Another blow (hole)

Attractions at Bicheno, our Thursday night stopover on the East coast, included another blowhole but as noted before I am out of luck with them. Today promised more as there was a strong wind blowing but when push came to shove it was another modest affair so I am now 0-3.

Fortunes may change on Sunday though as I see from the local paper Launceston has a harness racing (trotting) track and I hope to call in. Even now I can hear the bookmakers running for cover. Dave

Bicheno to Launceston

Walked down to some of the granite rocks near our motel this morning and Dave was dwarfed by the size of them.

Quite a drive today as we went south to begin with to see something of the Freychinet Peninsula and had some glimpses of the beautiful pink granite mountains and stretches of green, blue and turquoise sea.

Back through Bicheno and northwards up the coast before turning west to Launceston (pronounced Lorn-ce-ston here). We took the A3 - the scenic route - and it was a somewhat different from the UK version!

Stopped off at St Helens for refreshment, where there were several small jetties for fishermen. Apparently fish are abundant here with a great diversity of species, including one that tickled my fancy - the Bastard Trumpeter.

Jean

p-p-p-Pick up a Penguin

15th January 2009

Not a good photo, but the best I could do at 22:00 with camera flash banned.

This evening we had the most amazing adventure at a rookery of fairy penguins.

By the way, those of my age will recognise the headline but for younger readers, it was an old advert for Penguin chocolate bars.

On the edges of Bicheno is a rookery that was established many, many years ago. There are about eight hundred penguins on the mainland and another sixteen or seventeen hundred on Diamond island just offshore. They come to this rookery to breed and when the chicks are old enough, migrate elsewhere until the next breeding season. The birds lay their two eggs in nests, which may be natural or wooden boxes. One parent will stay with the chicks for about three weeks while the other goes fishing for food both for themselves and the little ones, which they regurgitate when they return. Some of the nests, in fact, are over a road and in the gardens of local inhabitants.

Apparently the parents go out at 04:00 or 04:30. We saw them returning at about 21:30, so these guys really work hard in the breeding season.

Groups of about twenty people are bussed up to the rookery and taken round by a guide. Not only did we see penguins coming out of the sea and over the rocks, but waddling up the pathway and actually right past us - we could, literally have picked one up, if we didn't mind being bitten! We were also able to see into some of the boxes and watch parents and chicks.

Jean

A Tale of Two Bridges

15th January 2009

Just south of Swansea, we came across two strange bridges, the first named the Three-arched Bridge at Mayfield Bay. This was a tiny one built to allow a track to pass over the Old Man Creek to the sea.

The second was the Spiky Bridge, built for the “free” settlers to enjoy a more comfortable journey along the coach road, which was very bumpy and crossed several large gullies. Agreement to built it was only given after the governor was given a lift home by one of the inhabitants, who deliberately drove over the worst of the gullies in the coach at great speed and shook the governor up something shocking!

The link? They were both built by convicts.

Jean

The Convict Executioner

15th January 2009

Two of my stories are linked to Dave’s description of Richmond. One of the convicts at the gaol, Solomon Blay, was transported for a term of fourteen years for making counterfeit coins in 1836. By 1841 he had been awarded the title of Sheriff’s Operator as he had become a hangman (despite still being a prisoner). He was even allowed out of Richmond Gaol for the purpose of executing prisoners at Hobart and Launceston!

Mind Your Step!

The building of St Luke the Physician Church was started in 1834 and two years later a couple enquired about being wed there. Only trouble was, the floor was not complete, so the minister had to arrange to have planks laid over the joists so the happy couple and friends could walk up the aisle and tie the knot.

Jean