Tassie trip 28/3/18 552km

Today was the day to get ourselves to Melbourne in time to board the boat to Tassie.

The Spirit of Tasmania II was waiting for us in Melbourne.

We bought fuel at Tintinara (diesel @125.7/l).
We stopped for a cuppa at Kaniva.
We stopped at Stawell bakery for pies and some of their award winning vanilla slice with a cup of tea.
We think we probably didn't follow the best route to the ferry terminal, but we made it before 5.30, which gave us time to sort out our gear to take on board. You are allowed to carry on a bag each for your overnight needs.  The rest stays in the car.

We passed the quarantine check (you are allowed to take green salad prepackaged and cooked vegetables) and were allowed to take our place in the line waiting to board.  Then the waiting started.  We amused ourselves by looking for the Lloyds, who were also waiting to board the boat.

Tea with the Lloyds and catching up with the Radfords were highlights of the trip across the waves.

View of Melbourne from the boat

Boarding up the ramp

Our cabin

Thanks to the new sea sickness medication and a light sea we both survived the crossing well, even taking in both food and drink on the way.

Tassie trip 27/3/18 221km

It is not a good idea to try to leave on a trip when you haven't been home for long since the last one.
Having arrived home from China on Saturday afternoon, and spending a lot of time away from home since then, we didn't have much ready to go.  The clothes were washed and I had managed to cook some veggies so that we would have some after the fruit fly checkpoints.
On Tuesday morning we both had our hair cut, we picked up relatives from the airport and then came home again to finish off the last preparation. We had hopes of making it to the border with Victoria, bit in the end we were both feeling tired and, after checking out a pleasant but very noisy spot close to the highway and train line near Coonalpyn, Trevor remembered Tolmer Rocks.
We have been here a couple of time before and had found some flat space behind the rocks along a track on a previous visit. By 5pm we had arrived, and still had some daylight to spare to set up and explore.

Being a week night we were not surprised to have this out of the way spot to ourselves. We pulled up on a flat patch and went off for a walk to check out the lovely granite outcrops which give the place it's name. 

As we drove in up the first track we disturbed one of the locals...

First campsite... Tolmer Rocks

Some of the rocks. This is 3 people high.  

We stood on top of one large rock and looked over the surrounding area.

I lay down on another and just soaked in the opportunity to be there.  The sun was warm on my face. The rock was warmed by the sun but softened and also scratchy from the moss and lichen on it. The breeze was blowing gently and the birds were singing.  You could hear the sound of their flight and the distant drone of aeroplanes as they passed far overhead in the blue sky.  So different from the busy and smoggy atmosphere we found in the cities of China. 

We enjoyed a quick meal of heated butter chicken and a good cup of tea before heading to our swags. 

The million star hotel lived up to expectations.  How lucky are we to be able to fall asleep looking at that wonderful view spread above us!!

Sturt Gorge Walk 6-3-18

Walking back up the hill from our shady morning tea break beside the gurgling creek. 

Yesterday we walked in Sturt Gorge.
A group of 18 walkers headed off for a lovely walk in just about ideal conditions (a lovely 23 degrees C was predicted)
Gary was our leader and he took us past some of the spots we have orienteered and into some countryside we have never seen before. I had no idea there was a huge lake just below Craigburn Park.

our route (in red)

We have found this walking group to be very pleasant company and there is always someone to chat to as you walk, or you can just enjoy being out in the open countryside and the ever changing views. 

We parked at Blackwood Football club and shuttled to the start of our route, finishing the walk back at the football club and then moving on to Gary's home where he showed us his amazing "bike shed man cave'' with choice of bikes (he is a riding fanatic) and entertained us on his lovely shady deck. 

Today we met Dianne (who manages the walking roster) and Richard (who manages the money) along with Leila (who is a lovely french lady). 

We are starting to remember names, but spent some of the walk checking with each other and practicing who was who. 

There is always a back marker to make sure we are all OK as well as the leader at the front.  I'm not sure what would happen if someone was badly failing to keep up. 

We started the walk heading uphill fairly steeply (there were lots of zig zags which the keen ones cut off just for fun). Here the gorge was to our left as we walked, and construction of new housing was to our right. Some of the latest additions will be very close to the walking track we travelled on. The track was clear to walk on, though you did have to watch for uneven surface which was a bit of a trip hazard. Grass had been slashed on either side, or stood chest high if not yet slashed, but we didn't pick up any grass seeds due to the cleared tracks. 

Early in the walk.

looking back along the gorge - can't see much due to vegetation

 the moon still showing over the lovely old trees

 all smiles about walking down to the creek for morning tea... a bit of a climb back up afterwards to this spot.

morning tea beside the creek

 lovely trail

Which way will we go next? 

 The Lake

 heading on after lunch

beautiful gum blossom

We surprised this fellow up in the tree.  He just wanted us to go away and leave him alone again. 

Another very enjoyable time spent with a lovely bunch of people seeing some of our wonderful countryside.