Blissfully unaware in NW Tasmania

[drron]

Garlic scallops? Coming from you, drron! How was the Freycinet SB? Used to be my 'local staple' but now a bit sweet for me.

Thanks.Corrected.

 

[drron]

Tuesday I took off for Launceston to catch up with a young fellow from the East coast of Tassie who thinks he can teach this old dog some new tricks.Absolutely no traffic so I got there early and walked around the Brickfields area of west Launceston.Even the roudabout is made of...
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The lower area is mainly worker's cottages or terraces.
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As you head towards the West Tamar highway and higher ground the buildings become larger.
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[drron]

Continuing my walk.
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Then the views walking down to the highway.
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[drron]

Now walking back towards the Brickfield park.
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The Church is the Church of the Apostles and the hall St.Ailbes.
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[drron]

Now going south from Brickfields and the Mehodist church and the Sunday School which was up for sale.
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Then a factory area with housing behind it.
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It was time then to head for Geronimos and a very nice meal with a fellow AFF member.Too much talk so no cameras.

 

[drron]

During the week on an afternoon that was pleasant I headed out to the Henry somerset Orchid Reserve on the Latrobe - Railton road.Early February and the sun orchids were in full flower - a month later than usual due to a colder summer.
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[drron]

On friday night I went to the Market place beside the Council Chambers.There has been a food market there on friday nights.Sadly it was very much reduced and I doubt it will survive.There was a distillery there, Southern Wild,though when I went back in June it had closed though I see they are back now.

Find us – Southern Wild Distillery

southernwilddistillery.com

At the market's I usually have a plate of Dev's Dumplings.He will make the sauce as hot as you want.They are nice.
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On Saturday night, although I didn't realise it at the time, it was my last meal at CharlotteJack.I had the charred carrots and the wallaby loin which was excellent.
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[OATEK]

On this trip I discovered that the restaurant in the RSL at Latrobe had been taken over and was getting good reviews.So I decided to find out for myself.It was pretty good.I had the crumbed scallops with a cider.Must have had a little too much.
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Friday afternoon I took a little drive to Ulverstone to pick up some pickled onions.I like the chilli ones.Just off the highway.
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Coming back I went the back way to Latrobe from Devonport to pick up some cherries from Spreyton as later on I was picking up mrsdrron.However I had to stop for a Tassie train!
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After I picked up mrsdrron I took her to the RSL-Belly's Bar and grill.She had the scallops and I the flathead with sweet potato chips.
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She agreed the food was good in taste and value and the service excellent.

One of the rarest of sightings - a Tasrail train!

 

[drron]

One of the rarest of sightings - a Tasrail train!

Though this was taken not far from Spreyton and it is probably the stretch of line you are most likely to see a Tasrail train.
All the goods trains taking stuff from north to south and vice versa will pass through here.
As well there are regular trains from the cement factory at Railton to Devonport where it is loaded on to a ship to take it to Victoria.
Railton cement works is also supplied by a coal train from Fingal 4 days a week.
So where to see a tasrail train.

Where can I see a train?

And from a fellow who seems not able to get enough of the Fingal coal train.

Tasrail TR01 & TR12 Coal train from Fingal to Railton by Corey Gibson

www.railpage.com.au

And even on Youtube.

 

[Deena]

Amongst my two favourite things, Tassie and good food. Thanks

 

[OATEK]

Though this was taken not far from Spreyton and it is probably the stretch of line you are most likely to see a Tasrail train.
All the goods trains taking stuff from north to south and vice versa will pass through here.
As well there are regular trains from the cement factory at Railton to Devonport where it is loaded on to a ship to take it to Victoria.
Railton cement works is also supplied by a coal train from Fingal 4 days a week.
So where to see a tasrail train.

Where can I see a train?

And from a fellow who seems not able to get enough of the Fingal coal train.

Tasrail TR01 & TR12 Coal train from Fingal to Railton by Corey Gibson

www.railpage.com.au

And even on Youtube.

You criss/cross the railway around Launceston, going towards the airport or out towards Deloraine, but on all my visits have never seen a train on the move. As a boy we lived for a short while at Moonah, with the railway line behind that seemed quite busy. But I hear that rail use had been in decline in Tas for many years.

 

[Cossie]

A grey day in Ulverstone, didn't realise I took this 6 years ago!

 

[drron]

Monday arrived and the day to go home.I don't like early flights so it was a late morning flight with easy connections to an afternoon MEL-BNE flight.Now I am in the habit of taking down older shirts to wear then leave them at a charity shop-washed of course.This time I picked one in West Devonport so after that to kill a little time it was off to the Mouth of the Don river and Coles Beach.Looking back into the Don River and the railway bridge.
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Some interesting rocks.
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The view of Coles beach with Mersey bluff.And in the panorama shot straight across to DPO.
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[drron]

Fortunately this was before Covid disrupted domestic flying.So still got to use the lounges.The view in DPO.
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Take off over Wesley Vale.
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Then descending into MEL.
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[drron]

The Spice Bar was still open so I was able to have a reasonable lunch.
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It was very hazy after takeoff with smoke and then lots of cloud.
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The clouds started to break just past the gold coast but still smoke haze and a rainbow.
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[drron]

The view cleared as we came into BNE.
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Then reunited with mrsdrron and a drive home.
So there ends this TR.In 2 days we are setting off on a vacation.Driving to the south west-Thargomindah and Quilpie.
Was going to show AP a finger and venture across the border to Lightning Ridge but mrsdrron did a bit of rearch and the best motels are closed.Reviews for the others noted regular thefts from rooms and cars being broken into at night.So decided to stay in QLD.

 

[JCD]

Did you make it to Mrs Jones? I think one of the problems that locals have with Drift (I'm one) is that Mrs Jones is, in my opinion, far superior and it's just upstairs.

 

[drron]

No I didn't.We used to go to Wild at Penguin and loved it.didn't seem the same at Devonport.But also I really like Drift more.In 2019 CharlotteJack started up and we enjoy that style.Also got on very well with Luke who was the usual chef-a really nice bloke.

 

[RB]

The view cleared as we came into BNE.
Then reunited with mrsdrron and a drive home.
So there ends this TR.In 2 days we are setting off on a vacation.Driving to the south west-Thargomindah and Quilpie.
Was going to show AP a finger and venture across the border to Lightning Ridge but mrsdrron did a bit of rearch and the best motels are closed.Reviews for the others noted regular thefts from rooms and cars being broken into at night.So decided to stay in QLD.

Found a couple of photos from our visit to the pub at Thargomindah. Think it may be new owners now-Facebook page says "home of Surly Shirley"

 

[drron]

We were there in the 90's.Mrsdron had to ring to get a booking and the owner said she had been there 20 years so new owners for us.
I can always remember dinner there.Mrsdrron wanted a bottle of wine so I asked if they had a wine list."No Luv.Just go up to the fridge and pick yourself a bottle".From memory a pretty good pinot grigio.