Everything needs washing- St. Helens, Tasmania

Nearly all our stuff needs a wash including us so we have parked up in St. Helens, Bay of Fires, Taz to get rid of the dirt. Also, taken the opportunity to see some great scenery, as ordered. Red rocks and the deep blue, turquoise Pacific Ocean. Late in the afternoon we wandered inland to St. Columba Falls. 

Arrived back late to find our washing had blown off the line but thankfully it is dry!

Do you recognise St. Helens?

Port Arthur, Tasmania

Around 150 years ago repeat offenders from home were shipped to this then solitary outpost in Tasmania. Even now it's on the distant end of the Tasmamian Peninsula. Interesting to see and hear the stories of convicts. Apparently it was only  habitual and serious criminals that were placed here. An Irish guy had requested info on his ancestor who he said had been sent here for stealing a piece of rope. When they investigated it in the records he had stolen rope but it had a prize race horse attached to it. 

There was a story of an aboriginal man who escaped for 10hours only to be recaptured, however, he had managed to  get back onto the mainland of Tasmania without crossing the thin connecting land strip that's guarded by the Dog Wall. When asked how he had done it he said that within the first hour of escape he had constructed s bark canoe and paddled across the bay so avoiding sight and the dogs. The commandant didn't believe him and challenged him to repeat the task within an hour and he would reduce his punishment. This the aboriginal did and paddled off out and around a distant island. 

Unfortunately he appears to have returned and taken the rest of his sentence. We were hoping he rowed off and escaped, I guess he didn't read the script well enough!

Port Arthur's main prison block. It was a mill initially, inmates were housed elsewhere. Crops didn't grow well enough in the sandy soil. 

One of the cells. Just enough room for me to lie down. 

If you misbehaved while in prison you were sent to this newer section for 23hours a day complete deprivation were you only had a number and could not speak. If you still misbehaved there was a further cell where it was absolute dark, no sound for between 1 and thirty days. Needless to say many went mad and the mad house is right next door!

We did a search on our family names by the way but didn't find anyone!

Warrington connection

Orford Tasmania, much different from Orford Warrington. 

Slept in a coal mine

Thursday night we found a lovely spot in an old coal mine, or at least in the ruins of the convict blocks. Surrounded by rabbits, wallabies and the odd ghost. Perfectly secluded down a dirt track on the other end of the Tasmamian Peninsula. 

Freycinet National Park

Just spent the last three days out walking on the Freycinet Peninsula great views, highly changeable weather and dirty dishwater to drink. Oh, and I forgot to mention the possums. 

Scenery was stunning we camped on two beautiful beaches and had a hard climb up Mt. Graham. 

Had to stand guard duty on the first night after returning from the toilet to find a possum IN the tent tearing open our food bag. Dried milk powder and Beroca all over. Finally we went to sleep only for Sarah to wake up at 3am to find him in again digging through our backpacks. He didn't even have the decency to run away just sat there and stared back at the two of us. He snuck in via the side of the tent where we have a vent, cheeky bugger. 

The next night, different location we were prepared and bars added the edges of the tent but they were out early and I had to escort him away about 5 times. Then his friend a wallaby came calling. Thankfully he was less persisten. 

Heavy rain in the morning so very wet. Later in the day after finishing the walk I tried to dry the tent in a force ten gale and it blew away so had to chase it down a beach. 

All great fun!

Melbourne

Some quick pictures of our two days in Melbourne. Sightseeing and wandering around the city. It has an attractive mixture of old colonial 1800's buildings and very modern architecture. All mix together in an attractive way. 

We made use of the  MYKI travel pass as our hotel was out of the city centre. Transport was very busy as Monday was the first day of the Australian Tennis Open. Lots of people crowding the streets with big green tennis balls. The arenas are in the city centre so a short walk from the tram and train stops. 

We even visited Costco for a cheap hot dog and coke, sad ha!

Melbourne City Train Station, a grand old building

 

The Anglican cathedral (St. Pauls we think)

Whole streets full of graffiti. Lots of graffiti in Melbourne but all seems to be encouraged even up high buildings. 

See if you can spot me and Sarah in the building photo!

Since we last blogged

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Since we last made contact we have visited the Tablelands Rainforest in Kuranda, flown from Carirns to the Aussie Red Centre, had sunrise and sunset at Uluru (Ayes Rock), walked on Kata Tjuta and walked around the rim of Kings Canyon in the George Gill Range of mountains. By the time we get back to Alice Springs we'll have covered about 1500+ km in 3 days. No driving in the dark (sunset viewing excluded). We didn't see any wild camels but I have a picture on an emu that allowed me to get close before chasing me off, I outsmarted him by running round a tree! 

Emu before he chased me!

Tablelands Rainforest

The Kurunda Scenic Rrailway from Carirns takes 2 hours to arrive high in the mountains at Kurunda. On the way we took a look at the Barron Falls, nearly dry at the moment even though Easten Australia has had a good share of rain recently. We walked through the hot humid rainforest with incredibly loud insects to keep your ears ringing with their noise and pythons sleeping in the tree ferns. I forgot to mention I'm on my own now, Sarah was eaten whole by one! Queensland also has a large flightless bird which roams the forest and is as tall as Dave called a Cassaway. We didn't see one thankfully as its middle toe has an elongated sharp nail that can rip through flesh with ease. 

Before journeying back down I had ice cream and a walk around the local market. The 20km Skyrail cable car journey over and through the rainforest roof back down was refreshing and beautiful. Part way down we disembarked from the Skyrail and had a guided walk with a forest ranger who explained the history of the rainforest and why it's so important to Australia. 

Kurunda Scenic Rrailway

The Barron Falls

Uluru

After arriving in Alice Springs it's a good 450km drive to Uluru. We expected desert sand and not much else but surprisingly there is lots of green along with the deep red coloured sand. Our plan was to stop about 120km outside of Uluru at Curtin Springs but we were told by the car hire company that their was to be no night time driving due to the likely hood of hitting wildlife (camels, kangaroos, emus and cattle) I kid you not. 

Mt. Connor (thought we had reach Uluru)

So camped at the Ayers Rock Resort, campground. This was lucky as it only meant a 5am start in the morning to see sunrise over Uluru. After arriving at 3pm following our long drive from Alice Springs we made camp then drove another 50km to Kata Tjuta to view the magnificent rock formation and walk through the gorge. Only small flies this time, not the big March flies but about 200 times more. A little annoying! 

Kata Tjuta another sacred Aborigional site

Sunset over Uluru was approximately 7:47pm. During the day driving towards it we had seen it change colour from red to lilac and at sunset it again transformed itself from red to pink then purple and finaly following sunset to dusky brown. It was then time for tea and sleep. We carefully negotiated our way back to the camp site avoiding any live animals, in fact anything in the dusky light that looked like it could be alive, dead trees, bushes and rocks included. Our insurance would be null and void if we had hit anything at night!

Uluru at sunset

5am start, pack our home up in the dark and belvita for breakfast, Dave is getting withdrawal symptoms as he isn't having his recommended portion of porridge each day. We had to be at the sunrise site before 6.08 am to see the sun rising on Uluru. Wearing a lovely fashion accessory of headset as the flies although small and don't bite are extremely annoying landing all over your face, yuk! Again a stunning sight and well worth the early get up, remember this is an adventure not a holiday. After photographing and watching the sunrise we set off to the car park so we could walk around the base of Uluru, 10.6 km. you need to start early so you have finished the walk before 11am when the temperature is scorching. Plenty of water, sun cream, hat and headnet. It is a fascinating place.  After the walk and a snack went to the cultural centre where they have loads of history about the aborigines and the sacred area. 

Uluru at sunrise

You can just see Kata Tjuta 50km in the distance (left of Uluru)

I had to get up so early at 5am there was no time for breakfast so I had to make do!

After stocking up our stomachs Dave decided he would like to do ANOTHER walk at a place called Kings Canyon. The distances are vast so we set off in the car to travel a further 304 km to a camp site near to the walk. "Warning dingoes roam in this area" greeted us, not going out of the tent on my own! As it was there were no dingoes while we were there, but someone claimed his boot was taken by a dingo, they mustn't have a very good sense of smell as in the heat shoes start to stink ALOT. AGAIN another early start, well a lie in until 6 am this time, you have to start the walk before 9 am because they close the path to the walk if the temperature is going to be over 36c and today it was over 38 c. We set off at 7.15 and walked around the rim of the sandstone canyon.( see pics) we then headed back to Alice Springs. Dave tried to compose blog while I drove but it got so hot the iPad shut itself off for safety. All cooled down now. All the gadgets are temperamental to the temperature, the iPhone has been ill a number of times, first from the cold and now from the heat.

Kings Canyon from the rim

Tomorrow we're off to Melbourne for a few days. Let's see what other types of wild animals we can see!! 

Love and hugs from

Sarah & Dave( outback explorers)

P.S.

Just like the Victorian explorers in Africa, here is an exert from our journal.

Running low on supplies only £120 left for three weeks, living on wiggitey grubs and cactus juice. Had to eat the horned lizard I ran over (accidentally), took three attempts! In Uluru we were so hungry I tried to eat a piece of the rock (see photo above) but the aborigines chased me off. Left leg giving a bit of jip but other than that all is well. SEND FUNDS! 

Anyone who has watched Top Gear will know the reference. 

(Parental guidance - the above is a joke! Or speak to Ben)

P.P.S for Ben

Picture of a memorial to Cannonball Run drivers and stewards who had a crash here in the middle of nowhere back in 1994. Fast'n'Loud man, Richard  Rawlings did this race in the US. 

The Great Barrier Reef

Monday we spent the day on the reef. Early start in the morning and a 60km boat trip out to the outer barrier reef. Sarah wanted to do this trip so she had to deal with the ups and downs of the boat, she did well as many people were sick, she just laid down and closed her eyes. We had a full 5 hours on the reef and made good use of it. First in a semi-submersible boat, then in the glass bottom boat and finally snorkelling for close to two hours. So a few pictures below. 

We swam with large fish the size of a human torso and bright blue, saw lots of rainbow fish, red sea trout +5 lbs in weight, lots of barracuda a few sharks (only small ones Anna don't worry) and my fourth sea turtle plus lots of others we don't recognise. Sarah managed to do several snorkel runs which was an achievement, she really doesn't like having goggles over her nose. 

A great day and a once in a lifetime trip. 

This is a picture of the Great Barrier Reef from the boat. You wouldn't know where it was exept for the constant breaking waves. Caption Cook put a hole in his boat when he first passed the reef 300 years or so ago. He managed to make it to an island atol and climbed to its highest point to enable him to see a navigable safe channel back out to open sea. If he hadn't we wouldn't of known he had discovered Australia. 

A couple of shots of the edge of the reef

View through the glass from the semi-sub and glass bottom boat. It's difficult to appreciate the colours in the reef as the sea cuts out certain wave lengths of light the deeper you go. Red is first to go then yellow soon behind. So those vivid colours David Attenborough gets on Plant Earth are achieved through the use of big water proof flash lighting. 

Finally, Cairns harbour as we left in the early morning. 

Whitsundays

Back from the Whitsunday Island of South Moll. Not far off the Australian coast, in the Pacific, about 20 mins. by pontoon boat. Great place to escape to, although I know we are already 'escaping'. We had the island to ourselves for 3 of the 4 days we were there. On our first day we travelled out on the boat via Whitehaven beach, a very long, bumpy and wet trip, 2 hour detour in all. My idea to see the outer most island as we accompanied some guys from Eastern Europe in the boat. Sarah was less keen when the waves bounced the boat out the water for around 30 mins. 

Sorry it's taken a few days to update but we had a long drive when we came back to the mainland. So I'm writing this from Cairns.

When we set out on the Tuesday to the island their was a little trepidation as the March flies (Horse flies to us) were a pest in Airle Beach and so we expected them to be worse on the island. However, we had some rain the first day and heavy winds through the night  and that seemed to dampen there spirit, thankfully. Sarah was bitten a couple of times and I got away Scott free. 

Below a picture of the beach. The campsite was about half way along the beach and set back just off the beach. 

 

Sarah sat at the highest point on the island Mt. Jeffries. Very windy but real pleasant in the heat.