Lounging in Lonnie

Sat 13th February

On Thursday we made the scenic trip from Hobart to Launceston (pronounced Lorn-sis-ton and known to the locals as Lonnie). We called at Triabunna, a small fishing village with plenty of older buildings - unfortunately a lot of them needed some tlc. A very good lunch at Bicheno and then inland over the steep and narrow Elephant Pass. We then rolled through almost deserted farmland, passing small towns with lots of "For Sale" signs displayed. Tasmania has problems keeping small towns going and providing employment for its youngsters.

We arrived in Launceston at tea-time to a lovely welcome from George and Shar, Linda and Ross's friends from Perth who moved here a couple of years ago - the welcome from Bosun and Dash their dogs was even more enthusiastic. George and Shar have a beautiful house on the banks of the Trevellayn Lake, created by one of a series of dams on the South Esk River which joins the Tamar in Launceston. Their garden runs down to the bank of the lake, overlooking the occasional water-skier and kayak, and they have even been visited by Sea Eagles and Wedge-tailed Eagles - perhaps a good omen for Eagles first home match against Halifax on Friday night?

On Friday Ross took the car off to visit his sister on the north coast and the rest of us went into Lonnie to experience the number one tourist attraction, Cataract Gorge. It is only 10 minutes walk from the centre of town, but is a proper Aussie gorge through which the South Esk River thunders when in flood. The Victorians built a park around a path halfway up the side of the gorge, which leads to kiosks, a bandstand and an open-air swimming pool with a chairlift spanning above the first basin. We took the 25 min walk up in the sun and over 25C, stopping for a welcome drink at the top, and then lunch after a further walk round and over an interesting pedestrian suspension bridge - with a notice saying "Please do not swing the bridge, maximum capacity 60 people". In the evening we had another opportunity to sample Shar's wonderful cooking.

Today we visited the Saturday Harvest market - plenty of good wholesome Tassie produce - then went up to the world heritage site at Liffey Falls. This involved me driving along about 15km of unsealed, narrow, twisting and steep mountain roads - I was pleased to arrive safely. There is a wonderful 25min walk to the falls through rain forest made up of tree ferns and huge gums, during which we saw a snake, about 3ft long, black, yellow bellied, probably a tiger snake, and definitely venomous. The walk is mostly steeply downhill, fortunately the falls themselves are very impressive making the long haul back up well worth it. We're off to a well-recommended Indian restaurant on the waterfront this evening, before setting off for Strahan on the west coast tomorrow.

Linda looking at a squid fishing boat at Triabunna - the lights are to attract the squid

I love Aussie signs - this from Elephant Pass

The view from George and Shar's

Cataract Gorge, bottom end looking towards the Tamar

Cataract Gorge - looking up to First Basin, wobbly suspension bridge in distance

Well-presented Tassie Tucker

Sheffield, Tas is on the way to Strahan, we had to get some strawberries. The stall holder said her friend went to the UK and rang her to say "we're in Sheffield now", she said "I didn't expect you back so soon".