BreadnJamRndTassie 4/4/18 Week 26

It was an uneventful trip back to the Mainland,

a little bit of swell to rock the boat, but not

enough to give you the staggers walking down

the passageways.

Waiting, waiting, waiting to board. 

Getting on, finally after 7 hrs. Last to board the Spirit but.....

First to disembark at Port Melbourne the next morning.

We had decided to come home when we got to the mainland

instead of heading up the East Coast.

My hip was becoming an issue, affecting my surfing,

and walking any distance, & there's plenty of that in Tassie.

So after leaving the spirit, we headed for Adelaide, hoping 

to catch up with Chris & Karen.

Stopped for lunch at Dimboola, then walked the town,

taking pics as we did.

Car on the showroom floor at the car dealership, Dimboola.

Yeah, but which way to Mandurah!

Getting in to SA, we detoured to Hahndorf, hoping 

to catch the trees in the main street in their

autumn colours.

Starting to show, but a little early

We made good time, & drove 700kms that day,

staying at Murray Bridge, & then caught up with

Chris & Karen the next day.

We were lucky to arrive the day of the 

Adelaide international Kite Festival

held on the foreshore at Semaphore.

We went down to get a few pics, & have lunch

The Girls were wearing platform shoes Reg!

We stayed overnight at their place, then hit the road,

making for Ceduna, which we did, clocking 800kms

that day. Along the way, we passed a cop car

going the other way. Looking in the side mirror, I saw

him turn on his flashing lights, do a fast u turn,

&  catch up with us, with his headlights flashing 

as well.

I thought he was chasing someone up ahead, but

he pulled us over, & asked if we had a Radar Detector.

Apparently illegal in SA. His Radar Detector Detector

went off as we were coming towards him.

No detector, detected, so he breathalysed me, then we started 

talking holidays & Caravans. A nice chap, wants to 

do what we're doing with his family. 20 mins later,

I get my licence back & we're on our way. I guess I had no 

outstanding warrants, & the Van & car wasn't stolen.

Moving on from Ceduna, we made even better time,

staying near Caiguna, over the WA border,

in a bush camp, & driving 920 kms that day.

We were only able to drive those distances

because Jan would do a couple of drives

throughout the course of the days while I rested.

Also we were gaining time going West.

Getting an early start the next day, & with the weather cool

& the road good, we were making our way to Norseman.

We had some rain during the night, & the road had 

wet patches, but no problem for us.

However, about 120kms out of Norseman, we spotted 

an overturned Van in the bush on the other side of the road.

We turned back when we could to the scene of the accident.

After arriving there, as I was turning the Van around,

I got into the mud & got bogged.

That was the least of our concerns

however, as we took in the accident scene.

It was a truck carrying 2 Vans, one on the main tray,

& the bigger van that had been on a bogie trailer,

but was now smashed & on its side, 

& the bogie was upside down.

What was more worrying though, was that the 

truck engine was still running.

We apprehensively walked up to the truck,

calling out if there was anyone in there.

Initially we got no response, but after a couple

of shouts, we got a reply.

Thankfully the driver & co driver were 

in the cab, but ok. It had happened at about 2am.

It was about 10am when we got there, and 

they were waiting for a crane to come.

The Police had already been.

The driver said he was blinded by an oncoming 

car's high beam, then as the road was wet,

the bogie got out of control, & they went bush.

We were glad they weren't hurt, & a 

good Samaritan pulled us out of the mud,

enabling us to continue our drive.

The verge looked deceptively firm until it wasn't.

They were 2 brand new vans on the truck,

the one still on the truck trailer, looked ok,

but the one on its side looked a write off.

We stopped at Norseman for lunch, & as the 

Fridge was looking a little bare, we had a

delicious Pad Thai at a Café in town.

The Norseman Camels.

Moving on, we made Ravensthorpe, & stayed 

at a parking area, well off the road.

Woke up to fog the next morning & 

thundering road trains.

Called in to Lake King, & got to drive 

a half truck.(very unlike a half track)

Moving on to Lake Grace for a fuel stop, 

did a street walk, & came across a nice mural

depicting pioneer, & current women of

significance in the town.

Our last stop for the night is Boddington, before

heading home tomorrow, being Thursday.

We picked a nice spot near the river,

with a cool breeze, & a nice view.

River is just behind us.

Jan took a few pics

Hotham River

While I caught a fish.

BreadnJamRndTassie 25/3/18 Week 25

Waiting to sail away from Tassie after 4 months touring.

We left Scamander, heading to Ulverstone.

Stopping at a coffee shop called the Cow Shed,

Jan took the compulsory pics while we were there.

We drove as far as  Westbury,

& decided to stay the afternoon & night there.

Although a lot of Tassie roads are hilly & winding,

which makes the trip anywhere slower,

it's never far to the next destination.

40,80 or 100kms usually the max.

Which is very different to travelling on the mainland.

Taking a walk through the town,

Jan spotted murals on the side of some 

buildings, & had to take pics of course.

Walking along a little further, we spotted what 

looked like an old commercial fridge.

Turned out to be a public book library.

A little further on, a 2nd hand shop

had these old pedal cars out the front.

After walking the streets, we were looking for lunch,

when we spotted a former workmate & his wife

having a coffee.

After coffee & a chat, I went over to the park

for a game of cricket. That's me wicket keeping 

at the other end.

Caption that one Reggie!

One of the Georgian buildings in the main street.

Next morning we headed off for our final destination,

to stay at a Van Park at the beach at

West Ulverstone.

Spotted on the way

Our little window on the beach

from our Van setup at West Ulverstone

Took off the next day for a little day trip to Spreyton,

calling in to the Spreyton Cidery.

One  tasting plate, & a cider tasting paddle later,

& we were on the road again, back to Ulverstone.

The lighthouse at Mersey Bluff, Ulverstone.

Mersey Bluff Lookout

Me, looking sad & forlorn watching the waves

& not being able to go out.

These waves are at the entrance to Devonport Harbour

an unusual event that I at least witnessed if not surfed.

On Friday night we went to a musical evening

down on the Wharf at Ulverstone.

$5 to get in, & 3 music acts to listen to.

The 1st artist was a guy playing Blues music

on guitar & slide guitar. Very good.

He was heading off to Byron Bay Blues Festival

after the gig.

Next was the Ulverstone Junior Brass Band.

They were also very good, & were heading off

to a competition on the  mainland in the coming weeks.

The last act played Jazz & Swing music

a guy on Bass, another guy on Steel Guitar,

& a young girl also on Steel Guitar.

Great Music! We even got up for a dance or 2.

Later, we had Coffee & Dessert next door.

We climbed in this, & ate it from the inside out.

Then on Saturday night, we scored a Rock'n'Roll

dance at Devonport Football Club.

2 artists, non stop music, some great tunes

belted out by both, particularly Anthony,

who we met at the last Devonport Dance.

Such a strong voice, doing justice to Chubby Checker

and Roy Orbison songs, & others.

He works as a checkout bloke at Coles,

& breaks out in song to some of the customers!

Anthony in the foreground.

Kylie, who we met at the previous dance.

Unfortunately, our time in Tassie is almost at an end.(2 sad faces)

We've had a great time, saw a lot of the State,

but not all of course, gotta leave something for another time.

So much to see here, beautiful beaches & coastal scenery

to view in the morning, the grandeur of the mountains,

Lakes, & the spectacular lookouts of the Central Highlands

to marvel at in the same afternoon.

The locals very friendly & helpful,

& the food delicious.

The weather mild, good for walking & sightseeing.

Hobart was a nice sized city, relatively easy to 

drive in & around.

Would recommend a Tassie visit to anyone.

We sail out tomorrow night (Thursday) 

and berth at Port Melbourne on Good Friday

(didn't plan that too well!)

Will have to head inland to stay that night

as all coastal spots will be full

Don't mind that as we get to see places

we wouldn't normally see.

Bye Tassie, thanks for showing us a good time!