This Adventurous Age

Adventures travelling and working around Australia.

Category Archives: 1999 Travels


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1999 Travels November 11

THURSDAY 11 NOVEMBER     BRIDPORT

We woke up at 9am to sunshine, blue sky with a few clouds.

After breakfast, John rotated the Truck front wheels with the two spare wheels.

I walked to the shops and bought rolls for lunch, then packed some salad to fill them, when we were ready to eat, later.

We left Bridport about midday, thinking we might visit Sideling Lookout or Mt Barrow or Cypress Falls, then decided to visit the Lavender Farm at Bridestowe Estate, instead. Our time was limited, as John wanted to go to bowls practice at 4pm at Bridport.

We drove to Scottsdale where we needed to visit a bank. Looked in real estate agents’ windows, out of curiosity – prices in these parts seem fair.

It was a bit of a roundabout route to get to the Lavender Farm from Scottsdale.

An immigrant family in the 1920’s brought French lavender seeds with them and began the crop in this area, so it is an old established operation. The French lavender is the one that is of great value in the perfume industry. The shop at the farm was interesting. I bought some oils, incense and postcards. Unfortunately, the lavender is not in flower yet – it would be spectacular when it is. We watched a video about it.

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The Bridestowe Lavender Farm

Ended up eating our lunch rolls very late, like 2pm, because we couldn’t find a place to stop for lunch, on the narrow, winding roads. We probably should have just eaten in the car park at the Lavender Farm! John eventually pulled over at a road corner, in front of a fire station, and I put the filling in his so he could eat it going along. I ate mine unfilled as we went.

We got back to Bridport about 3pm, which gave John time for an hour’s fishing, before going to bowls. All he caught was a toadfish.

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I walked to the shops and went to the Post Office – there was mail for us.

There were some rain showers in the late afternoon, which gave some really pretty light effects on the bay and an interesting sunset.

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Sunlight on the jetty ruins

John came back happy from bowls practice, and has arranged to play on Saturday afternoon.

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Dusk light

There was nothing of note in the mail bag, and nothing personal from anyone.

Tea was asparagus soup, and a hokkien noodle and vegetable stir fry.


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1999 Travels November 10

WEDNESDAY 10 NOVEMBER     BRIDPORT

Again, we slept in. Yesterday’s storms had gone. The sky was blue.

After breakfast, John went fishing just down from the van. He caught a good sized flathead, which will make a good meal for him. His first Tasmanian fish!

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First Tasmanian catch!

While he was doing that, I walked to the shops, bought a paper, checked at the Post Office, but there was no mail for us. The bakery was open, after a five day closure, so I bought rolls for lunch.

About 3pm, John decided we should go to Weymouth, back to the west of here, to check out a beach the caravan park manager had told him about. Gem fossickers had been active there a couple of years ago, apparently, after petrified wood and agate.

We drove back about 30kms towards Georgetown, then took the Weymouth road, to the coast. Weymouth is where the Piper River enters the sea. We parked by the river, then walked along it to the mouth and the beach. There were some odd stake structures in the water of the river – could not work out their purpose. It was a very pleasant walk.

We then drove around to the beach which was made up of sea-polished pebbles. John found some petrified wood and we gathered a few other pretty stones. Probably spent about half an hour on the beach, looking at pebbles. Exposed as we were, the afternoon wind was rather cool.

Tea was asparagus soup, which was very nice; flathead and fries for John, I had flake from the freezer with my fries, all followed by tinned pears and yoghurt.

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The ever-changing light across Anderson Bay was fascinating


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1999 Travels November 9

TUESDAY 9 NOVEMBER     BRIDPORT

Again, we slept in fairly late.

About 11am, John went fishing – all the way to the rocks just near our van! I did a few casts too. No success for either of us.

After lunch, we drove east, out the Gladstone road, to buy some asparagus; we’d seen a sign for this as we came into town on Sunday. Bought a kilo at a very good price.

We continued driving on the Gladstone road, through pretty country, with farms and some marsh in parts. Some 20kms from Bridport, took a minor road towards the coast – to Blackmans Lagoon, where we thought there might be birdlife. There wasn’t and the lagoon was nothing special.

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Coastal dunes and vegetation in Waterhouse Conservation Reserve

We continued on a 4WD track, for 3kms, to Waterhouse Beach, which is across the bay from Bridport, and in the Waterhouse Conservation Area. It became a varied drive, through dunes and coastal vegetation. We stopped where the track met the beach and did not venture onto the soft sand, though others before us had done so.

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Storm coming in – Waterhouse Beach

There was a spectacular storm front building behind us, as we reached the beach, so we decided to retreat back the way we had come. It began to rain as we were driving back towards Bridport.

Later in the afternoon, we had really heavy rain, and thunder and lightning. The storm light on the bay was really unusual and quite special, and I ventured out to take a number of photos to try to capture it.

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Storm over Anderson Bay at Bridport

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Stormy skies over jetty ruins

I cooked a batch of asparagus soup, with some of our purchase today.

For tea we had the last of the potato and bacon soup, sweet and sour chicken with rice, and yoghurt.


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1999 Travels November 8

MONDAY 8 NOVEMBER     BRIDPORT

Slept well with the background noise of the sea, and were rather late waking up. The caravan park is very quiet.

It was a blue sky day, and almost shorts weather in areas sheltered from the breeze.

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Anderson Bay, Bridport, from the beach in front of our van

I walked to town to get the paper. John drove off to inspect the bowls club, which is the other end of the main street area.

We drove out to Double Sandy Point Reserve, which is the point at the bay entrance, on this side. It is, as the name suggests, a double point, with a sandy small beach between them. We looked at birds and just admired the scenery. Out there, it was rather blowy and chilly.

Had lunch back at the van, then went walking. Followed the foreshore path and tracks around the bay to Granite Point and some way beyond this along the edge of the Little Forrester River – a creek, really. Retraced our route for some of the way, then came the rest along the road that runs past the caravan park. It was a decent walk.

We passed the end of the old jetty – a picturesque ruin. It was built in 1916 to aid the export of timber to the mainland, but was destroyed by fire in 1928.

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Old jetty remains at Bridport

I was surprised how well ordinary plants grow here, so close to the sea. I do not usually associate plants like rhododendrons with the coast.

Tea was soup, pasta with caper and olive sauce – nice. Some more of the very delicious local strawberries bought from a roadside stall two days ago, followed.

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Anderson Bay and jetty ruins at dusk


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1999 Travels November 7

SUNDAY 7 NOVEMBER     DEVONPORT TO BRIDPORT   165kms

We woke up early, without trying, and were surprised to find that it was fine, with blue sky. And they say Melbourne weather is unpredictable and changeable! This area is amazing!

Despite having to do a full pack up, we were away by 10am.

Refuelled at Latrobe – 79cpl.

Somehow, this navigator missed the turn to the back Tamar road at Latrobe, so we continued down the highway to Sassafras, then via a back road through East Sassafras to the Exeter road. It was a pretty detour, anyway.

Near Exeter, we took the West Tamar Highway, to our left, then turned off this onto the Batman Highway and the Batman Bridge over the Tamar River, which is quite wide at this point.

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Looking towards the Tamar River mouth, as we crossed the Batman Bridge

Just over the bridge was a picnic area and we stopped there to eat lunch. We had a great view of the unusual bridge structure. There is an A shaped towering frame at the western end of the bridge, and the rest of it is held up by cables that come from the tower. The bridge appears to elegantly soar over the water, to me.

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The Batman Bridge – supporting tower and linking cables

From there, we followed the eastern side of the Tamar, towards  Georgetown. At Bell Bay, took the road east to Bridport.

I had chosen Bridport as a base from which to explore some of the north-east corner of the state, and because it was on the coast. I had never been there before. The plan was that, from there, we would slowly make our way down the east coast, exploring it before the Xmas school holidays made it too busy.

We booked into the council run caravan park at Bridport, for $12.50 a night for a powered site, with the seventh night free. That made it a good economical $75 a week. But we had to put 20 cents into a meter for a hot shower.

The park stretches for a long way along the foreshore of Anderson Bay, in a long narrow strip. It was a bushy sort of park, with camping bays and sites in amongst the coastal bush.

We drove and walked around the park, having been told we could choose our own site. We found one right above the shore line, which gave us great views over the bay from the back window of the van. We could clearly hear the sea from inside the van. In “front” of our site are rock and sand areas, and further along, the remains of an old jetty stretching out into the great, wide, sweeping bay – it was just so beautiful.  One angle looked a bit like the Daintree coast – a wide beach, some wind-blown sand dunes and mountains behind.

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Setting up camp at Bridport, with the bay right behind us

It was so good to be beside the sea again. We never did get our sea side experience after the arid central Australian travel!

I suspect this park would not be pleasant in the summer holidays, but it is lovely now. The amenities are adequate, without being fancy. They were clean enough.

After setting up, we went for a short walk along to the old jetty. There is a walking track along the foreshore that goes right past our van. Then we walked the other way, into the town centre and back, so we walked about 3kms altogether.

It is a very small town centre – a village, really, with some basic shops, overlooking the bay.

Tea was soup, beef stroganoff and pasta, with strawberries to follow.

We decided we would like it here.

11-07-1999 to bridport


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1999 Travels November 6

SATURDAY 6 NOVEMBER     DEVONPORT

We had planned to move on today, but it rained steadily all through the night and into the morning, so we decided against trying to do a wet pack up.

Had an “indoors” day instead.

Went for the papers and read those. I sewed. John played computer games. He listened to the cricket.

I think my blocked ears might be beginning to clear – there was much crackling happening in there.

The rain seemed to ease, later in the day, which we hoped was a good sign for tomorrow.

We were disappointed to hear that the referendum proposal, held today, to make Australia a republic, had been defeated. We had submitted postal responses to this, before leaving Victoria. It all brought back my regular despair  at the ignorance/apathy of the average citizen. Also disappointing is that some of the politicians are now trying to make political capital out of something that should be above petty party politics – like pointing out that so many ALP held electorates voted No, despite their leader’s advocacy of a Yes vote.

I cooked a batch of potato, bacon and onion soup.

We had toasted cheese for lunch – it was that sort of day, so only had some of the soup for tea.


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1999 Travels November 5

FRIDAY 5 NOVEMBER     DEVONPORT

Today was a grey day, with rain.

We shopped in the morning, getting groceries for a week. In K Mart I bought some new perfume, and three of the type of photo albums I’ve been seeking for a while – archive quality ones. At the book exchange, I traded in several books I’d had for a while, and got four new ones – overall cost was $2.50. We bought up big at the fish supplier – I am always on the lookout for good quality fresh fish.

After an early lunch, we drove to Burnie to visit my father’s sister. Since we last saw her, in early 1993, her husband had died. She is in her 80’s, and has had health issues. She was not as frail and shaky as I’d envisaged, although even thinner than before – stick like. She gets around the house alright. She had obviously cooked afternoon tea for us, dressed up, and looked forward to the visit.

There was much talk of dad, her family and their doings, and her health. She is resisting being relocated to the Sunshine Coast, where her son and his family lives. Says she would hate the summers!

It was after 5pm when we left her, and it was raining steadily, so it was not a particularly pleasant drive back to Devonport.

We bought fish and chips and took them back to the van.


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1999 Travels November 4

THURSDAY 4 NOVEMBER     DEVONPORT

We went to my aunt and uncle’s for morning tea – to look at her family photos. There were some I’d like to get copied before we leave Tasmania, if I get a chance.

Took our packed lunch out to the Don River Heads and sat in Truck eating and looking out over the sea. The tide was out. It was very pleasant there.

Then we went driving. Took the highway west to Ulverstone, then the old coast road to Penguin. This was a wonderful stretch of road. The railway line is right beside it, for most of the way, between the road and the sea, and in parts they are both right next to the sea. In some sections, people have made gardens beside the rail line.

From Penguin, decided to visit the Dial Range, just to the south. Took the Ironcliffe Road and followed signs that took us to a car park in the forest.

From there, we walked the track to the top of the Gnomon, a sort of peak that has some decent views. It was quite a steep climb. Unfortunately, the day was rather hazy, but from the top we could see back to the coast, and to the south, towards Cradle Mountain. There was some snow on the ranges to the south. It was a decent little walk, and very pretty through the bush.

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Outlook from The Gnomon, over the so-green Leven River valley

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Mount Roland, from The Gnomon

Drove back to the Ferndene Reserve, that we’d passed on the way, and sat there, looking for birds. Saw a form of the blue-cheeked rosella that is found in Tasmania, and is different to the mainland ones.

My ears are still blocked from the bug, last week!

Back in Devonport, we took a beer each, and went and sat in Truck watching the ferry leave. I find it really interesting, for some unfathomable reason!

Tea was tomato soup, spaghetti with pesto from a jar, and a salad.


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1999 Travels November 3

WEDNESDAY 3 NOVEMBER     DEVONPORT

Just pottered around camp in the morning – sewed and read.

After lunch ,went to social bowls at East Devonport. Uncle T was there – he won the day. I lost all three games – couldn’t judge the green and played really poorly. I did not enjoy my afternoon at all. John had an average afternoon.

Tea was the last of the potato soup, reheated chicken rolls, asparagus.


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1999 Travels November 2

TUESDAY 2 NOVEMBER     DEVONPORT

Melbourne Cup Day today.

We had another quiet day. I read, and sewed.

We had small bets on the Cup. I actually picked the winner, but John, who went to the TAB to place the bets, got the numbers mixed up and put my money on the wrong horse. However, his choice came third, so we got some money back.

After the race, we cycled around the coast to the TAB to collect the money, then around town a little.

Came back to the van and did some dinner preparation, then we rode back to the ferry area and watched it depart for Melbourne, and took some photos. It was interesting. There is a little passenger ferry that crosses the Mersey River, from East Devonport to the main town, and we watched it do a last run before the ferry got moving – totally dwarfed by the bigger vessel! The Mersey there is obviously really deep, to be able to take the ship, but as it swings around from the mooring, to go out frontwards, there is not all that much much sideways clearance for it. One hopes that future ferries do not come much longer!

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Spirit of Tasmania turning around in the Mersey River

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Setting sail down the Mersey, destination Melbourne

Tea was potato soup, and my chicken, ham, mozzarella and tomato sauce rolls. I made two each, and we could only eat one, so there was tomorrow’s dinner, too.