As the trip comes to an end, am on the Tas to Melb leg of the trip - have a window seat but have two giraffes of teenage boys trying to look through me to the window, is all Bass Strait blue at the moment though.
On 2 January, which would have been Tuesday, which was supposed to be my climbing Mt Thomas day but V's workmate who was due to take me up had family stuff that came up that was OK, just will do it next time I guess.
Instead went driving up to Devil's Gullet - Tasmania always seems to have the hellish names of any Australian state, doesn't it. We were told it was a bit of unsealed road to get up the top, which turned out to be 14 kays - the last 4 kays of which was also to be on the look out for falling rocks. Since it was my idea to go I was very quiet on the way up, averaging 25 to 30 kays an hour, just turning the Abba tape up louder while V gritted her teeth, drove the claws into the steering wheel tighter, and was looking for any excuse, any, to turn around. I didn't want to give her a reason with one of my trademarked smart comments. Was very quiet on the way up.
Then a 500 metre bush walk up the top seemed to be 500 metres vertically, and it seemed to take forever. Glorious views though, but going up in winter could be a mistaken idea - could see across to Cradle Mtn, about 65 kays away - was the slightest bit hazy though.
It wasn't until the way down that I mentioned the caution falling rocks sign, but yes, V had seen them on the way up. Averaged about 40 to 45 kays on the way down, which was good - the recommended speed was between 60 and 100 though, and I don't think even the 4WDs would have attempted that - would be a good rally track but. Oh, and the car was covered in dust.
Back to Devonport and I was wanting a pub lunch, but didn't get in until 3pm, so Maccas it was again. Bought a Tassie statewide UBD book and then dropped off the cheap cargo pants I had been thinking of wearing when bush walking, back to KMart and then headed back to home base.
Had a home cooked meal of steak, potato, pumpkin and carrots - V said there should be some green and not two orange vegetables but whatever, and then watched Walk The Line on DVD - V liked it, although it is a yee ha country story. Although I had caught a cold that morning, and the combination of watching a movie until midnight, some medication and a nice hot bath, I couldn't get to sleep until 1.30.
And we had to be up at 7 to drop a couple of V's friends at the airport. 10 o'clock flight, but they wanted to be there before 9, so we left Mt Thomas just a tad after 8 - for a holiday a 7 ayem start is too early.
But from the airport we went to Evandale, an historic town, which wasn't as pretty as I had hoped and we got stung big time for morning tea - 2 sausage rolls, 2 party pies, 2 drinks for $16. The bakery if anyone wants to know, and they weren't big sausage rolls either, or very nice tasting - V said they were the worst she had tasted in ages. So the rest of the time in town we didn't even ask or look at prices and didn't buy anything for fear of being stung cost wise again. And apparently at the bakery there is a difference in cost between eat in and takeaway, so for some manky salad, a smattering of sauce, cutlery and a napkin we paid an extra dollar each or something - not quite sure because it was V who had the price menu.
Went out to Clarendon House in the countryside, an example of an early 19th Century estate home - no pictures allowed inside, but should have, there was only one disinterested volunteer glooming around - she did look like she would give a good telling off, but there was only one of her across three floors and about twenty rooms - you'd have to be unlucky to a) get caught and b) have the woman interested enough to confiscate the camera - all this in hindsight of course - no photography allowed signs scare me sufficiently for about half an hour or so.
Then out to Longford, another historical town - had a good pork roast pub lunch at the Queens Arms Hotel, and won $40 on the pub gaming machines, after putting in $5, it was up to $49.80 but didn't quite break the $50 barrier. Wandered around Launnie for an hour or so, headed back home, started watching Sweet Home Alabama, but between the cold and last night of the holiday emotion it didn't get finished.
Had a lovely ploughman's lunch at the local deli - four types of cheese, chutney, pickled onion and wonderful butter and bread - and picked up some Tassie sausages, before going home, watching some cricket (don't ask) and then heading out the airport...
On 2 January, which would have been Tuesday, which was supposed to be my climbing Mt Thomas day but V's workmate who was due to take me up had family stuff that came up that was OK, just will do it next time I guess.
Instead went driving up to Devil's Gullet - Tasmania always seems to have the hellish names of any Australian state, doesn't it. We were told it was a bit of unsealed road to get up the top, which turned out to be 14 kays - the last 4 kays of which was also to be on the look out for falling rocks. Since it was my idea to go I was very quiet on the way up, averaging 25 to 30 kays an hour, just turning the Abba tape up louder while V gritted her teeth, drove the claws into the steering wheel tighter, and was looking for any excuse, any, to turn around. I didn't want to give her a reason with one of my trademarked smart comments. Was very quiet on the way up.
Then a 500 metre bush walk up the top seemed to be 500 metres vertically, and it seemed to take forever. Glorious views though, but going up in winter could be a mistaken idea - could see across to Cradle Mtn, about 65 kays away - was the slightest bit hazy though.
It wasn't until the way down that I mentioned the caution falling rocks sign, but yes, V had seen them on the way up. Averaged about 40 to 45 kays on the way down, which was good - the recommended speed was between 60 and 100 though, and I don't think even the 4WDs would have attempted that - would be a good rally track but. Oh, and the car was covered in dust.
Back to Devonport and I was wanting a pub lunch, but didn't get in until 3pm, so Maccas it was again. Bought a Tassie statewide UBD book and then dropped off the cheap cargo pants I had been thinking of wearing when bush walking, back to KMart and then headed back to home base.
Had a home cooked meal of steak, potato, pumpkin and carrots - V said there should be some green and not two orange vegetables but whatever, and then watched Walk The Line on DVD - V liked it, although it is a yee ha country story. Although I had caught a cold that morning, and the combination of watching a movie until midnight, some medication and a nice hot bath, I couldn't get to sleep until 1.30.
And we had to be up at 7 to drop a couple of V's friends at the airport. 10 o'clock flight, but they wanted to be there before 9, so we left Mt Thomas just a tad after 8 - for a holiday a 7 ayem start is too early.
But from the airport we went to Evandale, an historic town, which wasn't as pretty as I had hoped and we got stung big time for morning tea - 2 sausage rolls, 2 party pies, 2 drinks for $16. The bakery if anyone wants to know, and they weren't big sausage rolls either, or very nice tasting - V said they were the worst she had tasted in ages. So the rest of the time in town we didn't even ask or look at prices and didn't buy anything for fear of being stung cost wise again. And apparently at the bakery there is a difference in cost between eat in and takeaway, so for some manky salad, a smattering of sauce, cutlery and a napkin we paid an extra dollar each or something - not quite sure because it was V who had the price menu.
Went out to Clarendon House in the countryside, an example of an early 19th Century estate home - no pictures allowed inside, but should have, there was only one disinterested volunteer glooming around - she did look like she would give a good telling off, but there was only one of her across three floors and about twenty rooms - you'd have to be unlucky to a) get caught and b) have the woman interested enough to confiscate the camera - all this in hindsight of course - no photography allowed signs scare me sufficiently for about half an hour or so.
Then out to Longford, another historical town - had a good pork roast pub lunch at the Queens Arms Hotel, and won $40 on the pub gaming machines, after putting in $5, it was up to $49.80 but didn't quite break the $50 barrier. Wandered around Launnie for an hour or so, headed back home, started watching Sweet Home Alabama, but between the cold and last night of the holiday emotion it didn't get finished.
Had a lovely ploughman's lunch at the local deli - four types of cheese, chutney, pickled onion and wonderful butter and bread - and picked up some Tassie sausages, before going home, watching some cricket (don't ask) and then heading out the airport...
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