Across Tassie to the east side

After leaving Cradle Park, we drove down through the mountains and stopped for just a bit on a beach on the west coast, at Strahan. The locals told us the weather was as good as it gets, and that we had to see the beach there.

Could not resist including this; I know wee Georgie will get a kick out of it!

We waded and walked and threw the Friz at the beach.

The color here is great, on the mountain above Queenstown, but it turns out the hills have been bared due to heavy metal contamination killing the veg, during the scramble for gold and iron. It is being reclaimed; Tassie has become eco-aware, after decades of exploitation.

Some great Tasmanian mountain country.

And who would this be?

A bottle of local champagne on the shore of Lake St. Claire was a fine way to end Harold's birthday! This is the south end of the wilderness trek that begins at Cradle Mt.

Two visitors during supper. This mama seems to be teaching Joey some bads habits, and must be getting fed by campers.

Sunset on Lake St. Clair, a glacial terminal lake.

On the way to Hobart the next morning, Sue spotted rowers on the Derwent River. It didn't take too much talking to get Harold a ride on a beautiful single. The river is very fine, with glorious trees and high sandstone clifffs right on the shore. The only downside of this Saturday row on a narrow river was the waterskiers, with little regard for a guy who hasn't been on the water in a month or so...

My new buds, Scott and Peter. Peter offered me the use of his single, and invited us back any morning at 5:30 AM; tough schedule for campers on the move.

At the summit of Mt. Wellington, above Hobart (it's a drive-up).

We found two geocaches there!

We camped that night over near Port Arthur, and took the late-night "Ghost Tour" of the old penitentiary. It was fun, if a little hokey. Can you spot the spirit image behind our guide?


Returning to our camp after the tour, we saw several of these little monsters running down the road. OK, they are sweet little mammals, endangered and worthy of care and respect. Hungry though; they supposedly can eat 60 per cent of their body weight in 20 minutes.

The next morning, we took the brewery tour at Cascade Brewing, the oldest brewery in Tassie.

They make great stuff.

A long afternoon of driving got us over to the Freycinet peninsula, in time for a great sunset. We camped at the beach, and got ready to hike to Wineglass Bay the next morning.
It looks like this is all we can post before we fly tomorrow.
Remaining stories include the fantastic Wineglass, kayaking in Coles Bay, a climb of Mt. Amos, a cave tour, the return to Port Sorell and seeing the Wrights again, the night ferry crossing of Bass Strait, a hike to the highest point in Australia at Mt. Kozciuszko, and blasting back to Sydney.
We will post those stories after we get the driveway shovelled out....
Bye for now. It has been the best trip ever!