Alum clinics gorge ,honey world cradle mountain to Roseberry

Getting used to packing up the nearly full gamut of the camper but still need to work on the timing when it comes to a 10 am checkout .
Tullah and Lake Mackintosh was today's target only 90 minutes over Cradle mountain shortly after we reached the western tiers famed Alum cliffs gorge reserve turnoff and headed the 800 metres up the track to the car park where I artfully park the car and Van combo .
the track was graded in our guide book as 1.6 Kms easy grade yet as we walked up the first steep section we had our doubts however the walk soon plateaued out once we got up a few hundred metres then we passed an artists impression of the area on a tri spoked platform .
A few storyboards along the way explained some of the native foods in the area namely native cherry and also how the area was the scene of many great corroboree between the local tribes where the women and children would gather the ochre to decorate their bodies that was gathered from the caves scattered along the gorge cliffs.
The views were amazing as we are getting used to with many of Tasmania's walks .
Chuldleigh was the next town we passed through where we stopped to look through the world of honey but just as we walked across the road a bus load of Asian tourists pulled up ( I shit you not!),
We soldiered on through the shop and took up the knowledge and war displayed before us but we couldn't pass up on a jar of leatherwood honey and an ice cream all round.
Again through Railton then Sheffield where we topped up at the unmanned servo ( great service lol) , then up pas Lake Barrington the Olympic rowing location then onwards to Cradle mountain to see the visitor centre and maybe a nights layover .
The layover was soon passed up as I refused to pay over $60 for an unpowered cramped sight with a million others when I could stay down the road for nicks .
Checked up on the overland track bookings which were fine as peak was slowing down then we grabbed a bite to eat and headed down the mountain towards our free campsite at lake mackintosh.
However of all of three location in camp six none were of assistance as the town on was relocated to a shabby shed near the boat ramp where we found some distressed nomads who were towed there after a Rosen spring nearly cost them there life on a steep downhill only to be abused by a so called landholder for camping at the posted coordinates for a camp.
We toured back to the lake and every single spot was taken by grey nomads saving a buck and also a hippyvan but I wasn't amused at how a couple of our grey haired or bald comrades parked their vans on the road so no one else could park the other side of them :(
we made the decision unwittingly to drive a little further up at Roseberry at the van park as it was getting late.
The park was easy enough to find so forked over two powered nights worth as we were doing some local walks tomorrow .
Set up in the old quarry area and not long after we were setup the iron ore train rumbled literally metres above our heads .
It was dark and we were all tired .

Towns of murals and topiaries

Despite the latish night and more then our fair share of beverages we all awoke fairly early to a small but busy campsite at mole creek with at least 7 other vans lol all bar us and another were grey nomads and most from Queensland .
With prices easily researched on the nearby caves we came to the conclusion we could better spend over $100 on touring Sheffield and Railton just over the hills towards Mt rowland .
The town of Sheffield is celebrating its 25 th anniversary this year which draws me to the fat we were here in 1991 nearly 22 years earlier which even had the tourist info guessing as they didn't believe me when I said I seen only a few here back then (they better get some more training in ).
Murals soon over and the brief tour around the town finished to our satisfaction we gathered some lunch supplies at the ever present yet expensive IGA and proceeded downhill towards Railton (topiary town ) where we gazed at the eclectic collection of topiary gardens and then went for a walk to Sykes sanctuary obviously a pretty smart intellectual who from what. Can make out after the war moved to Melbourne didn't like the way things were heading so then moved to Railton and brought some land him and his family could enjoy in a more idealistic way.
He bequeathed the land the sanctuary now stands on his family house and land to the council of the day to leave as a quite place of solitude and tranquil surrounds forever for the public to enjoy and many universal and elemental tables and interesting equations which far outweigh my intellect but we enjoyed lunch here and a walk all the same .
A quick look at Goliath Park then back up to Sheffield for a geocache then a ice cream and fudge at several gourmet places in town then as we were heading home we found an awesome spot for a quick dip in the Mersey river on the way home in this hot 24 degree day lol
As the pics will tell the rapids and old diving board proved a hit with myself and the squids .
This tired us enough so we headed back to mole creek for tea of roasted vegetable gnocchi .

Launceston

Screaming cars out side the window woke both Corinna and I early as the normal crowd went about a busy workday .
Was great to catch up on emails and be able to login for the kids schoolwork .
Breakfast in the apartment kitchen was a pleasant affair with all this room apart from instant coffee lol .
The meat and salad rolls were prepared for our day out in advance.
Morning cartoons and current affairs watched early on we took off into the one way streets of Launy .
Barely went two blocks before we came across several hiking stores where we needed to get some well needed supplies for our walks as the boys sneakers wouldn't cut it over here and Ejs cheap sleeping bag was cold in the camper let alone up in the hills!
A few more shops later we had all we needed for food ,hiking and more of our necessities .
It didn't take long to arrive at Cataract Gorge pretty much several blocks out of town ,forked out the hard earned again for all of us to get a one way ride on the chairlift .
We walked down to the grassed are in the lower gorge reserve to share our rolls with a friendly peacock who was scaring Shahla onto the table lol.
The walk over the suspension bridge didn't take long in the sunshine and then up to the upper viewing platform over the gorge and was amazed at water heights in the early 1900s and later in 2000 .
A few geo caches were done over this side of the gorge after we had an ice cream and treat with a coffee .
Time for our chairlift ride back across the gorge and back down into the reserve for a swim as it had gotten fairly warm so we thought the pool may refresh us on this mid 20s summer day ,lol.
We had Asian meals from the supermarket the day before so we prepared this and dinner and a coldie were soon downed and journals filled out for us all .

Day 1 for distance education for the travellinfilbeys

A little bit of sunshine escaped through the low cloud cover early on so we both knew today was d day for both distance education login and our camper parts arriving to island campers for our repair to begin .
Shahla was keen as English mustard to begin her school work so on we went with her initial introduction to primary education , she did an awesome job on her fairy day especially since their were no other pupils her age nearby .
We slowly packed up the camper awaiting the call to say our parts were in but the poor signal kept us begging .
So we continued on regardless and as soon as we arrived in Telstra zone we heard the missed calls blip blip
Andrew was confident with the repairs in between his anniversary fishing trip .so we left it in his capable hands .
Off to the big smoke of Launceston we head down the Bass hwy with a quick stop at Richardons Harley Davidson bike shop and museum ,some very nice bikes there which get you thinking " if only " hmmm the Vrod or night train.
Launceston arrived quickly after, and I took charge of accomodation "being the tight ass" but I probably cost more in the end only I was in the heart of Launny .
A supermarket stop later we were ready for a"normal night" of tv and Facebook catch ups and Internet logins whilst enjoying a pollo matriciana fettuccine I made with a helpful serve of the forgotten Parmesan followed by custard n fruit .

Leaving narawntapu national park for tania kernaghan @ Mole Creek

Having left the park fairly late we pointed the almighty 4.2 cruiser tears the western tiers of Tasssie and onwards towards Mole creek for the tania kernaghan concert this afternoon/night on the way out of the park we did the obligatory tour of the rangers showroom which the kids enjoyed immensely with taxidermy display of seabirds and mammals .
Today's journey took up a massive 72 Kms a milestone by Tasmania standards I'm sure but a mere puddle by most 4wd mainland scales .
Quite happy to leave the park after many weekend campers arrived last night and a few noisy 4x4 club qlders .
A trip down the Bass Hwy yet again then a brief gourmet lunch at the elizabeth town bakery ETC and onto Mole creek rd , a meer hour in total had us at the mole creek caravan park which was quaint but quite pleasant and only $25 a night total which was good considering we had run out of water and one bottle of gas so van supplies were needed there .
A few frothies after we arrived and set up we moved onto the hotel and the concert .
As luck would have it it was cash only so we missed out on Tanias first set while we ducked up to the ever present iga for the ATM and folding funds but listened to some great music until she came back on with some special local guests .
Getting our country on felt so comfortable and free and I must say the mrs did her whole kinder assistant to a T and joined in with Shahla and a whole heap of youngens .
I couldn't resist Shahla and her persistent rants to get me up and dancing so as a few photos may tell I was up and dancing but sorry shirl I didn't go to the boot scoot school of dance so I rocked out as best I could remember .
All in all an absolutely out of the box different day for all of us even if it felt kinda normal considering we knew no one there today .
The next few bands ranged from buddy holly to Keith urban and a absolutely marvellous Vikka and Linda ish 5 piece called "the firm and the blackberries " that played an awesome 2 sets of dancing hits which implored many more songs than what they were probably paid for .
Music over at 930 so it was time to go much to shahla's discuss as she made some good friends On the day .
Back at the park a quick beer burp up the rd ,I find myself writing the days events and feeling tired but ready to explore some more caves tomorrow .

Dismal swamp and the Tarkine adventure forest

An overcast windy day loomed again but according to the weather reports was improving on the coast so we decided we would head back to the top end of the tarkine forest to go to the forest adventure we noticed the night before .
The area had great walks such as a magical path ,a artists walk and one depicting burrowing crayfish which the kids enjoyed .
Of course there was a admission price which the better Half paid as the boys and I set ourselves up on the near vertical slide which takes you 110 metres below to the swamp floor below at speeds just over 40 km per hour and the corners have you right up on the edge which have you seriously thinking you will tip over or go over the edge .
Arriving flat out down the bottom in the mat they slide you into you are glad you wear a helmet as your head aches from the jarring corners but its hard to wipe the smile of any of our faces and its all the boys talk about as we walk up the steep winding track back to the top for our second run as we run into Shahla and mum who walked down avoiding the slide much to shahla's disgust as you had to be 8 years old so Corinna walked Shahla and took photos of us coming down for the next run.
Ej had the first run down when we first arrived so now it was time for dash then myself ,love it, be sure to check out Tarkine slide on you tube it gives a better perspective of the ride.
Once we slid to the bottom we did our best to convince momma bear to do the slide which she swore adamantly she wasn't going down "that bloody thing" but by the end of the walk we refused to leave the bottom of the slide as she walked back up until the slide was conquered .
You go down the slide that quick it's hard to get pictures or even video but our attempts our below.
Smithton once again provided us with some fuel supplies to top up in case the bigger servos were shut back towards camp .
A short trip around town to look at the lookout and tiny river inlet and we were back on our way back to Burnie to clean the soaking spewy clothes from the other night and again to the supermarket to top up some much needed food supplies .
Back to Pioneer park South Riana for our last night as the camper was organised and parts in for repair on the winding tracks and rear springs.
We were informed the day had been very windy and blustery as was evident in our billowing annexe so I'm glad we shot out for the day.

Narawntapu national park and lower Tamar valley

Glistening sunshine awoke me early with me thinking oh snap I hadn't put the solar panels out in readiness for the morning sun to recharge the batteries via our awesome ctek 250s dual mppt charger ,no problem I jumped out of my comfy bed for morning constitutionals and. Reel out he cable and panels ,easy done.
A quick catch up on my blogs I had lost and a new one added then settle into breakfast and the kids schoolwork which thankfully we had reception for at the moment as Ej had a 1 hour online assessment and dash wasn't able to log in due to still some hiccups in the distance ed online system ,Shahla was easily sorted with a couple of cd audio clips from her teacher and some cutting and colouring in which then needed to be sent off back to Melbourne ,although we soon realised we needed some school supplies mostly for Shahla in a craft aspect ,the time taken tis morning to do this was nearly three hours between the three kids so it was mid 11 when we took off for Beaconsfield.
Through the narawntapu national park we headed along a beach track then onto the main beach rd before turning back into a dirt rd along the park border and some fairly serious 4wheel drive side roads which got the heart pumping before arriving at Yorktown historic area which was a one time capital of tassie and one of the first ports discover by bass and flinders late 1897 .
Nothing remains of the village except a walk around the site with some boards and extracts from papers depicting local legends such as Paterson the one time commander of the gaol and some murderers and local bushrangers, local aborigines obviously didn't like the early white man here so much so that the inland cattle route was given up in favour of sending the cattle upstream via boats .
The village today is a bit of a quandary as to how people lived here and why it failed but but a short 8 years after its inception was gone forever .
The beach and lunch beckoned us onwards and down to Clarence point ,Kelso and greens beach but the wind was shocking so we spent little time away from the shelter of trees and headlands today I'm afraid .
Still having not eaten lunch at well after 3 we head into Beaconsfield to explore the mine and museum , getting over paying to see again and again but it is I know unavoidable.
History buffs would rejoice at the old machinery some still in working order here , was a great sight to see and a fair portion of this afternoon here we spent in the old rural phone exchange working the old phones ,it w as so funny to hear the kids ask how the dial around phones work.
The mine rescue exhibition from the 2006 rock fall which claimed 1 life and shot the other two into Mining folklore was very good and put a realistic perspective from their workings into my mind this area was probably a 1/4 of the whole tour .
Then the historic area of this mine and the older one on site really interested me with its working water wheel and twelve clanging noisy batteries stomping away to crush the ore and rocks for gold .
Before long we were running out of time and soon headed out as it was closing time,thankfully we were given a pass out for tomorrow so the kids could finish their animal treasure hunt and we could explore the rest of the museum historical area .
A quick stop at the supermarket for tea and ugh supplies for the next few days proved fairly pricey but still cheaper than takeaway, and of course some cold drinks for the adults as th mrs hasn't had a cider since we arrived!
Batman bridge,crossed the Tamar river a little further up so we did a BBQ there and ate greedily as we had forgotten lunch (10 steps to bad parenting !)
Several black chooks , a kookaburra family and peacock joined us for tea in the batman bridge reserve which I'm afraid was littered badly by people camping illegally and dumping their rubbish and fires around!
The speed the tide was rushing the river along was simply amazing I suggest you check it out preferably in person or on YouTube I guess .
Tea finished we headed back to the park and our campsite via Exeter and a few quaint small towns.
Once back here it Was quick geo nearby then a beer n cider for the oldies and custard and fruit for the kids .
Shahla wanted a little bit more schoolwork before bed god bless while
the two boys read some books .