Ronnie in Lonnie.

[drron]

The first part of the path is well made and easy.Many though don't make it past here as when the path turns upward it becomes a scramble-though not hard.

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The next part seems to be a watercouse so a bit mushy and slippery in places.

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But up towards the summit huts the path is again well formed though a few branches.The second pic shows the direct path to the summit.

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In front of the green hut it is boggy with lots of small ponds most containing tadpoles.

 

[drron]

Alpine flora on Ben lomond.

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[drron]

Much rockier on the plateau but gives shelter to plants.

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Decisions-straight up to the summit or follow the posted path to the right.

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I decided to make my way to the right and a couple of slight prominences.looked easy.

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So far so good.

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But the track deviated away from the slight rises obviously heading towards Carr Villa.Plus the ground was much rockier and harder to traverse.

 

[drron]

I decided to climb the nearest prominence.A bit of scrambling.On one side lots more growth-presumably sheltered from the worst weather.

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The first part of the climb was easy but once again the top was a collection of loose rocks and really didn't add to the view.

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So back to the huts.Spotted the LCC of mountain huts on the way back.

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different lichens up here.

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And a memorial to the first president of the Northern Tasmanian Alpine club who started off climbing the mountain and then setting up the village.

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Once more I head upwards.easy at first.

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Plants smaller and less developed.

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[drron]

The path gets a bit steeper and rougher.

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Now that would have been an easier way up.

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A lot more rocks up here.

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And that's the summit.

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And made it.

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[drron]

Time to start down.

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Slightly twisted my right ankle going down.fortunately my pole prevented major damage.

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Through the village.

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A tale of 2 wallabies.One fled as soon as it sighted me,the other waited so didn't have to move as I turned to my left.

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All the lodges had lots of gas cylinders and a couple generators as well.
Now just to dispel a common Tasmanian myth.Nearly all will tell you the sun is hotter in Tasmania and 27C there is warmer than 27C in QLD.Well no the science doesn't support that.In fact often the reverse is true due to the wind chill factor.
However you are more likely to burn in Tassie due to the higher UV radiation.Since 1970 the UVb radiation in Tassie and the South Island of NZ has gone up 15%.Although the ozone hole doesn't extend that far north often ozone depleted air does waft up from Antarctica.So even though I was cool on this walk my arms still burnt-but I was wearing a cap and sunscreen on my face.

 

[drron]

A final look at Jacob's Ladder as I descend.I learnt that this is where Richie Porte does his training when home.

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Fortunately I was able to stop for this little fellow.

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I like how straight the trees grow in Tassie.

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I decided to turn right onto C401 and circumnavigate the mountain.Unfortunately soon after you leave the tiny village of Upper blessington the roads deteriorate and mostly no signs.

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Looks like a brick kiln in a paddock.unfortunately no one at home to find out any details.

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The area was supposedly a centre of tin mining.

 

[drron]

Now I went up into the mountains passing mainly logging coupes.

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I did a couple of rally type controlled slides but got worried when a large 4WD towing a large trailer came around a corner heading towards me slowly sliding across onto my side.aquick tap on the accelalerator and I missed him by inches.Soon after that I passed 4 cyclists with large packs strapped to their bikes.They had 30KM to upper Blessington on gravel roads so i guess they were going to sleep rough that night.probably didn't appreciate the dust I threw up.
Finally on to a better road when entering the Upper Fingal valley.

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And the last clear views of Ben Lomond.

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A tiny detour into Mathinna an old gold mining town with an historic church with a little problem.

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The Mathinna mines were second only to Beaconsfield.In the last 25 years 2 companies have gone under trying to restart mining here.At the end of November another company was formed to try again.

 

[drron]

Mathinna also meant back on the bitumen.

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A quick run into Fingal.Feeling a bit peckish but cafes and the IGA closed.There was one place with a sign outside advertising pies and cold drinks.It was called Aladdin's Cave with an ild bloke standing outside an old garage full of junk.A young lad asked for a coke and the fellow disappeared inside and came out with a bottle.My hunger disappeared.
so a few buildings.

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[drron]

The last of Fingal.

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The Railway station is for sale.The railway used to go to St.Marys but not stops a little east of Fingal at a coal mine.Four coal trains run per week to the Railton cement works.

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The last a church in the next village.

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Basically the last of the pics as I thought my camera had crashed.In actual fact was my computer which stopped recognising it.So no downloading and wasn't being charged.decided to try charging it on the phone charger and it worked/So the 2 last pics from lonnie.
Firstly if you are in Tassie from mid December to early Feb get some cherries from an orchard.They are good.

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And my last meal in Lonnie.A quick snack back at the Poutinerie.Szechuan pulled pork poutine.

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The pulled pork was good but anything from Szechuan was missing.
A couple of posts with my flights home.

 

[drron]

So my 10 weeks in Launceston have come to an end.Qf have put me in the special seats for BA golds on the Dash 8.

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Yes row 18.well there is 1 row behind me.but from here you do get good views of what's below.

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The Tamar and the Batman bridge.
now Bell bay.

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And Georgetown.

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Green's Beach and West Head.

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And the Nawarntapu National Park up to Port Sorell.

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[drron]

Port Sorell.

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Low Head and lighthouse.

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The Tamar meets bass Strait and Green's beach.

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And along the coast towards DPO.

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Then just the engine to look at.

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[drron]

The snack served mid flight.

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Then we reach victoria.

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Good views of the CBD and melbourne park.

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Had nearly 2 hours in the MEL J lounge.The lady at the top of the escalator was pointing me towards the QP so i thrust my BAEC gold card a little closer and she apologised.The J lounge was far from full but a lot of young children running around screaming and going over to the food and handling everything.So all I had at first was some water.
About 155am I noted that virtually every adult in the place was lined up at the Spice Bar.As I had not tasted their delights before i decided to line up as well.At least the kiddies don't get to touch your food.

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So this was beef brisket in a noodle broth.Rather bland.I don't really know why it is called the"Spice"bar.
Eventually off to the gate and find that my ride to BNE is on skippy=a 789.

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Row 44D keeping up my wonderful treatment by QF as a BAEC gold.9 across doesn't make for a comfortable journey.44E was a gentleman of my size but 44F his partner was a fair bit larger meaning 44E took up some of my space so bits of me were in the aisle and continually being knocked.
I would have taken a picture of the refreshments but the FA decided I did not need anything to eat or drink.

And that is all folks.I hope that this thread can be used for info on northern tassie particularly Launceston that i have grown to love.there are so many things to do depending on your interests.if I go back though I will start a new thread as this is already a bit unwieldy

 

[tgh]

Thank you for an interesting and informative thread… now for the Muse ..

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks for showing some more interesting Tassie sights.

 

[KitKat]

Row 44D keeping up my wonderful treatment by QF as a BAEC gold.9 across doesn't make for a comfortable journey.44E was a gentleman of my size but 44F his partner was a fair bit larger meaning 44E took up some of my space so bits of me were in the aisle and continually being knocked.
I would have taken a picture of the refreshments but the FA decided I did not need anything to eat or drink.

That's why I have ongoing hand cuffs to QF...... sigh...