Friday & Saturday 15/16 May

Mmm a couple of wintery days. Friday it seemed as if we had rain all day and the winds were very stong. I didnt go anywhere [no car] but my time was not wasted as I worked on my new course.
Saturday.. No surprise today to find out that there is snow on the mountain. We have been caught in a very cold air stream...the lines on the weather map were very close and the Temp got very low. If there is no cloud I can see Mt Wellington from my lounge but that wasn't the case today. When I got to a friends place I could see SNOW but the cloud was low and the light bad so no photos today. The temp 11c with 24mm of rain.

Tasmania: Australia's Hidden Jewel

Thursday....well I took my camera with me when I went into town today. There was no snow! It was dry but a bit chilly and quite windy. I had to drive down an old road in Sandy Bay called Fitzroy Place. It must have been a grand road in earlier times, it still is now. It is a wide street lined with very tall Plane trees. Being autumn the leaves have been dropping. As I drove along the road there was a mighty gust of wind and leaves went everywhere. I was amused and delighted at the end of the road to see two young Asian girls madly photographing the leaves flying about the place. So reminiscent of my childhood in England.

Wednesday 13th May, Hobart

I didn't go out yesterday [Tuesday] decided to stay home firstly because I have decided to do an online course and the tutorial notes had just arrived. This meant sitting down with a cuppa while I read the 95 pages !
Also it was a lovely day once the early morning fog lifted and so I decided to divide my time between the tutuorial notes and the back garden. I sat out the back for ages in the sun, just t-shirt and jeans for clothing. I have a big job in the back yard which is going to take me ages to finish but it is fine. Sitting in the sun, coffee close by I am slowly pulling weeds and their roots. Sifting the soil and saving it in the wheelbarrow ready to move it out to the front garden job I often wonder if the task will ever be finished.
Today was a good one to visit the top of Mount Wellington

And so today Wednesday 13th May.
I woke to the sound of rain against the windows. It was windy and very dull, I certainly could not see Mt Wellington from my place. My do sitting days are over. I had to drive out to the airport to pick up my friends. I had sent them a text warning them about the weather but as I got closer to the airport the rain ceased. I had a couple of jobs to do around the airport and jumping in and out of the car began to quickly feel the chill in the air.
There were plenty of tourists on their flight. Many can be picked by their attire ..backpacks, walking boots beanies and a handful of travel brochures they have collected while waiting for their luggage to appear. The car hire parking bay was full, plenty of the vehicles being camper vans of varying sizes.
The 5.30 news has been on TV and one of the main comments was : snow in Tasmania.. I wonder how the tourists will get on this evening. I will take my camera out tomorrow and if there is snow on The Mountain I will get a shot of it
WATCH THIS SPACE..

Monday in Tasmania 11/5/09

Wasn't planning on going anywhere today but plans can change ! :)

After speaking with my son I found myself volunteering to drive him to Franklin to collect the boys from school.

While not a sunny day, it was nice. My son lives in West Hobart, closer to town than me. After collecting him we set off. Our journey would take us south into the Huon Valley. Franklin where the boys go to school is south of Hounville and sits on the bank of the Huon River. It was a glorious drive with all the orchards for which the Huon Valley is famous for, putting on their autumn coats. The colours varied depending on the type of orchards. There were some vineyards still showing a defiant green. Once we crossed the Huon River at Huonville we were driving with the river close on our left.

River waters in this area tend to be very dark, due to the amount of tannin in the water. This was the case today with the river being so very, very still and this meant the reflections were mirror perfect. Sadly we didnt have the luxury of time to take photographs. As it was we got into trouble from the boys for being late !!. I made up for the 'error' by buying them an ice cream [my son had one as well, not sure how that happened:)]

I will tell you about Franklin another day but here is a postcard photo showing the sort of relections one can find.

Mother's Day May 10

Sunday.. beautiful day clear sky and very still.

Not going anywhere today [except to feed my 4 legged friend]

But if I were a tourist in Hobart I would take the opportunity to drive up to the top of Mount Wellington. Here they will find a look out explaining how the road up to the peak was built. Also the regular signposts pointing out different locations.

The view is fantastic [all the way to the south pole :)] It is good for people to go up The Mountain because it shows them the lie of the land south. It gives them a feeling of the terrain the first settlers had to overcome.

Once down from the mountain a coffee might be in order [ the mountain has its own climate and this time of the year the temp on the top will no doubt be 'challenging' for visitors] So as we need a we need warming why not go to Battery Point where a coffee and pastry can be enjoyed while admiring the surrounding buildings and watch the world pass by as tourists stroll the streets cameras at the ready.

I will be spending part of my day working in my front garden where I am removing garden beds by covering them with weed mat and paving slabs. I want to leave the garden so that when I sell the place new people can just uncover the gardens. For me it is becoming too hard to look after, both physically and time wise. I have dug up lots of bulbs which were transplanted to pots so I now have daffodils poking through. I will only be able to get half way this season as I dont want to disturb the bulbs once they are springing into life.

Now afternoon, have finished my gardening for the day, there is a black cloud towards the mountain and I needed to get the washing in. So that's it for the day :) Decided to photograph my 'work' place. I will update this as I progress AND when all the bulbs are in bloom.

If you went to the Henry Jones Hotel yesterday you would have found some shops and a bar. A nice relaxing way to spend the afternoon

5.30PM Well the black cloud [for my location] was a trick. Nothing happened, never mind I needed to go and feed my 4 legged friend. My drive took me along the bank of the Derwent River. It was a truly lovely afternoon, very mild. I saw people by the river having a picnic, children playing in the park and people just walking and enjoying the weather.

Temp 7- 16c

My Tasmania Day2

Saturday 9th May
It is a little dull and overcast today. 'what to do as a tourist in Hobart'? [I am writing this from home, didn't venture into town myself]
Well put on your jacket and pop down to Salamanca Markets. Before strolling the market grab some breakfast. One is spoilt for choice with regard to eating. Wherever you choose to eat though will send you out into the market place feeling comfortably full and ready to tackle the difficult 'problem' of where to start :) The markets at Salamanca are a famous tourist destination but for the locals it is equally as popular. You will see people with large bunches of flowers and their baskets full of so fresh fruit and veggies. Ones ears almsot become confused this the vast assortments of different sounds, from the apple sellers shouting his wares by the band from South America, further on there is the lilting gentle sound of the classical guitar. These sounds are regular visitors but you can also find dotted through the market area young classical groups or a lone child playing the violin. Need a book for the plane journey home? You are sure to find a stall to help you. Once you have filled your shopping list with gifts for those at home you might have found the weather becoming a little indifferent [we had drizzle later in the morning yesterday] What to do now? Do not despair, grab a coffee and then head for the Museum just a stroll from Salamanca.
It is a very good museum and will keep you entertained for hours I am sure. There is also the Maritime Museum of Tasmania also within walking distance.
Finished with the Museums? how about heading over to Hunter Street into the Henry ones complex. Time for afternoon tea? choose a place to eat while relaxing in the IXL Atrium. Soak up the atmosphere of the old IXL Jam factory.
I myself made my daily visit to feed my friend's dog while they are away. Always a pleasure as he makes me so welcome, the chickens are also pleased to see me. Then I went to the garden centre to buy some paving slabs. By the late afternoon the day had become rather sad.
There is a saying in Tasmania. 'always be prepared for 4 seasons in one day'!
Temp 9-16

Day 1 in Tasmania 8/5/09

I have to decided to try and do a regular blog about Tasmania. If a guy up on the Barrier Reef can tell the World about how wonderful Queensland is, then, I will attempt to do the same for Tasmania.

Today while a little nippy first thing turned into a great day. The sun shone and it warmed up.

After taking some friends to the airport I headed home via Sorell. Driving past the Tasmania Golf Course, I noticed a party of golfers enjoying themselves in the sun. Crossing the Sorell Causeway the sun was glistening on the water. Upon reaching historic Sorell I turned left heading for Richmond. Just a short drive and had to turn left again now heading directly to Richmond. The journey took me past stables and a vineyard and then down a hill with a market garden on my right. Here was growing Hobart's future salad items in a variety of colours. Decending the hill took me into the valley where Richmond is found.

But this was a journey of discovery [I try to make all my trips a discovery drive] and so before entering Richmond I took a turn right heading for Hatcher's Manor [my new discovery location] The road to Hatchers although not long was undulating. Hatchers while a tourist accomodation location is situated within the boundaries of a very hsitoric farm 1820's. Being autumn in the southern hemisphere the trees are turning, and coming onto Hatchers certainly proved that. The neat orchards were a delightful shade of burnt gold.

I am always on the look out for new photo opportunities and here I had found one! The shot above shows the autumn leaves and in the distance Australia's oldest Catholic church (1836-37).

After taking a shot or 2 or.... I headed for Richmond bridge. This is a must stop location for every tourist. In fact while I was taking photos I overheard a woman say to her partner 'see I told you that you would love it' as they both were clicking madly. I have been to Richmond so many times but always feel compelled to take 'just one more' shot of Australia's oldest bridge still in use. Built by convicts it has well stood the test of time

c.1823

After all this activity I felt it was time to go home and so I slowly drove through the delightful historic town of Richmond being ever aware of the tourists strolling past the shops and old well preserved house along the main road.
Be aware the speed limit through Richmond is low but why would you want to speed.
Temp range today was 7-19
websites to check out
http://www.richmondvillage.com.au/ and www.flickr.com/photos/gillisrasmania
if you visit my flickr site you can see many many more shots of Richmond.