Ronnie in Lonnie.

[docjames]

Completing the feedback loop:

Dinner ended up at Saint John at about 9pm (after arriving that evening) - beers and burgers. Excellent, would do well anywhere. Food ends at 10pm, drinks until max 2am (but whenever everyone has had enough - plenty still there 11pm on a thursday night). Highly recommend.

Breakfast at Cube - coffee was pretty average, rest was good and location great on a sunny morning. $4 toasted sandwich the value bet.

 

[drron]

Upstairs there was an exhibit on the Great War.There were a couple of planes hanging.

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Well at least this one has some relevance to the Great War but is a model built in Burnie.
This one though was an early passenger plane in Northern Tasmania for 2 years in the 1930s.

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An interesting story of a nurse who was born in Launceston who supplied troops with free condoms as young Aussies had the highest incidence of VD.Interestingly in view of events in Victoria she ended her life by a self administered overdose.Sorry not all in focus-

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There were a couple of trigger warnings up here-

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There was a lot of Tassie history documented around the museum.Not all was praiseworthy.This included the plight of the Indigenous population.However the commonly accepted story which is repeated here is not completely correct.The indigenous people on the mainland of Tasmania who were 100% indigenous were disappeared there remained indigenous full bloods on Cape Barren Island.I met one from here a few years ago.He told me there were more from islands off Smithton.By chance today I met one of the fellows from Smithton.

Then the treatment of female convicts.They could be sent out as servants-if the boss didn't like them or they got pregnant back they went to the Female Factories.If a convict got married to a free man he could send her back to the factory to teach her a lesson if she displeased him.

Then their second Governor Sir John Franklin.He set up the first Royal Society outside Britain.His wife campaigned to have the Governor's garden made public-today it is the Botanical Gardens.Franklin also introduced the first Medical registration system in Australia.However he did not please the Hobart establishment so was removed from office in 1843.
He died trying to find the North west Passage.

There were 2 short films I watched.One in the railway display showing the railways in action.I must say the service you got on the trains seemed incredible.
Then there was a film on Launceston made in 1966.Both TAA and Ansett had busses which took you into the city.Also footage of the car races at the Longford street circuit.

I thoroughly enjoyed the museum and recommend a visit.
Next will be some of the exhibitions outside.

 

[drron]

So outside.A dining car conveniently next to the museum café-

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Then looking across to the workshops and blacksmiths workplace-

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One of the areas has been converted to a small exhibition space.Currently used for a local art prize.

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Nothing impressed me.

 

[drron]

Then there was the building that produced the compressed air and electrical works.Outside a flood marker.The red line is 1969,the top line 1928.At another point in North Launceston both 1911 and 1868 were higher than 1928.

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Inside-

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I couldn't help thinking that this is where they trained the original NBN workers-

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The air compressor units-

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This is the Annexe mentioned in the activities in WW2-

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Just outside is the Tramway museum-it is not open on Sunday though.

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[drron]

So now a walk over to the seaport for lunch.Passing an Art Deco pub in a not very appropriately named street-

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Then past an expensive Chinese restaurant and an inexpensive Asian one next to a very interesting food place-

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The council have given up here.Synthetic grass for the median strip-

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Then past an impressive Backpackers to the Seaport-

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I'm heading to the place with Fish & chips on the roof.We have enjoyed this before but recent TA reviews have turned negative.

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So crumbed scallops and mixed fish and chips-obviously flathead and trevalla as they were the only choices left.The scallops and the fish were very nice and still moist.Dont agree with the reviews.It is a bit more expensive than home as $41 for that lot.But then Tassie is a bit more expensive generally.

 

[drron]

It was ~1515 but I decided that I was getting fitter and so could do a longish walk and still get back to the Mantra by 1800.from the maps the distance was ~9km but I added a little extra through Mowbray.So setting off from lunch over the South Tamar and the seagulls were having a post prandial rest-

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Past workers cottages.Some renovated,some not-

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You pass lots of very good gardens-a great wisteria display and Japanese maple looking good.

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At first I hoped this signalled the end of a red bandanna.I found out later sadly not.

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You climb a hill to Mowbray and get some good river views-

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The cherries look like they will be good this year-

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And a good example of white wisteria-

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Whilst photographing this the owner came home-an Indian taxi driver.He was quite proud of this plant.We had a little chat.It turned out that a lot of the local cab drivers live around here.

 

[drron]

The council have a good download on the walks around Launceston that I am using for these rambles.
DRAFT Pedestrian Strategy | Your Voice Your Launceston

 

[drron]

I took a detour through the suburb of Mowbray as from the riverside I had noticed an inpressive building.Turns out it is Launceston Grammar school.Impressive grounds with great views.

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[drron]

Leaving the school it is through Mowbray on route to the Heritage Forest.A lovely buddleia specimen and another Art Deco pub-

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I thought it would be an interesting walk around the Heritage Forest.But in the forest parts the trees are surrounded by overgrown grass.Not very natural.It really is a recreation area with playgrouns,sports facilities,cyclists,dog walkers and even a community garden so I only went hal way round.This is looking back from the Inveresk trail-the old railway line.

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The other side of the trail is farmland-

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[drron]

So heading south on the old railway track you soon come to the North Esk river-

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You are not far from the CBD but you can see the bush-

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Looking north on the Inveresk trail-

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When you get back to the Museum the old rail line to Scottsdale crosses the river-that is another walk I will probably do.

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At the back of the museum it looks like Thomas has come to a sticky end-

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And on the river a majestic black swan followed by a lonely cygnet-

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[OZDUCK]

Lots of lovely photos drron. I wonder if the CWA shop is still near the centre of town? Last time I was there, 2004, I bought some lovely home made jams there.

 

[drron]

Yes the CWA shop is still here.
For lunch thursday I walked down the road to Burgers Got Soul.I had a shepherds delight.Lamb burger,cheese,avocado,tomato lettuce,mayo and tomato relish.With a side of sweet potato fries and a Tassie cider-

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$28.50.Really enjoyed the burger and fries.I might well go back and try another of their burgers.
Back at the hotel my car is parked next to a small flowering tree.This morning it was all in bud like this-

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But this afternoon the buds are opening at a great rate-

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[OZDUCK]

Yes the CWA shop is still here.
F
But this afternoon the buds are opening at a great rate-.

Good to know the jam is still waiting for me. I keep wanting to say the blooms are Fuschia, but I am definitely no expert.

 

[drron]

Definitely no fuschia yet but maybe in the next 3 weeks.
Friday and it was down to the Sporties for lunch.Their steak sandwich had been recommended.it didn't disappoint.

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2 pieces of steak cheese,bacon lettuce,tomato with an egg on top.Washed down by a North East summer lager.Good value at $24.50.But no Amex.

 

[RooFlyer]

I took a detour through the suburb of Mowbray

You haven't mentioned Mowbray's most famous export .... (hint: your Indian taxi driver would have known)

 

[drron]

He did actually mention it but he was a Shane Warne fan.I though said there were 2 other Aussie cricketers that I liked more than Ricky that were born in Launceston-Max Walker and Boonie.Boonie and I share the same birthday.

 

[drron]

Today it was off to Derby where they were having the Derby river derby.

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The old school which is now a museum.

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Unfortunately I only got there for the end of the mornings amateur event.

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Interesting tactics for the rapids.
The river is a pleasant place-

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So back to the museum.A drawing of the tin Mine which was the reason for this town-

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There was a disastrous flood in 1929.The Asst.Manager of the mine died warning his men.They all survived.This is a memorial altar dedicated to him-

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The last school room-
It peaked at 236 children in 1915 and when it closed in 1975 it was down to 6.

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[drron]

Out side the museum-

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The fellow who discovered the tin mines here but also on the west coast in particular the Renison Bell mine.
Now it was going to be just over 2 hours until the water activities were on for the afternoon.It was grey,cold and when a few spots of rain came I decided to head back to Scottsdale for lunch then go for a walk at a forest reserve near there.From the road just west of Branxholme-

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Hops.
Then a detour to Ledgerwood where they planted a row of cedars as a memorial to local WW1 casualties.In 2004 the trees were updated by a chainsaw artist.Each monument is to one who gave their life.

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The second one was dedicated to this fellow.A sad story-

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The trees tell a story about each soldier.This next one had worked for the railways-

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And the next is the owner of the local sawmill at the time.Most had worked at the sawmill.Unfortunately his son amongst them-

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[drron]

Still loving the spring blooms.This just over the road from the trees.

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Look at the density of this dairy herd.Certainly great pastures.

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So in to Scottsdale.Funny they don't advertise their new Aussie record-town with the most expensive NBN connection in Australia.But there is Annabelles motel with a National Trust heritage listed building.Certainly very old rhododendrons-

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Across the road is the Scottsdale end of the Rail Trail-

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North East Rail Trail
Now the cyclists want the trail to go all the way to Launceston.A Historic Railways group though wants the Lilydale to Scottsdale section to be a tourist railway.I think they will be up against it.

 

[drron]

So to the award winning Country Bakery.They have won awards for their pasties and beef pies.

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Definitely not the best I have had but OK.
After lunch I intended to climb Mt.Stronach-a hill of 445m.Now I had seen the signpost to the reserve as I drove to and from Derby so down that road I went.Except you can only see it from that road.The real entrance I found out later by going to Forestry Tasmania's website is another road about 6km away.

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So there was a Native Endemic Flora park just outside Scottsdale so I went there.A few trails and you could do a couple of Kms walking there.Well there was native fauna that really didn't care how close you got-

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The flora though wasn't so much native-

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Even in the bush-

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Rich farmland around.And in the foreground another entry to the Rail Trail-

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A very boggy area home to 2 species of burrowing crayfish.No definite evidence though-

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And finally a wisteria planted more than 80 years ago has escaped into a tree-

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