End of an Era, part 4 of the Road Trip to Tassie.

20/03/16, Sunday, Strahan. 

Boat Cruise on Macquarie Harbour & Gordon River.

Today was a brilliant day in Strahan, Bill & I were up at 7.30 am, my phone was showing 4 degC outside. It was one of those crystal clear, blue skied, windless days. Apparently they only get 30 of them down here every year, so we scored big time.

"Living the Dream, get out of your cubicles people, set yourselves free, stop being modern day Sarah Island Convicts.....Freedom is there just across the mountain !"

Strahan on a GREAT day....so good !

Strahan now has parking meters every where, so to park the car it's $6 for a day. I drove Bill down the hill, he sorted out some Toasties for breaky while I took the car back to the Motel car park & walked back.

WTF parking meters in the back waters of Tasmania, big mistake guys!

Today we are cruising with Heritage Eco Tours. There was another 150 people, but the Eye Spy motor catamaran is a big boat. So it wasn't too crowded. Amazingly I was one of the youngest passengers on board, so that gives you an idea of the demographic that go on these cruises.

Our boat for the day, the Eye Spy, on loan from Brisbane.

This turned into an amazing tour. Heritage Tours....thanks, hope I don't get a parking ticket.

There were four highlights for me on the Tour:

1) Crossing through Hells Gate, which is the Harbour entrance out into the Southern Ocean. On a very rare calm day, viewing Point Sorell Light House.

Hells Gate on an amazingly calm day.

See that 4WD on Ocean Beach...that was Jen & I ,14 years ago but the wind was 40 knots and waves 3 meters high !!!

Apparently not something you see very often, Point Sorell Lighthouse on a good day.

Near Hells Gates, Macquarie Harbour, just love this pic, a total fluke.

Same Yacht as above sailing through Hells Gate, unbelievable I want to try that.

Yours truly enjoying the ride.

2) Getting the opportunity to walk around Sarah Island, which was the most horrible & ruthless Penal Colony of the early 1800's, any where in the world.

Atlantic Salmon Fish Farm, feeding the fish, it costs $2000 per tonne of food.

Another amazing moment, getting the opportunity to walk around Sarah Island.

Ruins on Sarah Island, read For The Term of His Natual Life to get an insight.

Ingrid, in the hat gave a great talk on Sarah Is.

3) Cruising up the World Heritage Listed, Gordon River for about 12kms.

Taken on the Gordon River with my old HTC One smartphone, imagine a good camera.

Walk around the temperate rain forest.

&

4) oh the lunch was included & really good !

Lunch time on the cruise.

It was a great day & fun watching Bill tell all his yarns to other random passengers.

How good was that yells Billsie !

21/03/16, Monday, Strahan to New Norfolk 

via Queens Town & Derwent Bridge.

I was awake nice & early, the time was around 6.30am. It was still dark outside, day light saving finishes here in Tassie in a weeks time. I mucked about on my phone, sent a "Lovey Dovey" message to Jenny, who is on a cycling trip on the Munda Biddi down near Nannup, WA.

Hogarth Falls, early morning walk.

At 7.30am while Bonza was still fast asleep & the sun still hadn't risen, I decided to do what turned out to be a 6km return walk to the "People's Park" & onto Hogath Falls.

It was really nice, but I'll let my photos paint the picture for you.

Pic with out Will. Hogarth Falls, Strahan.

Not a bad shot with my Smartphone....Jenny time for that Digital SLR please !

Strahan is a beautiful place on a good day, truly magical...But all good things must come to an end including sleeping in and snoring. I returned from my walk, Bill was in the shower, I made a coffee and soon after we headed for the Bakery for "cheaper" breakfast .

Early morning in Strahan, such a beautiful place, try to see it if you can.

Bill checking out the view, temp 13C.

Next up a quick look around a mining induced, denuded of vegetation, Queenstown,  including the toilet break. Then we follow the Lyell Highway until we come to the Frenchmans Cap walk trail.

Down town Queenstown on a quiet Monday.

Empire Hotel, Queenstown Tas.

Driving out of Queenstown.

Driving, driving, driving....la, la, la, la 

This walk trail to Frenchmans Cap is a 3 to 5 day return trail. There was a young couple getting geared up for the walk. While they were busy getting organised I did the 20 minute walk to the suspension bridge over the Franklin River. While at the bridge the young couple rocked up, they were a little cautious of me after their earlier "talk" with Bill, but soon said it was ok to photograph them heading out on their epic hike together.

Will taking a infamous Selfie on the infamous Franklin River.

Intrepid Hikers out on a 5 day walk in the park ?

The Franklin River, please let it be !

After the Franklin, team Bill-Will headed for Derwent Bridge, where we organised accommodation & had some lunch. Our stop for the evening was New Norfolk (approx 60kms from Hobart) our digs are the older, but very quirkie Junction Motel. Give it a go, it is mint.

Junction Motel in New Norfolk, Tas.

The Team Billsie Trusty Commodore ... Thanks for the 1500kms ride you blue beast !

That's it for our Tassie Tour, last full day over. We had a nice dinner at the Pub, then it's time to prepare for the mega trip (for Dad) home. Tomorrow we drag our heals, check out some sights then take the Sports Wagon back to Avis at the Hobart Airport.

Bill & I have been on many a road trip, lots of them were with my brothers Geoff & Steve. Some earlier ones included Mum (Bobbie) or Step Mum (Sandi). Some of our trips would blow your brain on how, where, what and why they occurred. 

Dad is worn out, he can still Drive very well. Nothing wrong with the brain, but his body is shot.....I don't know what the future holds for the Old Boy, but it doesn't involve air travel or long drives, that much I do know...now.

Thanks for coming on the Tassie Tour Dad, it was excellent, love you !!!