Hello Tasmania

Tasmanian Sunset and Moonrise

After a week of rain and dodging flooded roads, we drove into Melbourne on a Friday afternoon.

Artistic Sound Walls
A long the way south, we visited three astronomy sites...The compact array radio telescopes,

Siding Springs Observatory,

Scientists reserve the telescope years in advance at $28,000 a night for basic setup.  Too bad if it's raining!

and the Dish.

We also spent a night in the Warumbungi National Park

and in Glenrowan where the notorious thief Ned Kelly lived and was captured.

Ned's Body Armor Made from a Plow

Replica of Kelly Homstead

We had been in touch with some other cruisers from Tahina Expedition who were also doing some land traveling and met up with them at the campground in Melbourne.  Since our friends had already been in the city for a couple of days, we had different agendas for Saturday.  Russ and I spent nearly the entire day keeping out of the downpour at the Melbourne Museum which was very enjoyable.  

Love the "Flat White" Coffee

Aborigini Artwork

Beautiful Mineral Collection

Recreation of fossilized dinosaur bird

Early Sunday morning, March 4,  We wove our way through the predawn, wet and shiny streets of Melbourne towards the harbor, and boarded the ferry for Tasmania.

The weather was thankfully benign or so it seemed on a large ship.  I am sure the 2-3 meter seas would have looked quite different from Worrall Wind.

Friends from Tahina, Frank and Karen, sailed across with us.  We enjoyed a day of reading, conversing, and playing Fiji Rummy.  The day trip does not provide a supper menu and Tasmania quarantine prohibits bringing in fresh fruits and vegetables, so we found ourselves in Devonport late on a Sunday evening with few provisions, stores closed, and restaurants closing.  Fortunately we found an open Noodle Box, and were the last customers served.

Karen and Frank

On Monday morning, Karen and Frank headed southeast, and we did a short trip south to do some exploring in the small town of Sheffield and environs. Sheffield is known for its murals.  We loved this little town.

Walk to Alum Rock

Sacred Grounds of Aborigini

We also took an enjoyable walk to view Alum Rocks.

On Tuesday, after spending the morning at an Aborigini Cultural Center in Devonport,

Aborigini's in Tasmania suffered brutally into extinction by European Settlers.

we headed northwest to the "Nut", a large rock on the end of a peninsula where the quaint little town of Stanley is nestled.

On our way we took a fern walk and looked unsuccessfully in the river for duck billed platypus.  We did see some beautiful reflections in the water and enjoyed other people's art.

Nature's Water Colors

Yesterday, when we arrived, the sea was flat and there was only a slight breeze.  We took advantage of the nearly windless day on the headlands observing the calm sea.

By evening the clouds were building, the wind was beginning to blow, and we were treated to a magnificent sunset and a howling wind night.

Now we know why Stanley was built in the lee of the Nut or it would have been blown away.  We will be exploring Stanley and climbing the Nut as soon as I have posted this blog.

All is well with the 2 Travel R's on Awaltzing Matilda.