West Coast Wilderness

Hi Everyone,
Just when I think I have it right I get caught up in No service! Nevermind, if I am a day late that's not a problem. Since I last posted, I have travelled from Waratah back up to Wynyard, where I had some modifications done to my lighing. They are almost all LED now. This means they don't draw so much from my battery when I am free camping, and the reading lights are much brighter too. Then I moved on down towards Waratah again, but on a third route! Once again very windy hilly steep. you get the picture? Met up with a couple of Victorians in a Winnebago, at Rosebery, stayed the night beside a river and then we moved on together to Strahan. Stayed at the Golf club for a very small sum, toilets, but no shower. Of course the bar was handy! Another couple arrived and they were also in a Winnebago, and we were all doing the ABT train or Gordon river cruise. I went on the train to Queenstown and then bussed  back. while the other 2 couples did the bus first and then trained it. You meet at the halfway point and change engines, I ended up with the  steam engine and they started with it. Lunch is served at the halfway point and drinks etc, It is very picturesque, Doug and I didn;t do it 8 years ago as the train wasn't running for some reason.
Next day I moved on to Derwent Bridge, Boy that road up from Queenstown to Derwent Bridge is still the most steep road I think I have been on. It used to be totally barren from the MT Lyell Copper Mining, but there is growth on the hills now, not much but there is an improvement. Apparently the locakls aren't sure they want to revegetate, as it is a tourist attraction in its own right. if you like moonscapes, that is.
At Derwent Bridge is a fantastic place called the Wall of the Wilderness. A fellow has spent the past 4/5 years sculpting this magnificent mural of the history of the west coast in Huon pine. supposed to be about 5 more years to go. No photos aklowed unfortunately, buy the book instead! But why would you do that when it is not finished? Still terrific workmanship, the mens hands and clothing look absolutely realistic.
Then off to Strathgordon to see the Gordon River dam and Lake Pedder. free camped out at Ted's Beach, where it started to pour  with rain, I am seeing all those signs saying "slippery when wet"! However it was quite dry this morning. Thank god. So another day of arm wrestling the "donga" around hairpin bends and up and down steep hills. It is 99 kms out to the dam one of the few places I have had to double back on myself. Finally after reaching back to civilisation, and having lunch of fresh raspberries, cream and icecream pancakes, I arrived at New Norfolk, home of 7 antique shops! and a patchwork shop!! Picked up a parcel of my Neways products, and got slugged the freight twice! Now settled into the caravan park beside the river where they do jet boat rides! but I am doing my washing.
Now just try and add a photo for you and then i can "post" this to you. talk to you all next week.
vicki