The week started by heading over to Launceston and visiting Cataract Gorge, wow, very nice indeed and to think it is in the City itself, amazing really. I headed way down into the Gorge from the car park and just looked up at amazing cliffs and the great Alexandra Suspension Bridge just suspended over the South Esk river and flowing over rocks into a sort of lagoon with people having a morning dip. It didn't matter what angle I looked at that bridge from, it was truly a magnificent site. Now like everything that goes up, it must come down so remember I said I went way down well, reverse that saying as now I had to go all that way back UP, phew, the old heart picked up a few beats for sure.
From the Gorge I headed to parts of the Tamar Valley on the East side of the Tamar River and checked out the Low Head Lighthouse, 1 of 3 light houses along the North coast. I have always been attracted to light houses, maybe that's why I am a solo traveller, I should have been attracted to the opposite sex instead, mmmm, oh well.
I had arranged to meet Big Gorilla, Ken in Launceston so headed back there, after spending a couple of hours chatting it was time to continue my exploring, this time the Western side of the Tamer River where I just had to cross the Batman Bridge, twice even, well it is a beautiful bridge and well worth stopping and checking it out from below this massive structure.
Moving on and next a stop at Beaconsfield to check out the site of the mine disaster and successful mission to rescue two trapped miners back in May 2006, yes that long ago, hard to believe isn't it. Just standing there looking at the area where they first appeared after 2 weeks trapped I could remember it so clearly. I could also see 60 Minutes Journalist, Richard Carleton doing a live cross from just in front of the gates when he dropped to the ground and died from a heart attack at 62. I moved away from that spot very quickly as, well, I won't say any more about that age. I then headed further and found Greens Beach, very nice area but I like Greens Lake better back in central Victoria, sorry Tamar Valley. The day was drawing to an end so headed back to Devonport via inland roads and saw changing landscapes as I moved closer to my destination.
Tuesday made an apperarence with friends, Mongrel, Alan and his lovely wife Adele arriving on the good ship "Spirit" so met them as they arrived and had a beautiful breakfast at the chocolate factory on the road to Launceston, we spent a couple of hours chatting about many things as you do, Thankyou Alan and Adele, see you again on your return in a few weeks.
Later in the week I headed over to the north west coast as far as Arthur River, a lovely peaceful river heading of into the Tasmanian Wilderness one side and the wild (I think) Southern Ocean the other, sorry my geography is a bit rusty but it doesn't come much more spectacular than that and I tell you that for free.
After about an hour there I slowly started to head back to base camp stopping
off at Smithton, Stanley to see the " Big Nut" (no not me), Table Cape to check out number 2 of the 3 light houses, lucky last was Wynyard just cos I could, then back to base camp. You might remember I had already checked out as far as Burnie last week so just cruised past from there.
One thing I have noticed on this trip to Tassie is the number of Poppy farms around, just everywhere and this will make me sound like I don't know anything about plants but I didn't know "Opium" comes from the poppy. I tried earlier in the week to get a photo but a farmer obviously didn't like the look of me and told me to move on. I did finally get a pic elsewhere and better than I had hoped, sort of a 2 in 1 shot, so all good in the end and I have included it in this weeks pics.
The week was finished off by finally checking out the 3rd and final light house along the Northern coast line, Devonport. Funny thing is I stayed in Devonport for 2 weeks but checked their light house last.
Now for the first time when in the playground I had trouble with the tug, the 12 month old big 4x4 battery was going flat overnight for 3 days then Thursday while sitting taking in the views having lunch I had the radio going down low and motor off, I went to crank over the tug and bugga, JUST kicked over. Friday morning I decided to head to a Auto Elec in downtown Devonport to see if they could pinpoint the problem, now I figured it would be a faulty battery OR maybe at worst the Alternator was playing games and wasn't charging properly.
The Auto Elec people were great, out came a very happy chappy armed with a meter of some sort, hooked it up and said the battery is dead as a dodo, (faulty) let's start the beast up, so after getting it started checked if it was getting a charge through and all good there so battery it was. Now it has a 3 year warranty but wouldn't you know it, after many phone calls the verdict was Devonport can't help me out in that department so in went a new battery. No problem as I will sort out the warranty business when I get back to base camp and set up a duel battery system in the tug, one way or another. At least this way all should be good now on the good ship "Spirit" and I won't be holding people up, hopefully.
My Tassie visit has come to an end as I will be on board the good ship "Spirit" again tomorrow, Monday heading back to Victoria. This has been a great 2 weeks as I have spent time with my brother and sister in-law, seen great sights, visited great places and as usual met some really nice people all not done on previous trips so all's good. Oh! and had some great food and wine to go with it. I'm pretty sure I will be charged excess baggage on the way back too and I tell you that for free, and it's not in the tug either.
This is my last Tassie update and I have no plans at this stage so will head back to my Victorian base camp and regroup the troops, well thoughts anyway.
Happy camping to you all and keep on keeping on.
Edit.....sorry had a few problems with double up on report, should be ok now.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Sunday 9th of February 2014 02:05:26 PM
RosieW said
03:56 PM Feb 9, 2014
Sounds like you had a great week Dougwe - did you meet the (rather aggressive) pea****s at the Gorge?
Big Gorilla said
04:01 PM Feb 9, 2014
Good report Doug. Time certainly passes. We spoke about the Beaconsfield disaster but neither of us could recall the year it happened. 2006, gee that's almost 8 years ago. And I recall Richard Carleton having a heart attack whilst reporting from the mine.
Yes there are a lot of Poppy farms throughout Tassie. The farmers are very protective by law. Opium certainly comes from Poppies. The crops are sold to drug companies who convert the whatever comes from the Poppy into Morphine.
We also discussed closure to camping under the Batman Bridge. Did you notice any "No Camping" signs erected there ?
Fried Rice said
04:15 PM Feb 9, 2014
Good commentary Doug.. thanks for that. Attached photos helped the story nicely.
Fried Rice
Dougwe said
09:27 PM Feb 9, 2014
Rosie, yes but they were no problem with me anyway, one actually ran away, must have thought I was wombat.
BG, yes there was a sign saying no staying overnight or camping allowed.
Thanks FR.
nu one said
08:38 AM Feb 10, 2014
Doug thank you for the commentery you sure had a good trip see you on your travels in the playgroung
_wombat_ said
08:46 AM Feb 10, 2014
Dougwe wrote:
Rosie, yes but they were no problem with me anyway, one actually ran away, must have thought I was wombat.
BG, yes there was a sign saying no staying overnight or camping allowed.
Thanks FR.
you do NOT look like a wombat, they are cute and cuddly and its official (Mrs W told me so)
GaryKelly said
09:05 AM Feb 10, 2014
Great commentary and pics, Dougwe. I'm a fan of lighthouses and bridges too. Thanks for the report!
jules47 said
09:08 AM Feb 10, 2014
Loved seeing your pics Doug - brings back good memories of our trip over!!!
glendadon said
12:05 PM Feb 10, 2014
Great Photos Doug we really do get a kick out of them.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Sunday 9th of February 2014 02:05:26 PM
Good report Doug. Time certainly passes. We spoke about the Beaconsfield disaster but neither of us could recall the year it happened. 2006, gee that's almost 8 years ago. And I recall Richard Carleton having a heart attack whilst reporting from the mine.
Yes there are a lot of Poppy farms throughout Tassie. The farmers are very protective by law. Opium certainly comes from Poppies. The crops are sold to drug companies who convert the whatever comes from the Poppy into Morphine.
We also discussed closure to camping under the Batman Bridge. Did you notice any "No Camping" signs erected there ?
Good commentary Doug.. thanks for that. Attached photos helped the story nicely.
Fried Rice
BG, yes there was a sign saying no staying overnight or camping allowed.
Thanks FR.
you do NOT look like a wombat, they are cute and cuddly
and its official (Mrs W told me so) 
Regards
Don & Glenda