July 2008 journal

It is certainly winter down here in SE Tasmania now. Rain! yes rain! But still not enough. Icy cold wind. Snow on Mt Wellington. We’re snug inside the house and rug up appropriately with coats, beanies and gloves when we go out.
Bushwalking this week was great again. We drove way down south past Port Arthur towards Cape Raoul and westwards. The walk was called Tunnel Bay. The weather was not condusive! There was a strong wind warning, rain forecast and bushwalkers alert. We sat in the car for a while as it rained and contemplated the situation. There were only 4 of us and Jan, a walker, said “Well I have driven this far. I’m going walking!” So we all went. Sure enough the rain eased and we were treated to some fantastic coastal scenery. The wind was very blustery and the sea wild. Tunnel Bay was all rocks and the big waves made a rumbling sound as the wave re-treated back down the beach dragging rocks with it. Needless to say the rocks were all beautifully rounded. The tunnel was interesting too: a tall narrow gap through the rock face. On the way back we had a hail shower. We were all dressed appropriately and so no hypothermia! It was along tough climb back uphill! On one lookout point when I was taking a photo I was blown back into a bush and felt like a turtle. I couldn’t get up! I was OK. The vegetation was regrowth forest as it was a National Park. As we got nearer the sea the vegetation type changed of course. My pedometer said 12.9kms but it was a lot of short steps going down and then going up!

We had a busy weekend doing............A 2 day 4WHEEL DRIVE COURSE !
It was with Adult education and the Trekka 4 wheel drive club. Saturday was all theory and demo of recovery using a snatch strap (“elastic” that acts like a catapult) a hand winch and an engine mounted winch. Sunday was an early start to a private property about 50km NE of Hobart in the “donga”. That area was not exactly pretty but all new territory for us. It was west of Elderslie up in the Mt Bluff area. It was a specialist 4 wheel drive training track. It was terrifying! Stu managed the rock climb up and down again extremely well. I chickened out. I was near the end of the class and several people damaged their vehicles. It put me off AND everyone watching! Then we did the MUD course. Stu again coped well but got bogged once, and had to be towed out. I did that course and the brown was mud on not IN my pants! I did it! The car was filthy! Many drivers did the course several times and then went around it anti-clockwise, which was harder!. Several boys and their toys were loving it roaring through the mud and slush, but Stu and I didn’t want to damage the car, or scare ourselves anymore! After the day our vehicle was filthy so on the way home we went to a car wash – the type that uses water under high pressure that you do yourself. You have to feed gold coins in to get a time, that is, $3 gave you five minutes worth of water under pressure. We used $11!
One rule we learnt at the lessons was if you were unsure whether to drive a particular route or not would be to rekke first! Well, we like exploring but would never have driven where we did! There was an alternative route and we would have done that! However we have more confidence and know our Prado is capable. We just want to explore lots of places. There is a beaut book about 4 wheel drive tracks in Tassie. There is a club event on Sunday in 2 weeks time south of Hobart. We reckon we’ll go just to explore a new out of the way place only known to locals.
Both evenings after our 2 big days we walked the dogs for an hour!
After our exciting weekend of 4 wheel driving we had to devote Monday to walking the dogs. We drove to Wielangta Forest about 30kms ENE of here, north of Copping. Our “40 Day Walks Around Hobart” book gave us the idea. It was said to be a 3 hour walk through a rainforest along an old logging tramway track. Dogs were allowed as it is a forest not a National Park. It was “a there and back walk”- total 7kms. It was most enjoyable for us and we think the dogs liked it too! It was called Sandspit River walk – well it was only a creek and it was just trickling. Lots of tree ferns and regrowth of trees of various types and growing quite tall. One day it will be logged again. We were in shade most of the time and a small leech did get stuck on my hand but I flicked it off before it got stuck into me. Wielangta used to be a thriving saw-mill/village until 1924 when they had chopped down too much timber near the tramway. There was a plaque about a family who ran a bakery and had 16 children, and a well kept grave for one of their infant sons who was killed by an explosive. Another good exploration! There’s a protest demonstration soon because many of THE public do not want this regrowth forest to be logged again.
It was glorious sunny weather so we did a long local walk on the beach to Dodge’s Ferry. (3.5kms by road but on beach about 4kms ONE WAY) In the afternoon we went for a small bike ride to Carlton River to check out a route for the BUSHWALK WE ARE LEADING next Thursday. Stu then did extra speedy riding while I did some more weeding of freesias in the nearby reserve.
Thursday – bushwalking day- It rained heavily the night before and the forecast was blah. However, we drove down south to Crescent Bay/ Mt Brown due south of Port Arthur on the Tasman peninsula. It was not sunny (note I am not saying “dull”) when we took off on a bush track with low wind-swept vegetation. We were glad we were wearing our leggings because the bushes were WET and scratchy. At some places the bushes were shoulder high on this narrow track. We climbed up Mt Brown, the most southern point and could see Cape Raoul on the west and Tasman Island on the south east. At this point the sun appeared – WOW! At Crescent Bay Dick Smith is aiming to build a huge luxurious hotel on his land. The community thinks it is too ostentatious on the pristine coast. I think it is too far south to capture many tourists. By the way he already has a $900 day luxurious hotel on Kangaroo Island - (where?) He is not popular down here. Egotistical developer! Crescent Bay was a beautiful sandy wave pounded beach. We walked back on a new track and got “geographically dislocated” – not to worry we knew approximately where we were, and it was all picturesque. We returned to the cars which were parked at Remarkable Caves and did a short walk to the lookout to see Remarkable Cave. My pedometer recorded 12.5kms. It was spectacular. Another great walk, but as soon as we parked the car at the house I had to take the dogs for a walk as it was dusk, and I reckon I walked another 2kms.
Sunday doggy school day. Sam was good and didn’t snarl at two smaller dogs. He must have small dog syndrome! Bailey was good until the last quarter of the lesson and got bored and didn’t want to co-operate. We got a tip about pulling. Yes, they already wear chokers! My left arm gets sore from yanking! The tip is to stop walking every time they pull. The dogs get bored with stopping and starting! Their pulling sure spoils a walk for us. After the lesson we walked around the northern knob of Bellerive peninsula. Posh houses on this point overlook Hobart with Mt wellington behind. We only walked to THE Bellerive YC which was all posh big yachts on moorings. We did see 6 big yachts sailing in the gentle breeze. We only walked an hour because we had booked a free trailer from a nearby “transfer station” at 2pm to collect a load of mulch (recycled green garden mulch) Of course as soon as we got home we had to unload it. It was a 6 X 4 trailer with high sides. The tractor loaded 5 scoops. A bit too much really! We dumped it in the driveway and managed to put about 8 wheel barrow loads onto the newly created native garden around the bird bath. Putting the rest of the load around the garden front and back will be an “ongoing project”.

Thursday. Ah! Thursday – Bushwalk day. Great weather – little breeze and sunny. This walk I was leading as it was near Lewisham. Stu drove me to Carlton River where I met the others and we walked back to Lewisham along the coast – about 11kms. Stu didn’t walk but drove the drivers back to their cars at the end and they all ended up here for afternoon tea. I felt it was very good, showing off the little tracks we had found locally. One lady lives in Copping, 20kms east of here, and she hadn’t known these tracks around all the headlands.

A little drama today. Last night we realised the rainwater was struggling to pump into the house and it was “dirty”. A rainwater tank was empty. First thing we rang for a delivery and they said they’d come in the afternoon. Good – Stu could go for a bike ride in the morning as he was pining to do, even though it would be on the “Working Girl”. He ended up staying home all day. Just as the bushwalkers left here the water tanker came and said ONE tank was FULL, BUT the tap was turned off! Both tanks should work together! Derrr... city slickers – but we are learning! So we didn’t buy any water. Then, we walked the dogs!
We went our separate days on Monday. Stu has volunteered to be a community driver. He was hoping to drive a small bus but it will be a car to take infirmed locals to Drs appointments etc. On Monday he was shown the ”ropes” and he will go out again on Friday. I went to Hobart to have back and neck Xrays and a chiropractor visit. My neck still bothers me and this chiropractor has asked to see Xrays, which I haven’t had any on my back or neck for years. The new ones didn’t show anything too bad: just a bit of arthritis. I spent all day in Hobart “just looking”.
We’ve found another walking group who walks on Saturdays. Their programmed walk was on a contour hugging track on Mt Wellington. This track was called the Pipeline Track – for obvious reasons, but it was buried. It was on the shady side of the mountain so the trees and ferns were pretty and occasional glimpses of great views over the southern Derwent “gulf”. We reckon we walked about 11kms. It was a there and back walk. The group was very friendly and a mixture of males and females. We may do some more walks with them. And guess what? As soon as we got home we walked the dogs for 4kms!
We had originally planned to go south of Hobart for a follow up 4 wheel drive adventure but decided a bike ride would be a good change. Stu would have to ride his “Working Girl”. He was getting withdrawal symptoms, with not riding for so long. BUT it was so cold this morning the back “grass” was white. There was no wind, no sun, and no rain, all day. It was too cold to ride so we went to Doggy school instead! Both dogs have improved but will miss “exams” next week as I am in Adelaide. We don’t care about assessment. Sam is getting more sociable, and Bailey is not pulling as much and will sit as soon as I stop walking. After lunch we had an exploring walk along Lauderdale Beach. It was a lovely beach but a bit of sunshine would have made it perfect.
We reckon we have hit jackpot. We took the 2 dogs to the vets for their vaccinations. ( We got a reminder letter and the costs will be re-imbursed) The vet mentioned a new style of “Halti” dog restraining collars. They work! The pull is under the chin. It pulls their neck to the side and they don’t like it SO THEY STOP PULLING. Our arms will no longer be yanked. We will all enjoy every walk together! We’ll see how Stu goes walking the dogs alone for 3 weeks while I am in Adelaide.
I’m in Adelaide for 3 reasons 1) I am doing a paying job teaching English for 8 days to Japanese students here on their holidays. 2) seeing Mum and Dad and 3) seeing J and M and their new house.