17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd March, Crossing the Nullabour

17th, Arriving in Melbourne after the roughest trip I have ever had across Bass Strait, it wasn't too bad but not as calm as it usually is, we head for the big4 where we had the boat stored, it was a pleasant surprise when we arrived I still owed 2 weeks which amounted to over $100 they decided not to charge us. We hooked the boat up and had breakfast then hit the road toward Ballarat, the wind was horrendous and the sky was a peculiar shade we thought it may have been the tail end of the cyclone.  That night we pulled into Keith show ground the wind had not abated but the show ground was pleasant with good facilities.

18th Nothing extraordinary during the days trip we stayed the night at a working sheep station that had set up a caravan park they called it Nutt Bush Retreat, when we arrived they were in the middle of shearing with the paddocks full of sheep, I tormented Merv telling him I would have to lock him up for the night. It was a nice place to stay except there was one working dog that barked a lot during the night. The facilities were good and there was a licensed restaurant for anyone who didn't want to cook.

19th Another day on the road, all was going well till we got a blow out on the boat trailer,  this was a new tyre and we had done approx 300kms. On the road again after the tyre change we caught up to a wide load that took up the whole road there wasn't any way to pass so after travelling some distance we stopped at a rest area for the night.

20th We travelled along the actual Nullabour today and stopped to admire the beauty of the region it has a lot to explore if anyone wants to take the time and the coast is awe inspiring, we never saw any live animals this time only road kill and a couple of magnificent wedge tailed eagles. When we started to climb up onto the range we decided to stop at the lookout for lunch only to find another flat tyre on the trailer, this was when we noticed the springs were worn out and each time we went over a bump it allowed the tyre to hit the mud guard which in turn shredded it, we put our last one on and hoped it would last until the next day. We spent the night at Baxters rest area where we went for a walk and looked at the sink hole the rest area is named after, it is a huge rest area with space for everyone.

21st We got off to an early start as we wanted to get to Norsman to buy another tyre before the shops closed being a Saturday, we arrived with plenty of time so we organized the tyre to be fitted to the spare rim while it was being done went back to the roadhouse for a shower and some lunch. That afternoon we stayed at the Karalee Rock camp ground it was close on 40 degrees with the wind nearly gale force, not pleasant, when we set up we tried sitting in the shade to keep cool but the flies were intolerable so in that heat we had to stay inside till after dark, welcome back to WA. Later we went for a walk even though I don't like to walk around under trees in strong wind, it is such an interesting area with some great historic points and the way they have made it so they catch all the water on the very large rock area and channel it into dams.
22nd The wind has dropped today and it is only around 26 degrees much better, we arrive home and Liza was out moving some of her things but we met Ranni her dog, I wasn't sure about the dog and the dog wasn't sure about us at first, she made a big noise but was quite timid being very young.

13th, 14th, 15th, 16th March Gagebrook Tassie

13th Weather is nice today so we head down to Kingston to visit Steve at Channel Court shopping centre, this is a very modern centre quite new but not very busy yet, Steve and Tina are trying to  sell their business. We had taken a crayfish down for Steve so we stopped and had a catch up for awhile then headed back to Pauls where I sat in the sun in the afternoon and watched movies in the evening.

14th Merv and Paul went to Safety Cove with the metal detectors for the day so I rang Lola to organize for her to pick myself and Lil up to go and spend some time with Anne, unfortunatly Lil couldn't go so Lola and I went up for morning tea. Paul and Merv had a great day and found quite a few coins, nothing really old.

15th Paul, Esther, Merv and myself went down to Shelly Beach for the day with the metal detectors the weather was perfect I had thought of going out with the canoes but was too lazy I went for a walk instead around toward Newmans Creek, when I went around the corner on a flat rock was the remains of some very large flathead that had been cleaned there it looked as though they may have been caught from the same spot.
I returned to the others and took over digging for Paul and we found a silver chain, there was only a couple8uple of other coins found on the day, Esther spent a fair time picking some juicy blackberries.
On the way home we stopped at Dunalley at the store that used to be owned by our old school bus driver Mr Duggan, we picked up some very nice scallops in batter with chips for dinner.

16th This is another sad day we are leaving Tassie this evening on the ferry. After breakfast we went into constitutional dock as I wanted to see the memorial  for professional fishermen who have lost their lives while fishing as brother Graham was one of them. It was sad to see all the names but sadder to think that there would be a lot of names not on it and there is a large space for future fishermen.
In the afternoon we headed to the ferry stopping at Latrobe to try to see a platypus in the creek, no luck, so we went to a local shop and had another feed of battered scallops for dinner, we have been spoilt with all the delicious seafood in Tasmania.

9th March 2015 Eaglehawk Neck

Colours of Tatnells Hill

9th March 2015 Eaglehawk Neck

Our trip to Tatnells Hill

12th March 2015 Eaglehawk Neck

At Tanya and Colin's

9th, 10th, 11th, 12th March 2015 Eaglehawk Neck

We are going to Tatnells Hill again today but this time we will be driven up Balt Road by Colin.  Tanya,  Merv and myself are joining with Colin picking wild pepper as well as look at the amazing scenery.
When we drove as far as possible we set off on foot and I was quite surprised as to how far it still was, the great benefit was it wasn't all uphill. Colin was leading the way and spotted a snake but it went before we got a look, there was a lot of leaches but they don't hurt, it is worth a few leaches to see all the beautiful plants.
When we arrived at the top we rested a little and had a snack while we took in the vista. After a couple of photos Colin showed Merv and I what the pepper plants looked like and how to pick them, we had quite a laugh as Colin picked a pepper and bit into it, he done a lot of spitting, he said it was extremely hot.
When we had sufficient we headed back down the trail, Colin came across another snake,  this time it waited for me to take a photo, then down the road a little Tanya found the skin of a good sized tiger snake skln that had been shed.
On the way down we walked over to an area at the top of the hill that had flood warning and environmental study equipment, I would hate to be there if that area was being flooded.

10th Colin went to Middleton to pick up some garlic seed so he told Merv that we could take his tinnie out, the water was flat,  the wind was up a bit to start with but we were catching some nice fish, Colin saw us with the binoculars and rang me to suggest that we go over to flat rock area as it was quite sheltered there from the wind.
We did head over it was great whizzing across the bay, we caught some nice perch and flathead, Merv caught 2 big skate and a huge blue head wrasse we then noticed the wind had dropped so we went back to the gurnard spot.
We had caught a nice lot of fish and the day was so good I didn't want to come in but Merv caught a double headed gurnard and as he was trying to get them in a albatross came up trying to take a fish from the line, this bird had already taken a fish from my line earlier, Merv did his best to keep the line away from the bird but unfortunately it was too quick and got caught up on the shoulder, it made a fearful noise as Merv pulled it over to try to release it, all the time it's big beak was trying to have a lump of Merv.
Merv did get the line cut and instantly the bird put its head around and pulled the fish off its shoulder and ate it, after that we decided it was time to go home we didn't want to hurt any more birds.
That night Colin and Merv made fresh fettuccine pasta and we had our fresh fish in a delicious cabinara sauce Colin made.
After dinner Merv and I helped Colin dip the chicken legs in oil and kerosene to get rid of mites. We sent Merv into the first chicken shed to hand them out one at a time, as soon as he walked in the turkey flew at the door trying to get out and hit him in the face, Colin and I didn't know what was happening we could hear the commotion and thought the rooster was giving him a go, there was chickens going every all we could do laugh. We did end up getting them done with lots of giggles.

11th Today we packed up all the fishing gear and the canoes ready for heading back to Western Australia. We spent the rest of the morning watching Colin cut and pull out stumps, then another delicious crayfish for lunch and after visit Sue then have a last walk on the beach.
Steak and vegetables was on the menu at Colin and Tanya's for dinner.

12th, A sad day today as we pack up everything and leave Colin and Tanya's place, we say goodbye to everyone even the dog and ducks, I am missing them before I get off the driveway.
We dropped in and visited Lola and Merv, Merv is quite sick with a disease that distroys muscle, his throat is already so bad he has to have food similar to baby food as he can't swallow, Lola said the doctors will put what they call a bucket with a tube attached to his stomach, he is using a walking frame now but has been told he will be in a wheelchair in the future, I was looking at the house and mentioned to Lola she will need a ramp on her back step, it worries me as Lola is such a little thing and not well with her kidneys failing. I suppose the hardest thing for Merv and Lola is they watched Mervs sister and brother die of the same thing over the past couple of years.
We finally went around to Pauls again where we will stay till Monday.

Beautiful Eaglehawk Neck

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, March 2015 Eaglehawk Neck

1st, Colin and Tanya took Wilson to cricket today so no fishing. Paul and Jackie came down with their metal detectors and we go down to the area near Tarrana which was the old camp area used by the reserved army and the forestry, the camps have long been burnt and it is fairly well overgrown but still worth a look.
Jackie and I worked together with Jackie using the detector and myself digging, the other team Paul using the detector and Merv digging.
We found a lot of rubbish Jackie and I found a couple of very large hooks but best of all we found a 1962 florin ans a 1c piece, a nice find, I didn't really expect to find anything.
We had a lunch of sandwiches Paul had taken and continued but no more luck in the afternoon.

2nd, Another day out fishing, yeah, and what a glorious day, when the pots are pulled we get another cray then off we go hooking, we end up with 12 perch, 45 gurnard and 3 flathead.
The fishing conditions were perfect, while we were fishing we were visited by the Shy Albatross, Buller Albatross,  this one nests and comes from New Zealand, a large pod of dolphins came around several times and we had seals swimming past, there have been seals around the area where the pots are set each day, they have stayed in the area to feed on the squid, as we were going out Colin pointed out a seal that looked as though it was tangled in rope, Colin said they wrap themselves in rope or kelp to sleep as a protection from sharks.
After cleaning the fish and having a good laugh watching the ducklings and chickens with the fish scaps, Colin and Tanya have so many chooks and chickens with turkeys and the duck with her 13 ducklings with Jess the dog protecting them from any eagle,  hawk or crow, we went for a long walk on the beach.
Dinner was cooked by Tanya and Colin being crumbed fish with roast vegetables,  Tanya made a desert which was called impossible pie, a custard coconut type pie, so delicious.

3rd, Colin and Merv went to pull the cray pots with no luck today but Colin caught a squid on the way in, I had stayed at the jetty fishing for squid no luck there, Jess had gone out in the boat and it is so funny to hear her barking at all the birds as the guys are fishing, apparently she runs up and down and gets quite excited.
After a coffee the guys relocated Colin's plazma tv so that while watching tv they can still have their veiw,  they do have a million dollar veiw.
In the afternoon we went for a drive down South Arm and Opossum Bay then stopped off at  Steve and Tina freinds  who lives at Sanford, Steve is a baker and has a shop in Kingston, he made a big steak pie and chocolate roll for dinner, boy with all this delicious food we are having every day I had better start running the beach not walking.
On the way home we stopped at Sorell to do grocery shopping,  we were surprised to find they are open till 10pm every day.

4th, Another 4 crays today when Colin and Merv pulled the cray pots, they tried for squid but the only thing they caught was Merv momentarily caught Jess as she went by, probably saw a good looking bird worth a bark.
In the afternoon we went for a walk to the beach, we walked around to the tessalated pavement trying to find easy access so we could take the canoes down in the bay under Lufra and out to Clyde Island, there wasn't anywhere suitable the closest is where the old mess was and that is quite a paddle across.
We then drove up and had a look at the block I used to own that is back on the market, it has grown up again but the driveway had been cleared a bit, it would take a lot to get it back to where it was.
Dinner Merv made some laksa paste from scatch then made a delicious laksa using perch and crayfish, the desert was a chocolate moose cake which was baked and given to us by Steve.
The wind had been strong from the west but had eased a bit so after dinner we took the canoes down to the jetty to paddle out and try for a squid, while we were launching the wind rose again, we paddled out and tied up to some mooring bouys so we wouldn't be blown in, it was so rough I laughed and thought maybe I should have taken a quell. There wasn't any squid and we didn't stay very long.

27th, 28th, February 2015 Eaglehawk Neck

27th, We head out to pull the cray pots, this morning it was a bit of good luck with 4 size crays, we then went hooking and got some good gurnard and flathead. It is hard to describe the beauty and peaceful feeling of fishing, the cliffs have so many shapes and changes of colours, the hills at a distance and the neck, the water is so clean and very very deep, I could stay there even if the fish weren't biting.
While we were fishing Shy Albatross were coming around the boat waiting for any fish that might be released, there was one in particular that Colin recognized which was blind in its left eye, this bird used to go to them when they were cray fishing to be fed, it came right up to us and was virtually eating out of Colin's hand, the same one came up to the boat to get a flathead that Merv was holding over the edge with the lip grip and they had a tug of war, it was so funny watching the bird pushing with it's big feet trying to get the fish, Merv did release it, and I never had the camera with me. There was 6 albatross around the boat along with pacific gulls and seals.
That night Colin cooked another great dinner with Tanya making a delicious apple and berry crumble.

28th,  What a way to end the month, when Colin and Merv pulled the cray pots they got another 2 crays and caught 2 squid on the way out. I stayed on the wharf trying to catch a squid while they went out, I didn't have any luck.
In the afternoon we went around to Sue and gave her some cray legs then came back and watched some of the cricket on tv, the match between Australia and New Zealand, the game ended up being quite a close match but New Zealand won.
Colin cooked dinner again, while we were in the kitchen we were watching the ducklings run about fighting over bits of sqid, it was very funny they were tripping over it and playing tug of war 4 different directions all the while getting covered in squid ink.
We had delicious fresh berries from the garden for desert.

5th, 6th, 7th, 8th March 2015 Eaglehawk Neck

It was a cold morning this morning when we woke so Colin, Merv and Jessie went to pull the cray pots unfortunatly no crays today, I suppose we shouldn't expect them every day we have been having a lot of luck so far. It hailed just after the guys left and then again when they got back so we just mooched around and took it easy, we had a lunch of leftover laksa and cake with Colin, after lunch Colin showed us his amazing photos he took in Burma, the temples should be the 8th wonder of the world.
In the afternoon we went for a drive around Carllton, Dodges Ferry and Primrose Sands.
In the evening the wind was blowing pretty strong and the tide was in so we thought we would go down to the neck beach and try and find a octopus that comes in during times like this, it turned out to be bitterly cold but we still checked without success.

6th, it was raining a little this morning but Paul came down and Merv, Paul and myself went down to an area in Oakwood near Port Arthur where there used to be an old house, we had the detectors and was hoping to find some old pennies, nothing but old tin, nails and ring pulls.
In the evening Colin cooked some lovely fish and bought some great chips from the van at the blowhole, all this we shared with Erin and Paul, Tanya and Colin's daughter and son-in-law, they had flown in from Melbourne for the 60th wedding anniversary party being held on Saturday for Tanya's parents.
Erin and Paul were both with it business minded people, certainly executive material, lovely personalities and Erin is carry her first baby, a little girl, I had not seen Erin since she was 15, it was so nice to see her again and see she is very happy.

7th When we woke and the day was good we went down to the jetty to catch a squid, Merv took the canoe out and caught 1 I fished from the jetty without any luck.
After breakfast we went to Shelly Beach with the canoes it was a bit windy but Merv caught 1 flathead, we then went down to Stuarts Bay, the conditions were just perfect for a paddle,  it was beautiful,  I did catch a nice flathead and Merv caught a lot of wrasse, a fun afternoon.

8th Paul, Esther and Jackie came down today for us to go out to Fortescue Bay for a picnic, on the way out there was an echidna on the road a most fascinating animal to observe.
The road was in far better condition than when we out there 4 years ago, as it was a long weekend there was a large number of people out on the beach and in the camp area, Merv and I went for a walk along the beach while the others waited at a picnic table. After lunch we headed for Shelly Beach, on the way out we saw another echidna, I couldn't believe it 2 in one day.
While Paul and the girls used the detectors Merv and I took the canoes out as the day was perfect, we caught a lot of small flathead and 4 large ones.
When we got back in we found that Jackie had found a beautiful 18ct gold Diamond ring.
While we were cleaning the fish another echidna came down over the bank, I would have to call it THE DAY OF THE ECHIDNA.

View from Waterfall Bay Lookout

25th, 26th February 2015 Eaglehawk Neck

25th, Colin's birthday, we go to pull the cray pots again another 5 good crays then we go hooking where we picked up some more good gurnard, flathead and perch.  Colin's boat is only a tinnie but we are having more fun and better fishing than the rest of our trip. After coming back and getting the fish cleaned we went for a long walk on the beach.
That night Merv cooked a delicious crayfish mornay for dinner.

26th, The weather was a bit cool and not quite as good this morning so Colin and Merv went to pull the pots, they weren't going to hook so I stayed at home, they didn't have any luck this morning. Around lunch time Merv and I headed off to walk to Tatnells Hill, we used to call this The Knobbs. Colin told us were to pick the track up that leads up the hill, we start at Waterfall Bay Lookout, this walk should take approx 3hrs return. The first of the track runs around the edge of the cliffs,  not close but too close in places for my comfort, it then heads in and comes to a creek were the track forks, the right hand track heads up the hill, up and up and up, through magnificent ferny gullies with creeks and majestic trees, the different mosses and lichen with the different colours of the toadstool make one hell of a natures garden.
We had traversed approx 2/3 of the track when after climbing up a steep part over rocks rounded the corner to find a large tiger snake approx 6ft in length spread across the track, we done the normal things like stamping the foot and clapping but it never moved so we threw a large stick at it, this made it jump up and flatten out it head in anger but still never moved off the track, we were very close so we stood still and watched, I was looking to see if we would be able to make a hasty retreat, we threw another stick,  it turned and looked straight at us, I thought crap, I had never had a snake stand up and flatten out then look staight at me like that, we had all our gear ready to throw down in its path if it came at us but at the last moment it slid in the bush, we passed very carefully.
We were almost to the top when fine misty rain started, by the time we got to the top the mist was so thick you couldn't see a hundred yards in front of you, this was a bit disappointing as the veiws from up there has to be seen to be believed and I wanted to get some good photos, oh well we will have to go again maybe next time we will drive part way up one of the forestry roads.
The walk down was much easier with no more sightings of snakes.
It was soup then crayfish and salad for dinner

22nd, 23rd, 24th, February 2015 Eaglehawk Neck

22nd, Today is grocery shopping day which we do at Sorell so we decide to visit Ben and Lyn in Howrah. We picked up some fresh buns and cold meat then went to Ben and spent several hours with them, Joanne came home from work, it was nice to see her again. Stopped off at Sorell on the way  back and finished the shopping.

23rd, Today looked like a good day for golf a few black clouds but not too bad, we collect our gear and head for the Port Arthur golf course. The course did look an interesting one, we got off to a reasonable start then the man mowing came down our fairway which is enough to put anyone off, 2nd hole as we were going up the sprinklers came on the green so we never putted that one, next one was ok but the 4th the sprinklers came on the green again, not happy jan, when we were playing the 5th the clouds came over very fast and black, we were trying to find the balls on all the leaf litter on the fairway when thunder started, not much to start with then suddenly close with good lightning and the rain came very heavy,  there were trees we could shelter under from rain but not with it thunderdering, as I considered that I had a handful of lightning rods I made a b-line for the car, others had already beaten us back. The rain settled in for the day so we went back to relax and read. That night Merv and Colin went out and set the cray pots.

24th, The weather is good so we go out with Colin to pull the cray pots and then do some hooking, we had a great start with 5 really good sized crays followed by some good perch and gurnard, the day was finished with great dinner with Tanya and Colin, I made a leatherwood cheesecake for desert, first time I had made it and it turned out pretty good.

Albatross

The bird with the dark neck is the Buller Albatross the one with the nice eye mask is the Shy Albatross

Fishing with Colin

One of the smaller catches

Remarkable Caves

15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st February 2015 Eaglehawk Neck

15th,  Off to the country,  yeah, we arrive at Colin's place at Eaglehawk Neck after driving past his driveway and checking it out we decide we should be able to get the camper up there, Merv put a strap around the back as an extra support as the driveway is so steep.
We took the camper off the vehicle then went for a walk to the beach,  later in the afternoon Tanya, Colin and Wilson arrived home, it was so good to catch up and spend some time yakking.

16th, We went down to Shelly Beach to find out if it was suitable to launch Paul's boat, when we arrived the weather was calm and sunny, I wasn't feeling well so Merv pumped his canoe up and headed out with the fishing gear, it wasn't long before he was catching flathead, after awhile he came in for some lunch I pumped up my canoe and joined him, we ended up catching 8 nice flathead. That night Colin cooked roast duck and vegtables for dinner and Tanya made creme caramel and pavlova, yum yum and more yum.

17th, Paul and Jackie met us at Shelley Beach to go fishing,  they took the tinnie we took the canoes, Paul and Jackie headed across the other side of the bay we fished a bit closer. I caught a big leather jacket that bit my hook off, I didn't have a spare and couldn't be bothered going in so I paddled across to get one from Paul when I got there they decided to come back to where Merv and I were fishing so we tied the canoe to the boat and I got towed back, it was quite a bit of fun. There was a good number of fish caught for the day and that night Colin cooked flathead in batter with chips for dinner.

18th, After a morning coffee we walked down the hill and along the beach, around lunch time we spent some time with young Colin looking at the photos he took on his last holiday in Cambodia, while looking at them it is hard to imagine such beauty in a country that has so much poverty. we planned to go to the jetty fishing for squid after dark, it was lucky we were talking to Tanya and Colin they told us that the squid were best before dark so we quickly went down and caught 7 good ones, while we were there around 10pm a huge shoal of mackerel came in around the jetty, Merv caught a couple of small jack mackerel on a bait then we tried lures and we were catching the bigger slimey mackerel one after the other, they were great fun and put up a good fight, we didn't know that they were good eating so we didn't bleed them just kept enough for bait for the cray pots.

19th, Another good walk on  the beach this morning hoping to get a little bit of fitness through walking up the steep hill. Later in the day we visited Sue and picked some blackberries. For dinner  Colin cooked fresh fettuccine that he made with a cabinara sauce made with the squid, yummo. After dinner Colin, Tanya, Merv and myself went to the jetty again to try for squid, the weather was not so good it was cold and windy, we didn't catch anything.

20th, Boat fishing today, out in Colin's tinnie, the weather was only a bit lumpy but we caught a lot of gurnard, flathead and perch to bring home as well as all the wrasse we threw back, there was a beautiful big albatross swooping around and sitting on the water waiting for us to throw a fish back so he could grab it. That night Colin cooked fish on the bbq with chips and salad for dinner.

21st, Walk to the beach again, I hope it is working I am certainly not getting as puffed. Paul arrived down for a visit just as we were heading up Cash's lookout with Colin, neither Jackie or Paul had shoes on for walking so I took his camera to get some photos for him while he and Jackie went to the Devils Kitchen for a drive. The walk to Cash's lookout was a fairly steep one I did a little puffing but we couldn't get over Colin never seemed the slightest bit puffed, the veiws from up there are fantastic but unfortunatly the sun was very bright and the photos were not so good looking toward the sun. When Paul and Jackie left in the afternoon we went for a drive around the peninsula, stopped at the bakery in Nubeena and bought a sickly mars bar slice, but still ate it, then drove around White Beach and on to Remarkable Caves at Port Arthur,  Merv had never been there, then Safety Cove, walk on the beach, the golf club was nearby so we stopped in for a look and decided to have a game there in the near future, next stop Stuarts Bay, this looks a great place for the canoes, we did go to Palmers Lookout but there has been a house built there now and there isn't access to be able to get a photo down the coast.