Ronnie in Lonnie.

[drron]

So began heading back to Lonnie.But first a stop at Lilydale Falls.You start off going under the railway bridge whose future is still under discussion-

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So this is the first falls.You can go down stairs to the bottom-

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The upper part of the first falls-

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The second falls-

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And a couple whose sensation of hot or cold was deranged-

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[drron]

I love the tall straight trees in most Tassie forests-

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On the way back from the second falls I noticed leaves of terrestrial orchids.So I looked closer and there was one flower-

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Walking back to the car park-

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So back to the hotel to plan Sunday's adventures.

 

[drron]

Sunday and I slept in.However my planned day had already taken a few hits.I intended to start off at Three Willows Vineyard,Deloraine who make a Baco Noir that I have enjoyed.Apparently it has been sold and the cellar door is closed.My next was to taste a Dornfelder made by White Rock vineyard who don't have a cellar door but they operated through the Lake Barrington vineyard.Incidentally that claims to be the oldest operating Tasmanian vineyard first planted in 1973.However they have closed their cellar door.
So instead I started off with a casual bushwalk at the Henry Somerset reserve outside Railton.Tasmanias only orchid reserve and named after the Deputy Chairman of APM,now Amcor,who got the company to donate the land as a reserve.I started here as it was predicted to rain later.A nice time of year as a lot of other wildflowers.

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The area-

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There is often a fallen tre but this time a bit different-

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The original tre to fall brought down a second and in the end 6 came down so a detour was necessary.The trees are shallow rooted-

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This is normally what happens-

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Before long I had found what I wanted to see.

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You have to be really looking for these orchids.There are 3 in this photo-

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[drron]

To find these terrestrial orchids it is often that first you will see their leaves.This photo shows 2 species leaves.Unfortunately no flowering specimens-

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Now this plant looks like an orchid but isn't.There is one that is nearly identical but doesn't have these leafs on the flower stem.

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Now this tree was down the first time I visited the reserve 10 years ago.Nature is slowly reclaiming it.

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A little further on a different orchid-

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And to finish a young fern.

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[drron]

Next I visited the Spreyton Cider company.This is a story of thinking ahead.Previously Tassie was the Apple Isle but the bottom fell out of the market when the UK joined the Common Market.Exports were 7 million cases in 1962 but by 2012 not a single case was exported.This orchard went into fruit juices.I love their Spreyton fresh apple juice.In 2012 they began building the cider operations.
A tasting though costs $12-6 125mls of different ciders + a bottle of their "hard"ginger beer.I enjoyed it but no pics.

After that it was my intention to have lunch at Barrington vineyard.Have been on sundays a few times and on their website the only change was an upping of food choices.Scallops and oysters yes please.No sign of anything different when you turn off the main road but at the gate to the cellar door a closed sign.A woman in front of me went in as she was expecting her daughters to join her.Definitely closed.Our tourism industry still has a little learning to do.So all I could do was capture the mood here-

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So it was going to be lunch in Sheffield.On the way I detoured to look at the Devil's Gate dam which results in Lake Barrington.The picnic area at the car park has been destroyed.all tables were like this-

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But nice views-

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A pretty narrow dam-

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And here is the story.8 dams in the area with the power stations supplying 16% of Tassies electricity.However these power stations work in winter and the much larger southern stations take over for summer.All those here are remotely controlled from Hobart.

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[drron]

Now it was in to Sheffield for lunch.A nice little town but obviously doing it a little tough with cafes we have visited before gone.On the other hand 5 cafes were closed for Sunday lunch.Weekends are their busiest time and today 2 busloads on their way home from the Australian Masters Games arrived for lunch.There was the choice of the pub,RSL,takeaway or Bakery.I chose the bakery.Fortunately just sitting down to lunch when the 2 busloads walked in.Not enough tables so I shared my table with a German couple and their daughter.
I Had the venison and garlic pie and the curried scallop pie.Both were nice.The curry pie I thought was better than the Tinnies pie in Launceston with more scallops and cheaper.Forgot to take my camera in but this is the bakery-

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After lunch a little walk around town until the rain started.Some of the buildings-

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The General store is worth a visit.A lot of stock at reasonable prices-

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Sheffield also has an annual Muralfest.Sometimes known as the town of murals.

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[drron]

After lunch because I had lucked out on vineyards what else to do but go to a brewery.

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This is 7 Sheds at Railton.Has changed since I first visited.Now there is a charge for tasting-$17 for 5 125ml glasses.I think it is worth it and the place worth a visit.Out the back they have some hops growing.I noted in the fridge they had some White Rock wine but unfortunately no dornfelder.
Stopped for a little while where the road crosses the Mersey.Mr farmer had a pump going full bore-

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I then set out for the hotel but felt I needed a caffeine hit.So stopped at the Van Diemans Land Creamery and had a Devonshire tea though with coffee-

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Of course as I was leaving I succumbed to an icecream.Yummy.

 

[drron]

So a follow up on my wine chase last weekend.I emailed White Rock vineyards and they got some wine over to Launceston to a family member who then got it to me today.Well done.The wine-

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So tonight I sampled the dornfelder.A German hybrid dating from 1979 in an effort to get a bigger cool climate red.
For a change the description on the label is accurate.I could definitely taste blueberries with a peppery after taste.After opened for a while the peppery tastes toned down and it became a very pleasant easy drinking wine and I do enjoy it.
I am not sure that it will last for long but I will buy some more.

 

[drron]

After work today I decided it was time for another walk.

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There is a bird hide with good view over the lagoons-

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This little fellow came and sat very close to me-

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Then the mate came and sat even closer but it knew someone was close-

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[drron]

Lots of water birds-

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This fellow must have had a nest nearby.He was very loud.

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A series of mud islands-

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A couple of the channels have sunken ships.Meant to increase flow down the main chanel.

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[drron]

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And now the last island with a little hill-

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A wharf on the main channel of the Tamar then looking back to Launceston.

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A zoom shot.Myer in the middle-

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Around and over the hill is a picnic area.Nice under the oaks-

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[drron]

Thursday and I went to the Alps and Amici café for lunch.We had been to Daniel alps restaurant at Ninth Island some years ago and I really liked his dishes.Today was no exception.A simple Kassler loin chop with kipfler potatoes,red cabbage and in house mustard.Everything was beautiful and went together very well.Good value at $20.Washed down with a glass of Bream creek pinot noir.

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Today I went over the road from there to Relish.Only open until 3.Lunch is a choice of various salads,a couple of wraps or toasted sandwiches but also a burger or sausage roll.I had the burger.This time washed down with a cider.My one complaint here was not enough local option.For example 4 reds by the glass but the only Tassie wine was the Bream Creek.There are many Tassie ciders but this was a CUB mass produced one.I had to laugh at the lable-

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So granny smith apples may or or may not have been used in the making of this cider.
The burger was delicious with a large,juicy and tasty beef pattie,bacon,cheese,pickles,onion marmalade and local mustard seved with potatoes.

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There were a couple of beautiful rose bushes where I had parked my car.

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[tgh]

Sounds (reads) like you are enjoying Tasmania , different perspective in winter tho..

 

[drron]

It was snowing down to 600 metres today and forecast to do the same tomorrow.
I did spend winter 2015 in Burnie and it snowed 3 times whilst I was there.First time in 31 years it had snowed down to sea level in Burnie.Its all that global warming you know.
I do like Tasmania and in the Last 10 years have spent just over 3 years working here.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

It has better warm up by the time I get there next week !

 

[Steady]

Definitely a bit chilly atm...

 

[drron]

Saturday.Showers were predicted so a little sleep in.But the sun was shining so I decided to go to the Tasmanian Craft fare at Deloraine.It was a really good,well organised show.Women outnumbered the men by about 10 to 1.There were some outdoor displays and these iris were stunning.

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I hope I don't need this item for many years.

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Now that is a chopping board-

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The entrance to one of the Fair areas-

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Time for morning tea.Delicious.

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Then works by a woman who uses used Japanese materials.here for wall hangings and Quilts-

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[drron]

I really liked this first work-

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But a wide range of crafts-

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But the stomach wasn't forgotten.

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There was a very good shuttle bus service between the 8 venues.After seeing them all I decided to walk back.A very impressive house but hidden by the garden-

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These folk picked a good day for a garage sale-

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Tasmanians often have very good gardens.I liked this fellows front garden.

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And the old Bush Inn-

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[drron]

A lot of the walk back was along the Meander River.It is a beautiful walk.there is a circuit going along both banks.Lots of ducks.

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There was a lot of spring time activity going on beside the far bank.

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Whilst mother duck was guarding her brood.There were 10.

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Now the trees in the next shot are Japanese Yosino flowering cherries.In late September/early October the display is as good as Japan.The trees were donated by a flour mill owner from Japan as he sources his buckwheat from the Meander valley.

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A Tasmanian native hen with her brood.She ushers them to safety.It is a flightless bird endemic to Tasmania.Evidence of them on the mainland until~4700 years ago.

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A little further on another group but her youngsters are older so not concerned.

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[drron]

So now time for lunch.# oysters Kilpatrick and scallops in a garlic cream sauce washed down with a reasonable glass of native point sav blanc from Moores Hill.

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Now for dessert I was going to have an icecream from Van Diemans land creamery but they only had 5 flavours.So after going and tasting some mustards,chilli sauces and buying some jams I had the pulled pork in a bao bun from One on the slider.Very tasty and washed down by a nice Little Rivers pale ale-

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So the food area at Area 7-

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So that last pic is where I got my food and wine from.This is what this area was previously-

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