This Adventurous Age

Adventures travelling and working around Australia.

Monthly Archives: August 2017


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2000 Travels January 22

 SATURDAY 22 JANUARY     HOBART

We were up fairly early. John drove off to get the papers, plus some yoghurt, which R wanted for breakfast, rather than our staples of grapefruit and weetbix. After John came back with the yoghurt, she decided to have a toasted tomato and cheese sandwich, instead.

Breakfast over, we drove into Hobart, to go to the major attraction of the Salamanca Place Markets. Salamanca Place is in the docks part of Hobart and the old stone buildings that line one side of it were once warehouses, dating from the early 1800’s. Every Saturday, there is a large open air market held there – fresh produce, food, crafts.

We trudged around the markets for several hours, basically just following R from stall to stall. I bought some cherries – we seem to get through a lot of these, lately! R bought some wood products, and an enamel picture of irises – we gave her the $50 for this, as an early birthday present.

R and J had bratwurst hot dogs for lunch; I bought a loaf of bread and ate some of that.

Overall, we had a comprehensive exposure to the market stalls, I thought. I’d have liked to explore some of the really interesting exhibition centres and galleries that occupy some of the former warehouses, but the others were not interested.

We suggested doing the two hour Derwent River – Iron Pot Light boat trip and R was keen on that idea.

We had a wander around the Constitution Dock area, whilst waiting for the cruise time. The former IXL Jam Factory and warehouse buildings by the Dock are superb. I think I read somewhere that they are to be restored and developed, possibly as some type of accommodation complex – what a great location!

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The old IXL Jam Factory at the Constitution Dock area

There was a beautiful Huon pine sailing boat moored at the dock.

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Huon Pine sailing ship

The boat trip went from 2pm till 4pm. We thought it was good value, even though the sea was rather rough. R went to sleep part-way through the trip, so missed much of what there was to see. It really was scenic.

01-22-2000 rough day

Stormy weather on the Derwent

The Iron Pot is a lighthouse on a small rocky islet at the entrance of the Derwent River, from Storm Bay. It is a significant feature because it is an unusual square shape; it was the first lighthouse built in Tasmania, in 1832, and the second in Australia. The name may have come from an earlier beacon here – a fire lit in an iron whaling pot. Once there was, as well, a two storeyed lighthouse keeper’s house and an assistant keeper’s house, on this small bit of rock!

01-22-2000 Iron Pot from boat

The iron Pot Lighthouse

Back on land, we did a short walk around the core of historic Battery Point. As the name suggests, there was a gun battery here – probably due to fears of French invasion. The area that grew behind it was home for the garrison officers and for sailors.

We explored Kelly’s Steps – built by a sea captain to reach his cottage, Hampden Road, Arthurs Circus – little cottages built around a central garden area, that once would have had the flagpole for the morning assembly. My best friend, whilst at uni in Hobart in the 60’s, rented one of these cottages. It is a fascinating area.

Today was a full one, marred a little by poor weather and rain. John did well to manage as much walking and standing about as he did.

Refuelled Truck on the way back to the van – 76cpl.

Tea was gazpacho, pork with garlic and mushrooms, and strawberries. R did not like the idea of cold soup when I told her what we were having, and asked that hers be heated up.

We did not stay up very late, because we had planned an early get away for tomorrow, for a big day out, to Port Arthur area. As R only has five days here, we would be busy every day.


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2000 Travels January 21

FRIDAY 21 JANUARY     HOBART

Today was still windy and definitely colder. Heatwave over!

We put the sides onto the annexe, to make a “room” for R’s coming visit, and rearranged the storage inside Truck, to free up the back seat for a passenger. Set up the banana lounge bed, complete with the two sleeping bags, since it is getting colder.

We drove to Glenorchy and did a food shop. At the library there, John had booked an hour on the internet. I’d planned to try to do some research on mum’s family, while he was doing that. However, I needed CDRom access to the Pioneers Register. I was able to apply for a full birth certificate for mum, to start the backtrack process. That cost $25. It was a pity I didn’t start this process earlier, as I could have gotten a booking for the CDRom at the library.

We went back to the van, unloaded the shopping, then John went to bowls practice at the local club.

Tea was gazpacho, bread, cheese. John also had some little skinless franks. I had coleslaw. Stewed apricots to finish.

After tea we chatted for a while with a 14 year old who was camped near us. He told us his dad had been killed by falling logs, eight years ago. John tried to persuade him not to leave school too early.

We drove out to the airport, to collect R from her flight, arriving at 10.35pm. Then it was 15 minutes late. It was dark by then, and R seemed very impressed with the city lights and their reflections in the river, as we drove back across the Derwent. It really was very pretty.

Back at the van, we talked for a while, so it was 1am before we all retired to bed. R said she was satisfied with the annexe arrangements.


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2000 Travels January 20

THURSDAY 20 JANUARY     HOBART

It was an extremely windy day.

We needed a quiet day, as John was kept awake through the night by pain in the hip.

The Australian Open tennis was on TV, for entertainment.

I made gazpacho soup – always very time consuming and fiddly.

For tea we had some of the gazpacho, then a creamy vegetable and chickpea curry, followed by stewed apricots. John stated categorically that he does not like vegetarian curries!

We phoned K and left a message to send mail. John phoned sister H and talked with her for a while.

The night was really windy. Much flapping of the awning edges, and rocking of the van, but everything held together.


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2000 Travels January 19

WEDNESDAY 19 JANUARY     HOBART

After breakfast, drove into central Hobart. We went first to Myers, where I bought some wool, John  a new shirt, and I got a pair of navy blue Dunlop Volley sneakers, that were on special.

Checked out A&R and were told that my ordered book was still not in.

At Glenorchy Target, we bought a new pillow, a mattress protector and a blue pillowcase – the latter so that John can use the old pillow on his seat in the van. He is finding that the foam seat base is too hard for his hips.

For some reason, John’s hip was hurting a lot after the walk from the car park to the shops.

Back at the van, I read. John played computer games.

Tea was cold chook, coleslaw followed by stewed apricots.


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2000 Travels January 18

TUESDAY 18 JANUARY     HOBART

Today was somewhat cooler, but very humid.

It was to be another driving day, targeting the Huon and D’Entrecasteaux  Channel areas.

We refuelled at Claremont first. Diesel has gone up to 78cpl.

We drove, via Kingston, to Kettering and checked out the departure times of the ferry across to Bruny Island; for future reference the ferry leaves at 9.30 and 11 am. We are not sure at this stage if we will go over and stay on Bruny Island, or maybe even do a day trip there. Have been over there before.

Backtracked a little to the township of Snug, then took the Snug Tiers Road, then the Snug Falls road. This latter one was unsealed, narrow, winding and became quite high up a hillside – quite tricky. We were able to park beside the track, and walk down to the Falls, which were still flowing.

It was a pleasant downhill walk for about a km. We ate our lunch down there – surrounded by a group from a youth camp, so it was not exactly quiet and idyllic!

Of course, what goes down….. the walk back to Truck was steadily uphill.

We then returned to Snug, and continued the drive down the Channel, with great views out to sea, followed the coast around through Cygnet to Huonville, and thus back to Hobart. Drove 142kms. It was another enjoyable day out around the superb Tasmanian coastline.

We bought two lots of cherries from roadside stalls. After I’d bought the first lot, decided we needed more, so we stopped at a second place. It is hard to have too many cherries!

Tea was the trophy chook, roasted, with vegies, followed by berries.


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2000 Travels January 17

MONDAY 17 JANUARY     HOBART

After breakfast, we went to Glenorchy shops to get some food for dinner tonight with friends V and A. I also picked up my photos – pleasing enough.

John went to bowls after lunch.

Then V phoned to say that A was sick with some bug he’d caught as soon as they arrived in Tasmania, and was getting worse, so they would not be coming to tea, after all. Although I am sorry to miss seeing them – it has been several years since we last met up – I am very glad not to be exposed to the bug!

That does not pose any food problems – everything I have will keep for our eating.

John returned from bowls with a chook prize.

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John with edible trophy

Tea was scotch fillet, mushrooms, jacket potatoes, then strawberries and raspberries.


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2000 Travels January 16

SUNDAY 16 JANUARY     HOBART

Today was hot and windy. I think Tasmania is having a heat wave.

I did the washing. No issues about it getting dry today.

While I did that, John went off for a drive up Myrtle Gully way to try to find a branch that he could make into a walking stick for R. Then he watched the One Day cricket on TV.

I pottered about in the usual ways.

The duck family is down to four.

Tea was roast lamb and vegies.


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2000 Travels January 15

SATURDAY 15 JANUARY     HOBART

This was a driving day, and another hot one, despite some cloud.  Finally, it seems, southern Tasmania is having a run of summer days!

We set out with a broad idea of exploring some of the southern Central Plateau area.

Drove up the Midland Highway again, as far as Melton Mowbray, then turned north west for Bothwell. From there, we decided to take a dirt road to the north east, to Interlaken, which is located on a narrow section of land. between Lake Sorell and Crescent Lake.

It was a pleasant route, climbing to the upland, cooler, plateau country.

We ate our picnic lunch by the lake side, at Interlaken, which was not particularly scenic, in itself. It is a place I’ve long hankered to visit, but I’m not sure why. Probably heard my cousin and his mate talk about fishing trips up there, and it stuck in my imagination. Anyway, have seen it now – and there is no reason to go back!

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Lake Sorell at Interlaken

We then drove west, to Steppes, encountering some traffic on this unsealed road, which was unexpected, as we’d met no-one else on the leg from Bothwell.

As we came close to Steppes, saw that there were hundreds of cars parked by the roadside – amazing, in the middle of nowhere! Then we discovered that it was the Steppes Rodeo! There were cars and people everywhere.

Just after we turned south onto the sealed Lakes Highway, saw a sign to the Steppes Sculptures, which we stopped to investigate. These were quite impressive bronzes  of Australian wildlife, by a Stephen Walker.

John got talking to a Tasmanian lady who was also there. He told her that I was of Tasmanian descent too, and had the scar on my neck to prove it. Facetious man! (I have a scar across my neck from a thyroid operation). Quick as a flash, she answered: “No, it’s not in the right place – has to be on the side of the neck”!  For once, John was outdone.

Then, just down the highway from the Sculptures, there was a breathalyser station! John registered zero. We decided the presence of this probably explained the traffic we’d met on the Interlaken road. Revellers from the rodeo taking the back way home.

The highway took us back to Bothwell. From there, we continued roughly south, to the Lyell Highway, near Hamilton. We wanted the more scenic route back to Hobart, along the Derwent valley. However, we found the country in the upper Derwent to be very dry – rather bare grazing country, clearly drought affected.

Today’s was a most enjoyable and varied day of driving. We covered 326kms – a huge day out in Tasmania! We bought apricots and cherries from roadside stalls, too.

Tea was fish and chips – edible but nothing special.


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2000 Travels January 14

FRIDAY 14 JANUARY     HOBART

This was another hot day.

Went to Glenorchy shops in the morning, did a food shop – this did not take long. Put film in for processing.

We lazed around camp for the rest of the afternoon, then went to 5pm bowls at the Berriedale Club, next door to the caravan park.

The bowls was fairly enjoyable. I played an average game; John was better.

We had a BBQ sausage and bread after the game – this was included in the day’s playing fee.

We got back to the van about 8pm, and had a snack of cold pizza slices.


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2000 Travels January 13

THURSDAY 13 JANUARY     HOBART

It was actually a hot day!

We left mid-morning to go to Mt Field for the day – probably a bit later than we should have left. That was due to a combination of sleeping in a bit, and then just being slow to get organized.

We went through the National Park area – headquarters and campground – that we’d previously visited and continued on the 13km road up to the road’s end at the Lake Dobson car park. This was a very attractive drive, with the vegetation changing with altitude. There is a track beyond the carpark, that goes up to the ski lodges, but it was closed off.

We had lunch in the carpark – not as bad as it sounds because the surrounding scenery was pretty good.

Then we set off to do the short Pandani Grove walk, that goes around Lake Dobson. This was absolutely beautiful – like walking in a Peter Dombrovkis calendar!

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Pandanus at Lake Dobson

That circuit was not going to take long, so at the far end of Lake Dobson, we continued on to Lake Seal, on a track that went steadily downhill and was quite rocky. There were duckboards on some marshy areas.

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Lake Dobson

It was great to be walking in typical Tasmanian high country again – a profusion of vegetation types, lakes and tarns – big and small, little creeks, surrounding hills and peaks. It is hard to describe the Tasmanian alpine environment, but it is instantly recognisable to anyone who has experienced it.

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A tarn on the Lake Webster (Seal Lake) track

It became very hot, which we were not used to, here.

We had to return the way we had come. I found the walk back uphill quite hard, and actually felt rather sick in the later stages. Due to the heat, I guess. Normally, I would have managed the uphill sections much better than I did. I was really tired by the time we reached the carpark again. We walked 7.5kms.

01-13-2000 near Lake Dobson Mt Field NP

Pencil Pines near Lake Dobson

It was a great relief to sit in Truck with the air-con going.

Despite the heat and its effects, it was a great day out.

It was 7pm when we reached Hobart again, so we bought tea from Pizza Hut.

Heard that the temperature up that way was about 35 degrees, so we did not choose the best day for a hike!

We drove 173kms.