Snow, Snow and More Snow :)

As the title implies we have had a cold week or so- but as I write the sun is shining strong just in time to prevent our caravan been engulfed in mould (a few wet cold days and condensation turns to our little green growing enermy. So whilst procrastining about wiping the walls down I thought i'd write another entry- plus Neil is having a sleep in so in a one room house one has to find quiet tasks to fill the time.

Where are we now? Back in Devonport. Yep we have seen almost the whole of Tas in 3wks so we are chilling out with friends here until we sail to the mainland next Thurs night. Aside from cleaning and tidying tasks (which generally wait whilst were moving everyday)we have beeen applying for a few jobs in VIC. Time to get back to work for a bit God willing.

Where have we been recently? We stopped in Hobart for about a week. We enjoyed catching up with some of my (Naomi)old Uni friends and kids. Hobart is a pretty city- the main centre of town is on the water with the old docks transformed into eating places and funky art and craft shops. We enjoyed the Salamanca market- a large market which showcases great local products- mainly gourment foods and crafts and lots of my favourite- woodwork. Although Neil limited my wood buying- apparently it will weigh down the van BUT he assures me he will get woodturning for me as soon as I buy him the equipment (I reminded him we may need a shed and a place to call home first - minor techicality).

It snowed on Mt Wellington which over looks Hobart so we got sleeted on a fair bit and enjoyed looking up to the snow covered mountain in the brief moments that it appeared from beneath the clouds.

The Cadbury factory (in Hobart) is not helping our waistlines with discount chocolate once filling our pantry (I say once as we have made some serious in roads into it's consumption).

We headed through the centre of Tas from Hobart to Strahan on the west coast. The road for a highway is a pretty deserted road, super windy and winds through kilometers of untouched forest. The olny sign of civilisation most of the way were the hydroelectric pipelines meandering up the mountain sides. We called into the odd old hydro town- it would be a different way of life- a pub and a store and not much more. The road side all the way was covered in snow and lots of it. We amazed at the large piles of snow- scrapped up days ago off the road by the grader. We made a few snow babies- see below. The first is a bit skinny because it was so freezing neither of us wanted to pile more snow to fatten him up. The next was in warmer weather (note Neil's footwear) and so between a snow fight he built up not too bad.
Speaking of snow fight- I lost big time. By luck or chance the first snowball went right down my shirt to my belly. The next straight down my back and jeans wetting everywhere on route to my toes. I need a faster reaction time. Fun fun.

We called into to Lake St Clair and went for a brief walk- the National parks guy wasn't too keen on Neil's thongs in the snow and I think everyone thought he was nuts with only a shirt on too. No cold yet but if he gets the man flu in the caravan i'm getting a motel.

Queenstown was the only bigger town on route- what a weird place!. After driving through hundreds of KM of dense forest we emerge into a wild wild west film- seriously due to the sulfur from the mining the bush disappears and desolate mountainsides that look like sandstone cliffs appear. Nothing is growing sight which begs on to ask if all the plants die exactly what affect does it have on the locals? The town is lined with a few hundred tin houses- all built nearly exactly the same- typical of many of the industrial town we have been through- they look built fast (perhaps not to last) and with practicalities in mind not beauty.

After a very very windy forty km (and some car sickness) we arrive at the coastal town of Strahan. The thing I love and laugh about is how much the tourist information is ramped up. Wow even the tiniest nothing towns are promoted as tourist must see's (hence we plan a whole day some places and find that 10mins in and we've seen the lot- Go tourism tassie :). So what of Strahan. It was a pretty town- promoted much much bigger than it was. A tiny touristy main street with lots of wood shops :), a saw mill and a few cruise boats. We had a little rest there. The hit the road to check out the north- over a few days but alas a few hours later we found we have seen every one horse town on route and arrived back in civilisation in Devonport.

So here we are relaxing for now and probably making each of you jealous. Yes we are loving life on the road- worth a try if you get the chance (or make the chance).

Tassie the East Coast

Wow two blogs in one month- well Tassie is just so beautiful that we wanted to share some great pics (and it's snowing here in Hobart so whilst we braved the cold this morning we are defrosting inside our cossie van this afternoon) We are now in Hobart. To get here we have travelled some spectacular country. From Devonport we headed to Launceston via a little town called Carrick. Carrick had this amazing cooper studio with everything imaginable made from cooper and then specially glazed to be very life like. Below is a pic (for all my overseas friends these are Kookoburras- a native bird here in Oz) (

Launceston was a caravaners nightmare to get around despite been labelled "RV Friendly town" and paid parking down here is Tas is a racket!! So we made some day trips up the coast and came back later to have a look at Caterac Gorge in town. Having lived in Armidale it is funny that we are finding gorges and even the waterfalls on our travels fairly unremarkable- we were spoilt with the best of God's creation in that respect at the Dale. From Launceston the Tamar Valley and a river divide the area. On route up the East of the valley we saw little but excessive fog (but been such a narrow valley the sun brigthened to give us the view on route down the West). We visited the gold mining museum of Beaconsfield. Many of you will remember Beaconsfield was where we watched on patiently in 2006 to see 2 miners release after 14 days trapped underground- a remarkable story. They used some of the most basic tool like water bottles, poly pipe and even witches hats to get air and water down to the guys and along side that was some of the most technologically advanced equipment of the time- ironic.

Beaconsfield mine We travelled as far as the coastal town of Georgetown before eating some super fish and chips at the little town of Beauty Point. This coast is the Tasmanian's "Gold Coast"- but not at this time of years- it's freezing. The fairy penguins are all at sea much to my disappointment- though Neil found me one to see- just didnt mention it was a dead one washed up on the beach. We crossed the Batman bridge- one of the oldest cable bridges- a weird structure with only one pilon.

A war memorial on route- carved with a chainsaw! From Launceston it was free camping the specatular North East and East coasts. The "BIG" towns on the map to our surprise only had 2000 or less residents - where in the world else do you get unspoilt deserted coast. We took a days R and R at Bay of Fires free camping on the beach. I love free camping- no charge and your own %100 beachfrontage. I have been making some jewellery, hair clips etc- to sell at local markets so sitting on the beach was great inspiration. Frecineyt National Park and the beauiful Wine Glass Bay and Sleepy bay made for some spectacular bushwalking. Pictures speak a thousand words (all bar the exhustion of climbing to the vantage points :)). Bay of Fires

Wine Glass Bay

Sleepy Bay

We settled into a great van park in Hobart with super friendly permanent residents and a pizza place whose smell wafts over the whole park over and tastes amazing! Took a day trip out to Port Artheran 1820 convict colony. The things people went to prison for in those days would rarely make it to court today- deported for stealing bread and other food- mostly to feed their families in a time when welfare was a foreign idea. These men were also amazingly talented building the stunning settlement whose ruins we visited. They were stonemasons, timber workers, accountants and everything in between. I had no idea but the good convicts could actually get an education and also learn a trade to help rehabilitate them- a new idea in those days. The boys prison would give you shivers- 4 yrs old and you could work back back then, 7 yrs old and you were responsible and tried as an adult and at 9yrs old you could not only be imprisoned with the adults but also deported to Australia too.

The commandants and their wives and families were also game or crazy coming to this remote land to start a new life- we got to see thier lives and hear thier stories. We expolre Hobart yesterday and today checking out the beautiful port area and then Salamanca- an old cobblestone area of the city with stunning old buildings and super craft and gourmet food all against a backdrop of the snow capped Mount Wellington as snow sprinkles in our hair.

April adventures

Hey so another month has flown by.. We had a great time in Kangaroo valley over Easter free camping along a river. We (well Neil) caught a few bass (and I a few snags:). They made for good eating. We enjoyed the quaint village of Kangaroo valley- and it's free camp was super spacious with river frontage.

We headed to Canberra after Easter for a week. We froze- caravans don't have much insulation. Outside temp zero equalled inside temp 2 degrees...brrr. We saw the tourist sites- Questacon, old and new parliment house,National Australian museum and the autumn colors of Lake Burley Griffin. The war memorial was a hit- we got to see my Great grandfathers medals on display and then we had a private viewing of his war relics.

We saw a few old friends and some new ones too which was fun. From Canberra we headed to Wagga (my old uni town). We stay with some ex Armidale ppl and enjoyed catching up with some old uni mates- felt like old times. They were all keen to meet my "MR Right" as they apparently remember my standards been so high they were amazed I ever found some one to marry- had to wait a while but wasnt settling for second best :).And Yes he opens the doors for me (which was apparently high on my list which I have long since forgotten :)). From Wagga it was onto the Murray river- free camping through the fruit crops and then onto Echuca and the paddle steamers. We stayed with family north of Melbourne and saw where my dad was born and grew up for the early years.

We had a smooth sail to Tas (despite a very rough ride predicted). Praise God no seasickness :).

Tassie turned on nice weather for the first few days and has froze us ever since :) but it is nearly winter. We stayed with old friends in Devonport (Belinda Ingram and her new bub and hubby for those Armidalites). We have travelled across the North West coast and down the the remote Arthur River on the rugged west coast. On route we visited Cradle Mountain- beautiful, cold and full of wombats :). 100km per hour winds met us on the west coast which made for some blowy camping.

Tomorrow we are off to tassies equivalent of AgQuip (and agricultural show for those not from the New England). It is supposed to be very wet so we have the wellies out and the thermals too. Oh and did I mention we both got a year older (and hopefully wiser ;)