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Tasmania 2020 B |
| We spend Sunday night close to the boat. We slept here several times over the years as well as a lot of others who go on the boat. The boat trip was uneventful. Ten hours. You are not allowed to take any fruit or vegetables in to Tasmania. We arrived late in the afternoon and spend the night in the car park of Woolworths. Next morning we drove a whole 30 KM to Penguin and found a camping spot overlooking the ocean. Next day another 30 KM to Burnie. There is a river with platypus in it because we have seen it years ago but despite spending hours looking, nothing. Another camp overlooking the ocean. In Wynyard there is a Dutchman that grows tulips but never in bloom when we are there. Another crop they grow here are poppies. Tasmania produces 50% of the legal world trade. It is a lovely part of Tasmania. Rolling hills and fantastic views. There is also a picturesque lighthouse. Another 40 KM and Stanley. This is famous for the hill called the Nut. There is a cable car to the top but that is no fun. I have been up there several times over the years but this was the first time there was no gale force wind. |
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| Poppy field The Nut at Stanley |
| 31 January. We did not travel very far. Smithton and a nice spot
in the harbour. Walking distance from town which was good so we
could have dinner in town. The road to Marrawah is away from the
coast and a bit wobbly. But the camping area is at the coast. From
our site we could see the ocean. There were quite a few others
camped here also. Next day was cold and rainy, so we decided to stay
another day. It was still windy and drizzly but that happens when
you near the edge of the world. This time we did not take the boat
trip on the Arthur River. Just after we left here the brake light
went on on the dashboard. When I tried to stop in a
turnout the bus just kept slipping towards a drain. Luckily it
stopped just before that. There was enough brake fluid, so something
else must have gone wrong. As I found out later the gray water tank
had moved backwards and rubbed a hole in the flexible brake line and
only the front brakes worked. Had to drive very carefully back to
Smithton where we stopped overnight near the harbour again. Here was
a flat bit of asphalt ant this is when I found out about the oil
leak. Next day saw the two garages the town has and one of them
agreed to let me stay there when I took the grey water tank out
which took me a couple of hours. The courier picked up the part and
brought it to Burnie where a new one had to be manufactured. Early
the next afternoon I had the new part and again a few hours to put
it all back together. Ready to roll again late afternoon. Stayed the
night at tall timbers overnight stop. Time to get ready for the
Devonport rally. Firs the Laundromat in Wynyard. We did not have
enough coins to get all the washing dry. Camped again near the ocean
just to put the washing lines out. This also gave me time to repair
a grey water hose. Only 40KM from Devonport and decided to stay here
for the night. 6 February. Next morning empty cassette and fill the water tank more shopping and ready for the rally. When we got there we heard that there were only 150 motorhomes booked. When we walked around we saw a few familiar faces or people who recognised us from previous rallies. |
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| Edge of the world Davenport CMCA rally |
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Monday 10 Feb. After the free BBQ time to hit the road again. Spend the night in Evandale. We will be back here on the 22nd for the Penny Farthing championships. After a small detour through Campbelltown on to Scamander where we spend a few days with Lies Schippers and Paul Dingjan. We know them from when they lived in Townsville. The weather is on and off rain and sunshine. On Friday further north to the Bay of Fires. This time we were lucky to have a spot overlooking the ocean. Two years ago we tried the same spot but all booked out. First day here the weather cleared and no wind. What a difference one night makes. No rain, but overcast and a very strong wind which made for a very rough sea. We stayed here for four days. The weather is slowly clearing up. Tuesday we drove around Binalong bay. Beautiful place. Can well imagine why it is so popular. |
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| Bay of fires we are one of the white dots. Binalong Bay |
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Time to move on again. Only 50 KM to Derby. This
is Australia's BMX capital. There are tracks throughout the hills.
My turn to cook again and the meal in the pub was to our liking.
Another 50 KM next day to Scottsdale. This free camp was packed. Hot
showers and toilet always attracts a lot of campers. Every time we
turned on the radio there were ads for the local bakery spruiking
their pies. They were very good. After that we sat in the van all
day because it was cold and raining. Inside, with the heater on very
comfortable. |
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| Lavender farm before and after harvesting Penny farthing championships Evandale |
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Off to Evandale for the penny farthing
championships and the markets. It was a full day of walking around,
bikes, market stalls, old costumes and car displays. Next day market
day. This took a couple of hours. And heading south. Clarendale is
an stately home from the early 1800s. last time we were here we were
not allowed inside because of renovations. They are still ongoing
but we were allowed inside this time. Very grand in it's day but no
toilet, running water or electricity. Kitchen in a separate
building. A lot of the penny farthing riders had a social get
together here. Next stop Campbell Town for an overnight stop. There
are all old (For Australia) settlement towns where most
infrastructure is build by convicts. Heading east again to the
coast. We found a picturesque beach Little beach. Hardly anyone
there the ocean in front of us and a small fresh water stream beside
us. Two nights here and off to Wineglass bay in the Freycinet
Peninsula. This is one of Tasmania's most famous destinations.
This time we did not buy a National park pass so I had to buy a one
day pass because there was one walk I had not done previously. It
took two days to get in to Hobart. Luckily the weather cooperated.
around 23 during the day and dry although during the night the wind
was so strong it rocked the bus and blew my spare tyre cover off.
The main reason to go to Hobart is the Salamanca market. It is huge
and a wide variety of wares. All we bought was food. Next day to
Naomi Black and John Jones. Naomi is family from Susan. They invited
us for a BBQ and they really packed out. Later in the afternoon
drove to Hamilton where we camped for the night. Overnight the
temperature plummeted to 13 degrees. During the day we must have
climbed a fair bit because the temperature went down to 8 degrees.
We did not drive very far and camped beside a lake. We did not see
any of the other campers outside. Windy and 10 degrees. This would be
a beautiful spot if the sun was shining and 25 degrees. |
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| Wineglass bay Our overnight camp in Hobart |
| Drove via Queenstown to Sheffield. We got there early for the steamfest. Saw on a pamphlet that if you volunteered you did not have to pay for camping and entrance. Signed up the next day. I did not have to work very hard. Collating pamphlets. Assisting at the gate or the train crossing. After five days Steamfest all over. Because of the volunteering I did not see as much as I would have done but all in all a good experience. |
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| Susan watching the steam engines Seals at Bruny Island |
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Tuesday 10 March. Heading south towards Hobart again. On the way
down we passed "for Australia" old towns build by convicts.
Houses build out of local sand stone. We planned a boat trip to
Bruny Island. The weather was deteriorating and we booked the day
before it really turned nasty. There is nothing worse than taking an
open fast boat trip when it is raining. The day turned out well. We
saw spectacular coast line, seals dolphins, an albatross and lots of
other birds. The day was perfectly organised. Lunch ready when we
got back. Next day towards cockle creek. Two years ago we had a
nasty incident on this road when we nearly ran of the road. See
Tasmania 2018. This time lots of rain and cold days and nights. The
heater is working overtime. This time we did not pay for an national
park pass and we can not enter as we did before. But there is plenty
to see outside the parks. And also no pleasure walking in the rain. |
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| Oyster Kilpatrick Us with Gwen Renaldis |
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This time the trip north was uneventful. Spend the night with
Troy Sharpe in Hobart. He is an old friend from Paul and he lived
with us for a short while long ago. Next stop Oaklands and Gravelly
Beach for the night. Every night is getting colder. The next three
night were spend with Gwen Rinaldis. She is a member of out
motorhome club and we met years ago and now living in Tasmania. She
had a few jobs for me to do which I liked. She lives north of
Launceston. We had a very pleasant three days here. In the meantime
it is very frustrating with the Corona virus as far as our
travelling plans are going. The last few days were spend overlooking
the ocean near Penguin. The weather even cooperated. ******************************************************************* |
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29 March. We are back on the mainland. Parked in front of a tyre
place for the night and got 6 new tyres for the bus. We arrived at
Paul's place later in the afternoon and Paul came back from work
about 6PM. We had a pleasant evening with him early to bed for Paul
because his alarm clock went of at 5AM. Susan had to do the washing
first and because it was a beautiful day everything dry by 3PM and
on the way north. First night in Shepparton. Only 70 KM from the
border. When we got there there was no evidence of any border
control. The second day we drove 300 KM and I plan to do this every
day unless we pass a nice camping spot. Still over 2000 KM to go.
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| Did a spot of fishing in Dubbo. To big to put in the freezer that's why I towed it to the next available BBQ. No luck for us. |
| Fuelled up in St George. The fuel price is not going down here
as fast as on the coast. 124.7 C/L Only a few days to go to get
home. The route we chose is the shortest but also the most boring.
Hundred of KM between places and only huge farms. Some crops wheat
and corn. After St. George: Roma, Emerald, Clermont, Charters Towers and home.
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Arrived home Wednesday morning 8th of April. |
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Last camp site |
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