Gorge and quilts

No, not gorge on quilts, but two different subjects.

Last year, Robin and I walked the path that goes around the Cataract Gorge in Launceston. Marianne did not want to do the steep hill so we just walked the relatively level path that stays close to the water.

To see last year's blog, click here.

Last year, the Gorge was in flood. The water was much lower and more sedate this time.

These rocks were all covered by rushing water last year.

Interesting house high up on the other hill side.

As calm as a mill pond.

We then went to the Queen Victoria Museum but when Marianne found out that there was another museum with quilts on display, we soon headed off. However, before we left I wandered into the auditorium where they were showing a film of Launceston made in about 1965. It was fascinating to watch the Australia from my late teens.

You can see it here.

There are films from other towns and cities and they are available here.

So we headed over to the QVMAG Art Gallery and there were plenty of quilts. If you want to see more detail, click on the picture.

My favourite.

The winner. Marianne was fascinated by how this was constructed.

I  liked this hanging as well.

Later in the day we flew to Melbourne and stayed at a motel near the airport. For dinner we went to a Lebanese restaurant close by that was located in what appeared to be a former fast food shop.

The bloke next to us demolished this huge hamburger, really two hamburgers in one. Most Aussies are now overweight and if you looked at the film of Launceston from 50 years ago you will notice how thin people were back then by comparison to today.

Our meals were large as well. I did not eat the chips but the rest of it was delicious. Marianne left about half of her meal.

So it was a great trip to Oz but I wished we could have stayed longer. Our flight across to LAX on a Qantas A380 was great because the plane was only about one third full. Marianne had three seats to herself by a window and I had four seats in the middle section. I was able to lie down and stretch out and got a lot of sleep.

Back to the North West

Last year, Robin and I drove out to the north west section of the Tasmanian coast. Marianne wanted to see it and while Robin was flying back to Sydney, we got in the car and drove.

But first, the early morning view from the Airbnb.

Rain had been forecast but it finished by dawn.

So we headed back to the little town of Penguin. There are more photos of Penguin from last year's trip here. Scroll about half way down.

A train crossed the street as we had lunch.

Table Cape lighthouse at Wynyard.

A whole field of Irises.

Tulips in the distance.

Beautiful red dirt.

It was great to repeat the drive out along the North West coast of Tassie. It's lovely scenery and there is not much traffic.

Tasmanian Devils

When I was in India earlier this year, I met two doctors from Launceston in Tasmania. Bruce and Jennifer invited us to Bruce's  60th birthday party and a couple of days later, took us to a wildlife sanctuary near Mole Creek.

We stopped at the small town of Deloraine which is a pretty town with some lovely of buildings like this one.

The train line is still used.

You can see somebody fishing in the river.

Hopefully we can come back some time to see more of this town.

However we continued on through green fields. Tasmania gets most of its rain in winter. In summer, this will turn brown.

We arrived at the Trowunna Wildlife Park.

It has quite a number of Australian animals but it is most famous for its Tasmanian Devils.

Click on the photos to see the enlarged version.

The ears look red in the sun and the fur feels like cat fur.

Our guide picked one up and let us touch the fur. It's ok to touch the back but not the head. You could get bitten and this animal has a very strong bite.

We had to wait a while until the Devils would be fed so we wandered around looking at the other animals. Here is a wombat. They are usually nocturnal so I was a bit surprised to see one wandering around.

One of the fenced in areas. They look reasonably natural.

Kookaburras, Australia's national bird. Here is a close-up video of one laughing.

As usual, I have forgotten the type of bird this is so perhaps somebody could remind me.

A sulphur crested cockatoo.

Our guide told us that the spots of white on a Devil help to camouflage it.

Visitors taking photos.

The water helps to cool the animals down.

The guide carried a dead wallaby which was to be lunch.

She had to hang on to the dead animal so that the Devils would not drag it away. 

One of them checked out the bucket.

They eat the entire animal however they don't attack live animals.

They all just tear away at the flesh with their strong jaws.

After watching lunch we headed off to see some of the other animals.

Spotted tail quoll.

Some of the habitats are quite interesting.

There are glass windows for small children. Robin is no longer small.

Toilet block. Notice the signs.

Cape Barren Geese.

White Goshawk eating a mouse.

Swamp Marsh Harrier.

More about the eagle.

Wombats sleep in the tunnels which they dig underground.

Time for a nap after lunch.

The park is on a hill with great views over the surrounding countryside.

These are a couple of older tigers, probably about 10 years old.

Notice the legs of the baby in the pouch.

Echidna.

Pademelon, a small variety of kangaroo.

Jennifer, Marianne, Robin and Bruce. Notice how Jennifer and Bruce wear hats. Tasmania is close to a hole in the ozone layer so wearing a hat is a good idea.

Synchronized.

Not synchronized.

Jennifer had prepared a picnic lunch so we ate in this shed.

I liked the composition of the photo.

Delicious Riesling from the Clare Valley.

We helped clean up after the delicious meal. Of course I was ready for a nap but I struggled on.

Bruce and Jennifer used this vehicle to journey into central Australia. Note the fridge.

It's quite a substantial vehicle. For travel in the outback you need two spare tires.

It was a wonderful day and it was a pleasure to meet up with Bruce and Jennifer again. They commiserated with Marianne and Robin about having to put up with me.