Bridport

Tasmania so far only a week in has been amazing, and just seems to keep getting better. We arrived in Bridport on Monday having driven along quiet "Australia day" roads through Exceter with a short stop in Georgetown.

Nothing is too far away in Tassie. We arrived just after lunch and found the only remaining unpowered site in the foreshore campground. Bridport was "alive" with Australia Day activity... it had a really great feel.

During holiday season Bridport grows from 2000 by a factor of 5.

We managed to shoe horn ourselves onto the site, 50m from the beach, sheltered, sunny. What more could we want.

We watched the tennis quarter finals at the pub, had fish and chips and all was as it should be.

 Our Bridport site.

We found the remnents of the once great Tasmania - Victoria pier. It was in a state of disrepair as it's not longer needed now that the ferry's are operating (Note Point Nepean in the background).







  

Narawntapu National Park

We were in the Narawntapu National Park for the Australia Day weekend. From our camp site we could look across the water to Port Sorell. We arrived on the Saturday and the parks people suggested we drive straight down and pick a site then come back to book in. Like most parks campgrounds they are first come best dressed. We stayed three nights.

The beaches here are awesome At low tide it would be 200m from the dunes to the water and all flat hard sand. The tides will actually chase you up the beach.

Rose and I did a couple of hikes, the first along a really nice shaded track behind the dunes and over a couple of headlands then back along the beach We have our Overland bags packed so we're carrying the full weight (less food) now on these walks. Rose is carrying clothing and sundries (about 8kg) and I've got bedding, tent, cooking, medical, etc (about 20kg's). We're really quite tired after 10km's+. The second hike was up to Point Vision. No beach at all, mainly forrest and fire trails.

We had 60kn winds Sunday afternoon and evening and some heavy rain. We faired pretty well. Some of the campers, not so.

Tiger snakes predominate in the area. This metre long example was going about it's own business by the side of a walking track. One group of walkers reported sighting 12 snakes during their walk. Luckily we didn't..

Rose on the trail to Point Vision. We walked from the the farthest end of the beach you can see in the upper left of the photo.... and back. Luckily it was downhill on the return.












We left on Monday headed for Bridport for no particular reason really.

Davenport - Port Sorell

We arrived in Tassie early this morning. The car and van travelled well and the crossing was smooth with only a metre swell and a 10 knot breeze.

We had a nice dinner on the ship and settled into our cabin by about 10pm.

The drive in to the ferry terminal at Port Melbourne, from Lysterfield, was very stressful. Peak hour traffic on the highway into Melbourne and a crash which slowed the traffic to a standstill was the cause. We ended up leaving the highway around the tennis centre and heading out on all manner of backstreets. It still took us 2-1/2 hours and we arrived at Station Pier just on the 45min close-off.... very anxious!

On arrival in Tasmania we drove 16km's to Port Sorell and we're now in one of the nicest parks we've stayed in, right on the beach.

Tomorrow, we're off into an adjacent national park for a night or so.

It's truly a magical place

Tennis

We were in town so why not have a look at the Australian Open. Craig and Emma were going so we joined them. I owe you a beer Craig!

The train from Upper Ferntree Gully to Richmond took an hour. Not a bad trip on a seniors Mikee Card, for $3.68 Rose had a pay double that 'cause she's no where near as old as me.

Court 11. We bought a ground pass and just walked around and watched the outside games. A great atmosphere.

The balls are pretty big.. 

Eildon (Bonny Doon)

We have family at Bonny Doon. They have recently retired to a few acres in one of the most spectacular regions in my opinion around the weir.

We let Jo and Ray know we were in the area and they invited us all over. I remember sitting down before dinner, outside, with a couple of bottles of "Red" and watched 28mm of rain fall inside 30 minutes.

The girls watched the rain from the spa...

Not a bad sunset after the rain

Howqua (Sheepyard Flats)

Mum, Dad and us headed out of Melbourne for a few days after the new year. We met up at Yarra Glen and headed north through Yea, Bonnie Doon, Mansfield. We decided to head for Sheepyard Flat at the base of Mount Buller and where a significant part of "The Man From Snowy River" was filmed.

Rose and I used to camp up there 4-5 times a year, about 30 years ago. It hadn't changed much. The road in (17km-dirt) was a little more travelled, drop toilets now exist and there's a couple of houses along the road at a place called "Howqua Hills" but it's still free and there's some great heritage walks to do along the river.

We spent a couple of nights. It was hot but the river was there if needed.

Mum and Dad on the new bridge over the Howqua River. The old bridge was replaced in '93 I think. There was a fire through the area that levelled pretty much everything

 Same bridge..

Go figure! Whilst Dad and I were fishing the girls found a scrabble board. 

Xmas Rosebud and Mt Martha

We split xmas between the Fletchers (my side) and Gilings (Rose's family). Xmas day at the Fletchers, and boxing day with the Gilings.

Our boys came down for a few days. Adrian and Renee from Brisbane and, David from Sydney. KT spent xmas with Bruce her family on the beach. It would be their last chance for a family get together before KT moved to Sydney with David.

A little lubrication before dinner always helps.

My sister brought her tree from Canada...

Robyn's get together

My Dad's elder brothers daughter (... my elder cousin!) invited us to a get together. We haven't seen Robyn and Brian (... good name that) for it must be 30 years.

I had a call from Eddy (Rose's brother) suggesting we go fishing that same day. Choices... fishing....family....fishing....family. Fishing won! 60 flathead came home with us that day. No pix so you'll just have to believe me...!

...the passing of wisdom!