Ronnie in Lonnie.

[drron]

As I was walking along a yellow tailed black coughatoo flew into a tre just in front of me.

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After looking at me he flew to a nearby tree but was soon replaced by another who had no qualms about me being so close.

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Then others arrived.

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Soon there were 10 noisy coughattos.After about 5 minutes they flew off and I went to the end of the track.

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Just beautiful.
On the way back I noticed quite a few bottles and cans.feeling good today so most of them ended up in a garbage bin.

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[drron]

There was an overgrown track down to a little lagoon.Not everything was native.

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Lots of frog sounds.
A little lady thought I couldn't see her.

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By the look of the belly there was a fairly large joey there.

 

[drron]

Time for breakfast-I had left lonnie quite early.Now if you have been following my Tassie adventures you know I have been taking one for the team and seriously investigating a Tassie icon-the scallop pie.Now the bakery at Bridport didn't have a classicone with a curry sauce so I had the mornay pie.

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It was really good with 7 nice size scallops.For those who don't like the classic curry sauce this would be an excellent choice.
now off past the Brid river estuary-

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As I have a mountain to climb-

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All 241 metres of it.
But first I needed a visit.Fortunately a long drop dunny but first i had to remove something from the seat.walking poles are invaluable.

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For a change this weekend all the estimated times for walks were overestimations.

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The first part was a gentle incline with fungi,mosses and lichens.

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[drron]

As I gained elevation the vegetation changed to an open forest which is good orchid country.

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And orchid country it was.

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Literally hundreds of these Thelymira.probably the naked sun orchid.
The last bit of the climb was a scramble over rocks but soon made the summit.

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[drron]

Now I am not one for climbing mountains for fun.I find going uphill is a chore but I do need to get fit.plus you really do get good views from the top of a hill.To the west-

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To the south east and east-

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and to the north east and the little town of Musselroe

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Pity about the weather.they say on a clear day you can see Cape Barren Island.

 

[drron]

Easy going down then a short drive to the camping areas by the beach.Mt.William National Park has 4 camping sites reasonably close together.This is the day use are on a lagoon.Easy walk to beach and reasonable facilities.

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I was going to walk to Cobler's Rocks.The track starts from the road just before you reach the 4th camp.Nice easy 5Km round trip mainly through heathland with lots of wild flowers.

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Even orchids.

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[drron]

An easy track to walk.

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And the end is in sight.

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[drron]

A magnificent beach all to myself.

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Some natural things on the beach.

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Some not so natural.

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Fortunately I had noticed a garbage bin near the end of the trail.These all went there.
And the Ranger's tinnie.

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[drron]

Time to walk back.you can go via the beach but it is said the scramble over the rocks between beaches can be a bit tricky so I took the safe option.

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Then back to Camp 1 and it's beach.

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About 20 people fishing most with more than 1 rod.Walking behind them didn't see any evidence of a fish being caught.I reckon this fellow was the only successful one on the day.

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[Antoallison]

Time to walk back.you can go via the beach but it is said the scramble over the rocks between beaches can be a bit tricky so I took the safe option.

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Then back to Camp 1 and it's beach.

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About 20 people fishing most with more than 1 rod.Walking behind them didn't see any evidence of a fish being caught.I reckon this fellow was the only successful one on the day.

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thanks for the TR - I love the wildflowers you photgraph along the way, stunning scenery and those wonderful old homes - which is guess are all weatherboard in Tassie ?
With all this walking, the weight must be falling off you @drron ..unless you are calling in for a pie on the way back

 

[drron]

Drove to Musselroe via a lookout in the park.

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The view from Musselroe.Desecration of a wilderness.

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[drron]

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thanks for the TR - I love the wildflowers you photgraph along the way, stunning scenery and those wonderful old homes - which is guess are all weatherboard in Tassie ?
With all this walking, the weight must be falling off you @drron ..unless you are calling in for a pie on the way back

Unfortunately I didn't lose weight though if I hadn't walked with all the dinners with mrsdrron and the scallop pies I would only be able to waddle.
Basically convict and worker homes are often timber.The old grand homes are usually of stone but quite a bit of variation.Which is another reason I like Tassie.

 

[drron]

Driving back to Lonnie and before I reached the hamlet of Gladstone I passed a classic old Tassie shearing shed.

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And a river.

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And a scene on the outskirts of Gladstone that I feel is just beautiful.

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You can't help thinking what was the story here.What did the people who lived here go through.
When past Scottsdale you come to the Sideling lookout.

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On a good day you can see both Flinders and Cape Barren Island.

 

[drron]

Sunday and my last major walk.Once again i decided to climb a mountain.this time it is a little higher.But first the drron Tassie weekend brekkie-scallop pie.This time the Ingleside bakery Cafe.

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And very good it was.I think the word must have gone round on my quest as once again more scallops than average-8 to be exact.
Intriguing people watching.A tour group that had obviously just been picked up down the road at LST-only 2 bought a coffe.Plus a small group of MAMILs and a MAFIL.They all bought their own drinks with them but sat at the tables and each used the lavatory.
But off I set.soon views of the mountains.

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But this is the one i was aiming for-Ben Lomond.Tassies second highest mountain at 1570 metres.

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Fortunately I didn't have to climb all of it.The first bit is through private forestry lands.

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After 8Km you reach the National Park and start getting some views.

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Impressive.

 

[OATEK]

No snakes on the recent excursions?

 

[drron]

Lots of lizards that were too quick for me including a small black species on Ben lomond.But no snakes this time.
I first went to the Carr villa scout Hall and car park.An impressive mountain.

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Now I wondered why a Scout Hall was called Carr Villa as it is the name of a large Launceston cemetery.So a little reseach.The cemetary has that name as it is the grounds of what was originally the Carr Villa Establishment for Young Ladies.I guess that might be of interest to young men.
A different lot of flora up here.

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And views across the valley.

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And from a little further on the road to Jacob's Ladder.

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[drron]

The views from the bottom of Jacob's Ladder.The trip is worth it just for this.

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My poor little Cerato is dwarfed.

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[drron]

I now drove up Jacob's Ladder.Glad I didn't meet anyone coming down as you have to give way to downhill traffic.At one point the Cerato lost traction but soon on my way again.So to the top.

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So that is a Frenchman standing on the rock-against advice by the signs.His ~ 6 year old is sitting on the rock with a few hundred metre fall from where she sits.

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And that is Jacob's Ladder.

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Ah the serenity.

 

[drron]

Breathtaking.

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Flora.

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Looking back to the Alpine village.

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[drron]

Several ways up the mountain.

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But absolutely nothing working in summer.

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Now some people walked straight up the mountain but you are supposed to use the walking track.before I had left the village I met a wombat who showed me his best side.

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Good views,little ponds and dry creeks.

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