Day 51 Bay of Fires Thursday 17th March 2011

Lilydale Falls


Franklin House (no pictures allowed inside!)


Garden view - Franklin House


Sunset at Dora Point


On the beach - Dora Point

Bienvenue,

Tonight the blog is being typed from beside the campfire at the Bay of Fires on the east coast adjacent St Helens. This area is probably the seaside resort area of Tasmania.

First of all yesterdays forgotten item. When we approached Longford I could see hedges and immediately thought boxthorns. However I was wrong they were Hawthorns another remnant of Tasmania's English heritage and climate.

Today started in Lilydale where our swag was surprisingly undewed apart from under the awning where our sweaty breath had condensed. We breakfasted and packed and then took advantage of the showers which were rustic but hot. We then walked up to the two falls adjacent the camp area which were quite pretty we saw no evidence of the rumoured platypuses.

We drove back to Launceston to visit Franklin House circa 1830 and its garden. The house also serves as the headquarters of the Tasmanian National Trust and was the catalyst for its formation in 1960. One donated item that caught my eye was a trunk belonging to Charles II that he left in Jersey in 1650. The garden had a very large oak tree with a carpet of acorns. I had a whimsical thought about picking up a sack full and travelling the country randomly planting them.

We then headed back toward Launceston Central stopping in Meadow Vale for Susan to visit the bank and to have a midday snack. I then decided to drive in to central lanceston for a quick look never a good idea with the trailer on especially when they don't sign post dead end streets!

It was then onto Saint Helens a trip of around 180km. From there we headed to the Bay of Fires where we are now camped. There was enough time for a short walk on the edge of the estuary before the cooking of tea and lighting of camp fire.

We are currently being circled by bands of marauding possums sort of like the Indians and the wagon train in the old west.

Speaking of Indians it might be time to get out the poppadoms because there has been just a hint of an Indian summer. Now after having researched what an Indian Summer is I now realise that using the term here is totally inappropriate. There is always something to learn.

Anyway the cold is setting in, the fire has died and it's time to hit the swag.

Cheers Simon