Gidday all,

Headed off on a side road which would eventually put us on the railway line to Leigh Creek. The line is not in use as they shut down the coal mine at Leigh Creek not so long ago. Hopefully a reasonable service track runs beside it.

Went ahead to check the road we were on, quite a few rolling hills for the camels to pull up and over but not too steep. There was one with a long decent, so after a few more ks on flat ground we turned back to check on Deb and the camels progress.

As we approached the troublesome hill Deb was stopped at the top, camels had bauked at the decent and Deb didn’t trust the brake on the wagon to try it alone. To make things worse a tyre had gone flat on the rear of the wagon. So after some discussion it was decided to hook up to the truck with the camels at the back of the wagon and ease it down the hill.

Out came the air compressor and the offending tyre was pumped up for the ride. About three ks up the road was some flat ground and a set of sheep yards next to a small creek, so we carried on at walking pace to there.

Once there, a kettle was boiled and smoko was had, then off with the wheel and the tube out and patched. The split rim on the wheel took some persuading to come off, but eventually it did and all went well.

The Camels looked on and joked amongst themselves about getting the afternoon off.

 

While camped Deb got word the other camel she was waiting for would be delivered in the next day or so. So we stayed at the camp and waited for them to arrive.

 

 

 

 

 

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gidday all,

Had a day pulled up to organize the camel wagon a bit better and give the camels a good feed. The wind decided to blow all day so not much was done, so we stayed another day when the wind stopped. Got it all done.

 

Even could have a camp fire and cooked pizza on the coals, who needs an oven.

Beautiful night sky and good food who could ask for more.

 

May be out of mobile coverage in the next few days as we go off to find the old Ghan line service track to travel on to go further north toward Leigh Creek.

On the road heading north from Hawker. Did some scouting ahead to find some tracks off the hiway for the camels, wanted to avoid traveling on the bitumen and traffic. Found some tracks but had to go along the bitumen for a few ks to get to them, so we followed with hazard lights to warn the trucks. A few cars slowed down and took photos

 

, finally came to the side track and did some miles then found a nice campsite and pulled up.

 

 

 

 

                                                            Full moon tonight in the Flinders ranges.

 

 

 

 

                                                               Wonderful sunrises here.   

Did the big push and made some miles. Through Mildura and on to Renmark, camped on the Murray River between Renmark and Berrie where the juces come from. Then off to Peterborough where we stocked up with fruit and veg which we couldn’t bring through the fruit fly zone into S.A. Contacted our friends with the camels and said we would meet them in Hawker.

Arrived in Hawker in the afternoon and soon found where they were camped near the racecourse

 

The afternoon was spent with nibbles and champagne from Tassie to celebrate their birthdays which are only some days apart.

 The camels watched on looking down their noses at us with the Flinders Ranges in the background.

 

Gidday all,

We made it across Bass Strait, boarded the boat and checked out the room then went out on deck to farewell Tasmania. The air was cold but the water was calm, we were still tied up to the dock. Finally got under way, the ship slowly turned around in the river, well done, not much room to spare between the two banks. We watched the lights of Devonport go by and slowly fade, then we hit the open sea and the rock and roll started, and I don’t mean the on board entertainment. Din went a bit white and I half carried her to the cabin where she lay down and stayed that way till morning.

You could really feel the ship rolling through the night but it was relatively smooth compared to the last couple of weeks. Last week a semi trailer rolled over on the boat with the wild weather. Lucky we picked this week to cross.

Now we are about half way up Vic. At lake Tyrrell, about 200k from Mildura. Camped up for the night. No photos yet, too busy getting away from Melbourne. Will be in S.A. soon.

Gidday all,

The time has come, the autumn leaves are falling and the rain and cold are starting as winter creeps in. All packed up and moved out of the gingerbread house, will visit our mate on the Forth River for our last day then board the boat to the mainland on Tuesday.

Experienced the best and worst of Tassie this summer, with the big dry and shrinking water levels in all the lakes, making locals worried, and catastrophic fires in ancient forests, to the peace and seclusion of the gingerbread house in the magnificent Myrtle Forrest of Loongana. Now the winter rains have started, hope they continue.

Our next adventure awaits. Hope to meet up with friends near Hawker in S.A. and tag along with them and their camels towards Lake Ayer and Birdsville. Oh, then we might pop off to home for a bit, just to make sure it’s still there.

Anyway, will catch up with some photos and updates later,

 The longest journey starts with the first step.

 

                                                  the gingerbread house, our summer retreat

                                                    grandson enjoying Tassie

                                                                              lit up the bath

 

 

 

 

 

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gidday all,

Spent the last week touring the east coast of Tassie with our Qld. Friend, showing her our favourite parts. The time has gone fast and so much more to see. From the far northeast tip at Little Muscleroe Bay down to Hobart, we have done it all, well, what we could with the time we had.

 The highlight, for me was the boat ride down at the Tasman Peninsula.

 

We came across a huge pod of dolphins feeding in a bay. They jumped and frolicked all around the boat and were around for as far as you could see. Such a privilege to be there at that moment.

Now it’s back to the gingerbread house for the last week of her stay. We will do some day trips from there around the northern surrounds.

 

 

Gidday all,

The time has come to load up the camper again and head off to meet up with our friend who flys into Lonny on Sunday. First off to Forth, will spend the night with our local mate on the river, then maybe do some last minute shopping in Ulverstone in the morning, then head towards Launceston.

There’s a caravan and camping expo on in Launceston on the weekend, so we may go and have a look while we wait for Sunday arvo. Can’t wait to catch up with our Qld mate and go touring the Tassie east coast, then back to the mountains of Loongana. Stay tuned for more updates.

                                               added a much needed rail to the stairwell.

Gidday all,

Well we have been in the gingerbread house for a month now, how time flys. Have been busy here and not a lot to report on the blog lately. The place is looking good, cleaned up and most of the odd jobs complete. The weather has been warmer lately with only a couple of cooler days and nights thrown in, or are we turning Tasmanian?

Last week a thunderstorm sparked a lot of fires through lightning strikes over to the west coast and around Cradle mountain area. Loongana is safe but we get the smoke haze drifting over some days. Tassie is verging on drought status at the moment, everyone is praying for rain. Even the many lakes are the lowest they have ever been.

                                               Even planted some tomatoes and squash

                                            The gooseberry is fruiting, only a couple though

Nearly only two weeks till our friend from Queensland arrives for a visit, can’t wait to show her our favourite parts of Tassie. Not a lot of time to see them all but the east coast is fire free so far, so we will go for a tour. Will have to come back for the rest later.

 

 

Gidday all,

Christmas has been and gone, we had a quiet one up at the house. We were invited to lunch at a locals house down the range a bit, so off we went for a few hours. Made a new friend with a gentle giant of a dog, had a wonderful Christmas lunch and good company.

 

New years eve was also quiet, had a meal and some drinks with friends down the fire shed, but were in bed early, so much for the party life.

The jobs on the house are getting done, have put up a handrail on the front steps and fixed up numerous other small things. The duck has moved in and is loving it. Had better stay off the wood stove if it knows what’s good for it.

Weather is warmer lately, in the late 20s last few days. The nights are cool, down to 7—8most nights. Very nice.

 

 

We have been in the Gingerbread house for less than a week now, and nearly settled in. Spent most of that time cleaning up and doing odd jobs that the toll of years of temporary residents and long periods of sitting empty have taken on it. It’s now coming back to life.

The homes fires are lit. The woodstove cooked our dinner and the fireplace warms the rest of house. Been dry and warm, Tassies say hot, while we cleaned and mended and weeded, tonight it cool the morning will be cold till the sun comes out.

The stove warms the water for hot shower and dishes. The water in the tank is good enough for washing but not drinking as there is a lot of tannin in it. Lucky the truck tank is full.

Spotted wombat poo cubes under the house. Nice and fresh. The next day we noticed it all flattened out which means the pooer was female and the male came along, it smelt good and rolled in it.  Noticed wombat diggings of burrows. Might be we will see the babies before we go.

 

 

                                     our driveway through the forrest to the Gingerbread house

Snow on the bluff

Gidday all,

 

Well it’s that time again, the monthly fire meeting at Loongana. We rolled up at the shed and set up camp out back in the familiar spot. Had a good arvo catching up with the locals and finalizing some details for taking over the Gingerbread house up the range a bit for a while.

 

The Gingerbread house, a great little cottage in the Myrtle forest of Loongana, a hideaway from civilization and a great place to stop and embrace nature. It will be our base for the coming weeks and while there I will do some repairs and maintenance as a thank you for its use, and to insure the cottage lives on into the future, as most people who stay there do. Such a privilege to be to be entrusted with its care.

Have to head to Burnie to pick up some supplies and materials for alterations to the truck and cottage then back to the mountains for the Christmas break.

 

Gidday all,

A nice few days at Lake King William, only a couple of passers-by to disturb the solitude. Time to move on though, packed up and headed off northward. Through Brontie Park and on to the Great Lake.

 

Thought we’d treat ourselves so headed for Sheffield, there is a shower at the visitor information place there. Arrived and promptly showered, then walked around town and found a café for lunch.

Sheffield, the town of murals, they have a competition every year for mural artists and they are on display around town all year. Some very good pieces amongst them.

The duck needed new shoes.

 

 

 

Gidday all,

After a week of patchy weather, it was time to move on. Hit the road toward Queenstown, more winding mountain roads and spectacular scenery. Next stop Roseberry, called in to stock up on veggies and stuff, then off again. Closing in on Queenstown, snaking down the hillsides, the sulphur scarred surrounding mountains stood out amongst the rest of the landscape.

 

Early mining and ore extraction methods have left a devastating legacy to the surrounding countryside. It will take several generations, still, to recover, if at all.

 

Was getting late, so, we found a sports oval and parked up for the night. Off again in the morning driving eastward through the Franklin/Gordon world heritage area to Derwent Bridge. Just outside of there is Lake King William, a place we have camped before.

Drove up the dirt track to the banks of the lake. The water level was down quite a lot from what we remembered. Found our old campsite and set up. The water was way down, just a puddle now, don’t know why, maybe the dry last couple of years. Still, it’s a nice spot. Will spend a few days and then start going north back towards Loongana. Have got phone reception for a change.

Gidday all,

Corinna, an old settlement on the banks of the Pieman river, now home to a small, low key, accommodation / tourist setup. An old boat takes tours up the Pieman river and there’s a barge, which is the only way to cross the river. We have been there before, so had a look around and boarded the barge to cross the river and head on southward.

The weather forecast for the next week or so was for rain and windy conditions, so down the road was Reece dam, another place we had camped on our first trip here, a nice place beside the water. We arrived and set up camp. Ended up spending the next week there. No one in sight the whole time. The weather alternating between cold, showering, and bright, sunny days. This is Tassie.