A summer in Tasmania

drron · Nov 26, 2020

I finished 8 weeks in Tasmania working at the beginning of November.I was asked if I could extend my stay until the end of February 2021.However mrsdrron had not been able to join me so I suggested I have 2 weeks off and then work until the end of February.At that point there was a strong feeling that Tassie would open to QLD on December 1st.
So I have had my break with a relaxing 6 night stay on Norfolk Island.I arrived home on a Friday and on Sunday flew JQ BNE-LST.

So in this report I will try to go on some different walks,go to some tourist places and when mrsdrron is with me have some restaurant reviews.This hopefully will give those wanting to spend some time in Tassie a few different options and the situation post Covid.

So first the flight down.As on the previous trip we had taken over 3 hours to drive from the Sunshine Coast to BNE we decided to leave much earlier.Of course having allowed such a buffer we had one of our best runs down the Bruce taking just on an hour.So plenty of time to kill.Thought about the QP but decided probably not worth it.The flight was leaving from one of the Projections out from the main terminal.once you got to the gate you basically were stuck there.not sure how you would go trying to go past the ADF and QLD police.Wasn't feeling hungry so read a couple of papers on my computer.

A plane from MEL arrived a little before we departed.Their gate was roped off so they could only go through the ADF and police.Although from MEL hardly anyone getting off had a mask on.

The flight to LST was totally different from 10 weeks previously.Then probably only 30% full , this time completely full.Then most wore masks ,this time probably only 10%.But Row 28 was at 100%. Then the only catering was a muffin and a glass of water if you had pre ordered.This time back to normal catering including alcohol.

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Now that was all well and good but it certainly wasn't the A team on that day.It was a 2.5 hour flight.I finally got to give my order about 1 hour out from LST.There were others who put in their orders after me.I ordered the pie and sausage roll.I was the last to actually get my meal 25 minutes out from LST.I certainly was hungry by that time.They also forgot the tomato sauce that supposedly came with it.No photo as I had to rush my meal.

drron · Nov 27, 2020

Take off.

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Stockton and NTL.

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The Hunter river and Newcastle.

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drron · Nov 28, 2020

Now Lake Macquarie.

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You can make out a slightly dark area near the right border in that last shot.That is Pulbah Island where on a few occasions I helped in a koala audit with a National Parks ranger culminating in a day where I was the one that spotted every koala for the day.The secret - a hangover.
Now further down the NSW Central Coast.

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drron · Nov 28, 2020

Broken Bay.

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And then we overfly SYD.

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Then Cronulla and Port Hacking.

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And the South Coast.

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drron · Nov 28, 2020

Then Jervis Bay.

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And this was just before we crossed the Victorian coast.

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drron · Nov 28, 2020

Then over Bass Strait and we passed by the Furneaux islands including Flinders Is lsland.

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drron · Nov 28, 2020

The Tassie Coast and on to LST.

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drron · Nov 28, 2020

So arriving at 1500 and through the entry proceedure pretty quickly ,though as a Queenslander I had to detail where I had been in the last 2 weeks.Did take a little longer as the woman questioning me was off to Norfolk Island soon.As usual my bag was nearly last off but by then I had got the keys of my rental car.I was then able to go into Spotlight in Launceston - the only one with the Any sharp in stock in the north.Thanks @TheRealTMA.It is necessary with the quality of knives supplied at hospital arranged accommodation.

So after unpacking and doing my food shopping I wanted something simple for dinne so it was off to the Ellimatta pub in Devonport.Always reasonable.So it was a half dozen oysters,the specialmaple bourbon glazed pork ribs washed down with a cider.Only bad note was they didn't have a Tassie cider.

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drron · Nov 28, 2020

Some more food.
First Fish on the Edge at Wivenhoe.Crumbed scallops and a fish curry.Scallops cooked just right and the salmon lifted the curry.Very nice.

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Next a new Vietnamese restaurant in the Devonport Mall.had been open just 2 weeks.I had the spring rolls and lemongrass beef vermicelli salad.Not as good as our Vietnamese on the Sunshine Coast but I will go back.

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Next I tried the takeaway Thai that is in Latrobe on weekends.Large serves and cheap but very bland.not going back.

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Made up for the blandness with a couple of glasses of sloe Gin.

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drron · Nov 29, 2020

Naturally one of the first things I did was to visit the orchid reserve.only 1 specimen of those there 3 weeks ago but an inpressive orchid I had not seen there before.

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The lovely afternoon light.

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Across the road from the reserve is forestry land.

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Sulzerman · Nov 30, 2020

drron said:
So arriving at 1500 and through the entry proceedure pretty quickly ,though as a Queenslander I had to detail where I had been in the last 2 weeks.Did take a little longer as the woman questioning me was off to Norfolk Island soon.As usual my bag was nearly last off but by then I had got the keys of my rental car.I was then able to go into Spotlight in Launceston - the only one with the Any sharp in stock in the north.Thanks @TheRealTMA.It is necessary with the quality of knives supplied at hospital arranged accommodation.

So after unpacking and doing my food shopping I wanted something simple for dinne so it was off to the Ellimatta pub in Devonport.Always reasonable.So it was a half dozen oysters,the specialmaple bourbon glazed pork ribs washed down with a cider.Only bad note was they didn't have a Tassie cider.
View attachment 234647.View attachment 234648.

View attachment 234649.

You always get a good feed at the Elli!

drron · Nov 30, 2020

Just a couple of interesting signs.First outside the night club in the Devonport Mall.stricter rules than a QP.

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And Covid restrictions taking it a little too far.

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Yes that is on a toilet door.

drron · Nov 30, 2020

Continuing with my orchid addiction.With the long twilights I was able one afternoon to travel to the Tom Gibson Nature reserve just outside Epping Forest south of Launceston.As I thought the diuris were in full bloom.A few plants dying off but others in bud.I do like the diuris species.

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A single caladenia still flowering.

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And as usual the coughatoos were present.Every time I have been there if a coughatoo spots you it flies off and brings back a few mates.They then sit up high in a tree encircling you and screech loudly.Never worries me and they eventually give up.

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drron · Nov 30, 2020

There were quite a few other non orchid flowers.

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Now I had wondered why the "fire trail"in this reserve was so good and why the number of fallen branches had increased dramatically in the last 18 months.

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So this day I found out.I heard a car approaching and was surprised to see a new SUV.It turns out this track is the right of way for a farmer whose property is about 3 Km down the track from the front gate of the reserve.I assume he was about my age as he talked about his 98 year old farmer who still works his own property.
The fallen branches occurred in winter last year when they had a heavy snow storm lasting 4 days.The branches broke from the weight of snow on them.He had got into trouble from the NP service as he had used a chain saw on several large trees that had fallen across the track.Chain saws are verboten in a Nature Reserve.

He also sai a week or so ago they had an electrical storm.it was accompanied by the heaviest rain he could remember with ~ 40mm in 15 minutes.The heavens really opened.

drron · Nov 30, 2020

When you rejoin the Midland hway there is an old disused church I decided to have a look at.

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As I stopped I noticed this.

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Across the road there were lots of them.All black except one.

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And a very interesting tree.

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drron · Nov 30, 2020

Back to food.One of the days I went walking I had a late lunch at a nondescript cafe in the main street at Latrobe just near the Monclair gift shop.It always has a sign out advertising scallop and rabbit pies so I thought it time to try one of their scallop pies.This is it.

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Now this pie totally different to all others I have tried.The place was run by an old fellow and a younger Asian woman.First the pastry-strips of pastry rather than sheets but it did stick together.Now it was a curry sauce but more an Asian curry sauce.Only 4 scallops but nice and moist.Also the cheapest scallop pie so still reasonable value.And I actually enjoyed the taste.May very well go back though might try their rabbit pie.

On another walking day I had lunch at the Deloraine deli.Simple but nice for lunch.I had the lamb skewers with a bottle of spreyton vintage cider.

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Major · Nov 30, 2020

That blue orchid could be Thelymitra Erosa

Thelymitra erosa | About Tasmania

about-tasmania.com.au

drron · Dec 1, 2020

So on a day oncall I limited myself to a walk near Devonport.But first a quick visit to Railton and the Seven Sheds Brewery to pick up some Christmas supplies.I did sample a glass of their Paradise Ale.Now although the only person there I had to be seated or drink outside.I decided to sit outside and watch the hops grow.