TASMANIA 6 - Burnie.

20.1.2014

A very happy birthday to Amelia Rose Munday who is nine years old today. Milli is our oldest granddaughter and we know that big brother Alex, Jacob, Addison, Isabelle, Eden and mum and dad will make sure she has a very special day. Lucky we had some service and could ring and talk to you Milli.

The drive from Cradle Mt. NP to Burnie was through undulating countryside, descending to the Hellyer Gorge and back up onto the coast at Somerset and then Burnie. The first part down to the gorge was through dense rainforest and was really beautiful. The light was dappled and at times the forest closed over our head as we drove along. The edges of the road were carpeted with speckled leaves inching under the smaller fringing tree ferns, backed by tall trees. Now and again there were brightly coloured wildflowers demanding their share of the sunlight. It was delightful. The loop walk along the river was short but pretty and we met people who took our photo and vice-versa.

In Burnie, our first stop was the Information Centre which also houses The Makers Workshop. There were two local artists at work: a printmaker and a glass bead jeweller. We spent some talking to Julie Irvin, a collograph printmaker, who was more than happy to explain her printing process and the inspiration she found in nature. She uses straw board which can be carved back in layers to produce varying tones and textures, shellac painted on the surface of the block, and etching inks to produce her fine designs. I thought her work was really interesting and the production of the plates very portable.

There were many other art works on show and some amazing full-sized paper figures as well as a huge selection of hand-made paper for sale. Lots of books and textiles too. Very impressive. We indulged ourselves with coffee and a delicious florentine and then bought local cheeses, St. Clare and Brie.

Our camp that night was on the headland at Cooee Point looking out over Bass Strait, nose into the wind. A beautiful spot but we are nearing 'roaring forties' territory and a strong wind blew all night and we had rain.

Among others there, were two lots of travellers we have camped with before on this trip so it was a bit like old folks night as the eight of us sat around the 'fire in a remodelled gas cylinder', yarning and swapping information about things to see and free camp sites. Love this life!

21.1.14

First thing next morning was a visit to town for a new battery as we killed the last one by letting it go flat once too often. Afterwards a bit of shopping to stock up on basics.

All that attended to, we drove out to Guide Falls not far from Burnie and had lunch there. Then westward to Wynyard. The information centre had a big exhibition by a local artist, Ruth Steadman(?), whose watercolours were lovely. She also had Lino prints and some sculptures. The town itself was a picture with brightly flowering petunias planted at every intersection along the Main Street and beautiful gardens full of summer flowers.

We took a scenic drive up to the lighthouse lookout where the coastal views were stunning. There is a great short walk from the lookout to the lighthouse which follows the cliff edge. Continuing along the drive, we passed a lot of houses built along the cliffs with enviable views and meandered through the narrow lanes alongside fields of poppies and green cabbages. Everywhere, there is a patchwork of fields with coastal cliffs and ocean in the distance. Very beautiful!

Fields of barley.

We spent the night at the showground where a young cricketer practiced for about three hours in the nets with his coach giving advice. Glenn thought cricket must be important in the town for it to have such a large, roofed practice complex. For exercise we watched some runners doing their laps while we had a quiet read and a small wine, feet up on the perimeter fence!

Boat Harbour.

The following day we drove to Boat Harbour, all of 17 kms away. We drove down to the beach and immediately spotted the familiar vans of Joe and Lourdes, Erroll and Beth. This is the third time we have camped together and probably won't be the last as we are travelling the same way at a similar pace. Joe has gone fishing so they are hoping for fresh fish for dinner. We are tucked in behind the reeds at the rocky end of the beach where we have some protection from the wind.

View framed by the the caravan door.

Another couple from Canowindra came in behind us and Milton knows my brother Peter in Cowra. It's a small world as the saying goes.

The following day dawned warm and sunny so we treated ourselves to a morning on the beach. The sand is so white and the water so blue as a result that the colour reminded us of the Nth. West Cape around Ningaloo Reef. The water temperature was a little cooler though I have to say, but we bravely and slowly entered the water and had a good swim along the beach from end to end and back and felt very pleased with ourselves afterwards. So much so that we bought fish and chips for lunch and then lazed in the sun and read for a few hours.