Our camp at Launceston
This is a pic of Old Mac's Farm where we stayed while in Launceston.
$10 a night with access to water & toilets. A picturesque stay for 5 nights.
Although we were rained in for a day & a night. In fact we were on flood watch
for a couple of days. Luckily, our van, which is far left was high enough
not to have be moved, but other vans on a lower level had to be moved to higher ground.
Anyway, it was a good base to range around & see the countryside.
Our first day took us to Beaconsfield, scene of the gold mining cave-in in 2006,
where 2 miners were trapped underground for 2 weeks, fortunately they were rescued,
but 1 miner was killed.
It was a minor earthquake that caused the rockfall that trapped the miners 1km underground.
14 were lucky to get out, but 2 were trapped in a small cage, which saved their lives,
while the miner who was out of the cage on a machine, was crushed.
The site is now a museum.
A waterwheel driving stampers that crushed the ore, although steam was the usual
form of propulsion in the early days of the mine which dates back to 1877
At its peak, employing over 700 men, & recovering over 26 ton of gold.
Jan tickling the museum's ivories
After leaving Beaconsfield, we travelled north to Beauty Point,
and had lunch overlooking the Tamar River.
Then it was on to Greens Beach to see some chainsaw sculptures in a yard.
Next day, we took a trip up to Georgetown, on the East side of the Tamar River,
with Beauty Point being on the West side.
We found more Chainsaw sculptures there.
Went on to the Leaning Church Winery hoping for some lunch.
Missed out there, but Jan took an outside & inside pic of the church.
Me feeling very pious in my yellow Billabong Tshirt, & studded Harley Davidson Belt.
Came back home via Lilleydale Falls, a nice walk up to the falls,
through luscious ferns & tropical plants.
Had a dance at Launceston Country Club on Sunday & Wednesday night,
& had the pleasure of catching up with Wilma Carson who lives in Launceston & publishes
Wilma's Gigs & Events in Tasmania, a reliable source of
music & dance events, Festivals, & Dances in Tasmania.
A go-to entertainment guide when in Tassie.
Father & Son Duo, Rino & Jade Morea, playing both nights while we were there
Very entertaining, & very danceable music.
On the last day in Launceston, we went on the Chairlift at the Cataract Gorge,
wandered round the gardens, walked the old suspension bridge,
had a look at the old tearooms & Rotunda. All the while, there were peacocks
wandering throughout.
We left Launceston on Thursday, & headed for Bridport, which is on the North Coast,
overlooking Bass Strait, where the Bridport to Flinders Island Ferry leaves from.
We're staying at the Bridport Tourist Park, right on the Beachfront.
The Van park is about 2kms long, & terraced, with most sites giving an ocean view.
Looking out from our caravan at Bass Strait.
only the bird's got a better view!
We're only here for 3 days, so we took off on the 1st day to have a look at
Lulworth, Weymouth & Bellingham.
No waves here like that!
Deserted beach at Lulworth
Looking over the Pipers river at low tide from Bellingham to Weymouth
big tide differences here. This area is full at high tide.
Moving on tomorrow for St. Helens on the East Coast.
