Drron goes viral.

[drron]

Sunday came around and i was allowed to go for a drive.No distance restriction but I just had to get back the same day.No stopping anywhere.It was cold and morning showers.I started off going to Evandale.Their markets are still closed..
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I had started out late to try and miss the showers.Got to Evandale just before midday so had an early lunch at Ingleside Bakery cafe.they make good pies.this one beef and mushroom.
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The South Esk river just outside Evandale.
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I decided then to head to Poatina.We had stayed there in 1977 making a booking at the Poatina Chalet deciding it sounded like a good place to stay.It was a Hydro barracks.Not our greatest night.
So headed out through Cressy-nothing much there.Behind the clouds somewhere is Poatina.
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And then it rained.But I could see the mountains.
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[drron]

Arriving at beautiful Poatina.
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And the reason it exists.the pipeline to the hydro power plant.
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The Chalet.
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The symbols of Poatina.
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Leaving Poatina to drive up to the Western Tiers and Great Lake.
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[drron]

As I got higher I got above the low clouds and a much better day though at the top only 4C.
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The lake in the distance.
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Plenty of colour.
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[drron]

Now driving back down the mountain.
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[drron]

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Looking back.
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And crossing the Macquarie river out of Cressy.Back to the left is a Trout Fishing guide outfit.
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Then drove back to the Apartment.

 

[lakeman]

Love the serenity !

 

[Major]

Did you just stop in the middle of the road to take those downhill photos ?

I take it there wasn't much traffic.

 

[drron]

Indeed I did.Only time I saw other traffic when I pulled off to take shots of flowers or the stream.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Week 8 was mean't to be a little easier as the Mersey hospital was to fully reopen.it didn't but the border for admissions to be taken directly to Launceston was shifted to anyone living east of the Mersey river.One of my patients on Monday actually lived across the road from the Mersey hospital.

Started the week with 25 patients but the team worked well and despite having an extra 12 new admissions from Tuesday on the unit finished the week with 12 patients.This was the third week that I got my registrar to be the Acting Consultant.She had been an intern with me 2 years ago on a previous stint at LGH.She is only a few months into her first year as a Basic Physician Trainee but she has handled the work load very well with a great bedside manner and empathy.I continue to be impressed by the quality of our young medical graduates.

The week went without drama and the work has been both enjoyable and satisfying.When it doesn't rain I go for a walk around the town.One of the benefits has been the pain from the bursa over my right hip has settled nearly completely.
I was able to pick up my next couple of Pinots for my nightly tipple.
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One lunch time I ducked over to Invermay and got a spicy beef burger from Food for Dudes.Tasty but a little messy.
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Saturday morning and after a sleep in went down to the harest market and bought some bacon,local cheeses and some apples.A little bit less social distancing but still pretty good for a market.
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Then took a short drive to Exeter and the Exeter bakery for a scallop pie lunch.Haven't changed their recipe though only 5 scallops.Not surprised in view of the times.

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That night turned the spuds I hadn't used in my curries into roast potatoes.not to bad with an old second hand oven.
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Looks like you could do with a hand to drink those Pinots; if only they would open the border..........

 

[drron]

Unfortunately the Tassie Premiers outline of coming out of lockdown says the borders will remained closed until sometime after July 13th when the next step is planned to be reviewed.But I only have another 2 weeks so no chance of the Pinots being left unopened.

Now before going to week 9 an update on Customs houses.Yes there is a Customs house as well as the Custom house we have been talking about.This one was in operation from 1860 to 1888.I walked a different way back from parking my car down by the river.
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The building with the white car oputside is the Customs House mews.But it was only built in 1890.
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[Jacques Vert]

Unfortunately the Tassie Premiers outline of coming out of lockdown says the borders will remained closed until sometime after July 13th when the next step is planned to be reviewed.But I only have another 2 weeks so no chance of the Pinots being left unopened.

Maybe next time I'm up your way...although that border is also closed

 

[drron]

Maybe next time I'm up your way...although that border is also closed

We will probably be down your way first.If the WA border remains closed or still 2 weeks of mandatory quarantine in August we will be driving down the coast to Sydney and our family.

 

[drron]

So to week 9.The Mersey hospital has still not fully opened so there are still more than usual patients being brought to the LGH.But the numbers are very manageable although Mondays a lot busier due to the number of weekend admissions.The medicine is interesting as well as many of the patients.As well there are no active Covid patients here in the north.
my intern was out of action managing to fracture her wrist over the weekend and her temporary replacent was a male.but next week back to the all female team for me.I must say i have really enjoyed the teamwork that this group have.A big call but quite likely the best team i have had as far as pulling together goes.

The problem this week is that it has got even colder.The minimum below zero on 2 days meaning I have to scrape the ice of the windscreen.Today it officially got down to -3C.As I type it is 0.4C with a real feel of -1.4C.No wonder I decided not to go out today and slept to 1000.

On to some more pics.After walking past the old Customs House I noted the building across George Street was named Cascade House.
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Interesting as that red roof in the first pic is where you start the Boag's brewery tour and across the other street from the old Customs House is the Boags brewery.However the building has nothing to do with the Cascade brewery.Might have something to do with the original business who were taken over by this company.
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They were wine and spirits merchants so may have been having a little dig at their neighbour.There was a store on this site from the 1830s but this building probably dates from 1909.
I did get out of bed about 0900 on Saturday.I missed breakfast as they had advertised the food stalls would be back.They weren't.But I did get some more heirloom tomatoes plus pickled wasabi.A new taste but i really like it with a bit put onto my curry and spag bol.
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[SuePa]

You certainly find some interesting products down there.

 

[drron]

After going to the markets I headed off to the North west.The country looks beautiful despite the cold.
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Now I still hadn't had any breakfast so i stopped off to Bellys Cafe in Latrobe.They were jumping and without a reservation i was out of luck though i was told try coming back around 1500.So I headed a little further to Turners Beach and a little cafe I had wanted to try as it was recommended by several people I knew when working in Latrobe but had always been busy on weekends.It was just befor 1130 so i was in luck.only an outside table left and it was cold but i was suitably rugged up.Decided brunch would be good.A very good lamb wrap though it was deconstructed.
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And that is the place,La Mar with my chariot outside.
I then headed over to the other side of the highway.But the place I wanted to visit,Tasmanian Pickled Onions was still closed so i headed back into Devonport to look around old haunts.The Spirit of Tasmania was in with a large number of trucks lined up but i saw no cars.Just after 1400 I pulled up outside the Ellimatta pub.They have really good oysters.now even though the Premier on Wednesday said pubs could reopen and have up to 40 guests on the Friday many had already made arrangements to open on the 15th June the original date for this to happen.This pub was in that boat with a large sign up=Opening 15th June.Why did no one in the government realise the week before had a long weekend?

I had wanted to go to Charlotte Jack as I do like their food but it only opened for takeaway at 5pm so I headed back to Latrobe.No problems getting into Bellys.There were already 12 women at 3 tables and 2 couples when i arrived all of whom got their meals after I arrived.Two other couples arrived after me.No problems as they have 2 rooms for meals.Even a couple of tables outside.I had thge crumbed scallops.lucky as they had only reopened the Tassie scallop fishery on June 3rd.Plus a glass of Tassie pinot noir from Ghost Rock.
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As usual they were very nice.

 

[Cossie]

Thanks, I'll have to search out Bellys on my next trip down that way and I always try to visit La Mar for a coffee or brunch when on trips to Ulverstone, something very pleasing about that place, I usually walkout with an item or two as well.
Hopefully you can have a few more fresh scallop pies before leaving.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Bellys website here =

Home

- it is the front part of the RSL in Latrobe. When Ron was last working at the Mersey we went at least once a week for dinner ! Definitely great food.

 

[drron]

And very nice staff.I had a long chat with one of the waitresses when I left and the owner/chef was very well organised.They only closed for a week as they already had a good takeaway business with pizza and pasta but added a grab and go with some of their meals that could be easily microwaved.
Also they have 2 possible dining rooms + seating outside so even when it was 10 a day they could break even with the dine in part of the business.Plus began breakfasts.
Good to see someone work out a way to survive through this period.

 

[drron]

I had been for a walk behind the Main street shops.To get there I had to walk past the shops and it immediately put me in a good space.
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What was even better was coming from the other way was an older woman and her young grandaughter.The young grandaughter started her silly walk so i joined in.The young lass thought it hilarious.
To get to the walking track you walk through the car park opposite station Sqare.
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That is the old station clock.The train came through here and Station Square is where Latrobe station was.The queen alighted here in 1954 and had afternoon tea.A film of her visit to Tasmania here-

A much different time.
So out through the car park and some protected trees.
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A beautiful area but not a great day and quite cold.A creek runs alongside the pathway.Platypus can be seen here.Upstream of this it runs past some homes one of which i stayed at a few times.Just wonderful sitting on the deck watching a platypus in the creek whilst drinking a nice Tassie pinot.In those days it would have come from Barringwood.
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Walking towards the Mersey River the pathway becomes a memorial walk-the Teddy Sheehan walk-will get to Teddy later.First comes the WW1 memorials.
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[drron]

Still some flowers.
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Then the WW2 memorials and the Vietnam war.
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Back out to the street and the old Lucas hotel.Ok for a counter lunch but the sign would make me think twice about staying there.
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And empty shops plus some still in operation.
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The council puts out a description of the historic buildings of Latrobe.

Historic Buildings

Historic Buildings

www.latrobe.tas.gov.au