Especially when you always measure twice!)

Starting Work

Back in May - DD had a problem with a thirsty Rat who caused a considerable amount of  Uninsured damage to her Kitchen. You can see the Original Post Here * What Happened in May

It has been a Nightmare - 

Physically, Emotionally and Financially.

Repairing the mess started with the Pantry Repairs and Re-fit.

(Unfortunately we can't make it any bigger - Just more efficient).

In the meantime the floorboards they have, are no longer available 

SO, instead of a small repair... 

the entire ground floor now has to be replaced.

(Taking the opportunity to remove some truly awful Carpet)

And amid all the mayhem - 

GD#3 made sure that Grandpa got ZERO work done!

Look Mum - No Hands!

I love this Photo - It shows TOTAL TRUST

Life Goes on

Introducing Grand daughter Number 5.

Another impatient lass who obviously wants to see as much of 2025 as possible.

Flora Nadalin

18th January 2025

2 weeks early 

7 lb 5 oz  (3,400 gm)

Little Sister to GD #2 & #4 

(Miss H and Miss I)

(With 5 Little Girls maybe it's time for that Embroidery Machine????)

Hello 2025

Not the best start to the New Year.

Yet, Somehow Snoopy always knows what to say...

We didn't know that Miss P's 2nd Birthday was the Last time we would talk.
The Diagnosis was brutal and They Lost Him Four Days before Christmas

Four Days after New Year we said our last Goodbyes.

Our SIL lost his Dad

Our Grandchildren lost their Abeulo

All too soon.

Rest Easy Carlos.