Hi All,
I have safely returned to the Big Island, as some Tasmanians, call us! They also call us the "boat people" as most times we go there by boat!. The last few days were enjoyable as I met with some folk from the rally. Finally it was time to say goodbye and board the Spirit again.
I had another good crossing, and I got off about 7pm. Then disaster! the b.... GPS wouldn't convert over to Victoria! I drove bout half way tp St Kilda before I turned around and thought I will just follow the signs out to Geelong or Ballarat or somewhere! Whne I had a moment of genius and turned it off. yippee!! it worked, so then I was on my way. I drove to Bacchus Marsh and went into a caravan park and stayed 2 nights as I had to wait for the chemist to order in my arthritis medication. I n the meantime I found a fantastic patchwork shop!! yea!! no hardship there.
When I took off west, i was using a cross between the GPS, Camps 3, CMCA Wanderers camp book and my trusty Patchwork Directory of Australia to decide where I was going! Guess which book was most used? I found another mnagnificent shop in Sebastopol in Ballarat. So it has been most useful. I think I might have all the fabric I will need for my project for Melbourne Patchwork Convention in April.
I have travelled through some of Victoria's floodland and it has been very sad. A place that has a koala wildlife park had 1 metre of water through it, they are getting back on their feet, I dropped in as it had a cafe and i wondered why the menu was restricted, they haven't got any freezers yet and there was no floor coverings in the place! I felt so badly for them, and all the other business that have suffered also. and of course the ordinary person. I pulled up at the Wimmers River and was stunned to see debris up on the bank where there was camping available which was about 10 feet or more above the water level! At the moment that wouold be high as the river was roaring along!
I am at Nhill caravan park tonight .I couldn't decide which free spot to stop at and as I came through there was some sort of goings on at the police station with about 10-15 blokes in overalls all getting out of vehicles. So on the off chance it was an escapee, I booked into the caravan park. I have passed 2 prison turnoff signs as I drove out here the last 2 days so I aren't taking any chances!
I head over into SA tomorrow and start catchiing up with relatives and friends, so I wish you all good night and good health and keep your house insurances up!
vicki
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Farewell Tassie
Hi All, small problem, forgot to recharge my wireless broadband and then couldn't remember how to do it!
I cannot believe I am 2 days from departure. How the time has flown!The beautiful scenery and sights and tastes and , and, etc. I spent last thursday to Monday at Latrobe at another rally with Motorhomers, there were 168 motorhomes there and I have a photo to prove it. not that I took it! It was good to catch up with some of the early people I met at Bridport and Waratah. They have a "market stall" and I set up my small table of my jewellry making and knitted scarves and patchwork puzzle block and sold 1 of each! I was happy, that will pay for the tank of fuel.
Monday I left and did a bit of back trekking, as I still had trouble with my leaking sink. so I went over to ulverstone and the chap replaced the whole tap and guess what ? NO MORE LEAKS! Then I remembered I was expecting some more mail, so I nicked back to Latrobe and got that. (don't know how this has gone into italics?) Then I wanted some special photos to send you so I roamed around the countryside taking some snaps of the best food in tasmania! Just to show you what you are messing out on!
Now I am at a couples' house just down the road from Devonport waiting for Thursday. After I hit the mainland I still haven't made up my mind which route I will take to SA. But I might be a bit longer with the next one .
ciao vicki
I cannot believe I am 2 days from departure. How the time has flown!The beautiful scenery and sights and tastes and , and, etc. I spent last thursday to Monday at Latrobe at another rally with Motorhomers, there were 168 motorhomes there and I have a photo to prove it. not that I took it! It was good to catch up with some of the early people I met at Bridport and Waratah. They have a "market stall" and I set up my small table of my jewellry making and knitted scarves and patchwork puzzle block and sold 1 of each! I was happy, that will pay for the tank of fuel.
Monday I left and did a bit of back trekking, as I still had trouble with my leaking sink. so I went over to ulverstone and the chap replaced the whole tap and guess what ? NO MORE LEAKS! Then I remembered I was expecting some more mail, so I nicked back to Latrobe and got that. (don't know how this has gone into italics?) Then I wanted some special photos to send you so I roamed around the countryside taking some snaps of the best food in tasmania! Just to show you what you are messing out on!
Now I am at a couples' house just down the road from Devonport waiting for Thursday. After I hit the mainland I still haven't made up my mind which route I will take to SA. But I might be a bit longer with the next one .
ciao vicki
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Sunny at Salamanca
Hi , well I am finally getting some sunshine! In between the showers! I have been down to the far south to go for another train ride at a place called Ida Bay. The train was a 2 foot gauge little diesel that was actually a ford engine. it went for 7 kms and took 2 hours, with commentary. It was soo cute. The road was also on the way to various holiday houses. between the houses the road was gravel, in good nick , and the bitumen road was actually shockingly potholed! Evidently the road authority for the area, decided to only bitumenise beside the houses! and leave the reast dirt! I drove north again around the d'Entrecasteaux Channel. The scenery is just gorgeous.
One of the things I have noiticed about Tasmanian gardens as I drive around is that they all plant tons of Agapanthus! They grow so huge! but they are in every garden, blue and white. However whenever I think I am going to take a photo of one of the gardens there is a nasty curve, or a hill or something so I don't get a photo.
As I drove through from Huonville to Hobart I planned to see a handweaving place in Woodbridge, and I drove 3 km up a little winding road with no white line and then when I found the address, it was an absolute goat track that no selfrespecting motorhome would ever get up! Trees towering over the road which would have brushed against a sedan! So I did a 7 point turn at the top of a hill! kept 2 cars waiting until I had managed to turn around without falling off the top of a steep ridge! Talk about hairraising! In the end I just gave up!
I ended up driving into Hobart and stopping at the Glenorchy Showgrounds. Everybody I meet rave on about the Showgrounds I am sure I can't see what they go on about it for. The grounds are vey uneven and the toilet facilities leave a fair bit to be desired . However the city bus leaves from sort of across the road, and the train line. I think that is the only advantage, they charge 16 bucks so it is hardly cheap. Oh well I will be off tomorrow, Sunday.
Today I went into Hobart to the Salamanca Markets, they are still fantastic. I went in on the bus with this nice Qld couple I met at the showgrounds after they parked next to me. We met the Town Crier, and I got some luscious cherries, (at last). Then I left them to come back via another patchwork shop. Really lovely shop in an old church, into reproduction fabrics, which I need for my workshop I am doing at AQC in Melbourne in April.
So here endeth the next Blog. \
Love you all
Vicki
One of the things I have noiticed about Tasmanian gardens as I drive around is that they all plant tons of Agapanthus! They grow so huge! but they are in every garden, blue and white. However whenever I think I am going to take a photo of one of the gardens there is a nasty curve, or a hill or something so I don't get a photo.
As I drove through from Huonville to Hobart I planned to see a handweaving place in Woodbridge, and I drove 3 km up a little winding road with no white line and then when I found the address, it was an absolute goat track that no selfrespecting motorhome would ever get up! Trees towering over the road which would have brushed against a sedan! So I did a 7 point turn at the top of a hill! kept 2 cars waiting until I had managed to turn around without falling off the top of a steep ridge! Talk about hairraising! In the end I just gave up!
I ended up driving into Hobart and stopping at the Glenorchy Showgrounds. Everybody I meet rave on about the Showgrounds I am sure I can't see what they go on about it for. The grounds are vey uneven and the toilet facilities leave a fair bit to be desired . However the city bus leaves from sort of across the road, and the train line. I think that is the only advantage, they charge 16 bucks so it is hardly cheap. Oh well I will be off tomorrow, Sunday.
Today I went into Hobart to the Salamanca Markets, they are still fantastic. I went in on the bus with this nice Qld couple I met at the showgrounds after they parked next to me. We met the Town Crier, and I got some luscious cherries, (at last). Then I left them to come back via another patchwork shop. Really lovely shop in an old church, into reproduction fabrics, which I need for my workshop I am doing at AQC in Melbourne in April.
So here endeth the next Blog. \
Love you all
Vicki
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