Day 227-230 Hobart

We made it to another market day.. Salamanca Market is famous the world round and we had organised our trip to coincide with the Saturday event. Fantastic breakfast in one of the resturants along the market side. Very different to a lot of market's as it has many producers of  Tasmanian produce coming with their wares once a week... and all the usual imported junk. 
We happened upon Tassal, Tasmanian Salmon producer's and outlet, who were having a cooking demonstration, by Jeff Jansz, followed by a tasting, YUM!
After leaving the market we happened upon the Da Vinci Machine Exhibition, which we had missed in Perth. It was fascinating.
We had lunch with Joma's old friends Hazel & Malcolm, who it turned out was instrumental in the development of Gordon Dam... small world isn't it !!!!!
Then on to my Auntie Olive for a lovely catch up, not bad for 88 !! 

Day 226 Gordon Dam and Lake Pedder

                                                       The movie above is of the area from Mt Field to Lake Pedder, Lake Gordon Strathgordon and then on to the Gordon Dam. The narrative is of a poem that we found at the Strathgordon Tavern. Written by a worker that was there while the dam was being built....another left over  Hydro town.

Day 225 - 226 Mt Field National Park

Mount Field has the famous Russell Falls... very romantic..well for someone anyway!!!
They are certainly the best falls we have seen so far and just in the National Park, we stayed for two night's and really enjoyed the scenery.
My man at the falls....got told off for not including his feet....who wants feet?!
We also went on the Tall Tree Walk, these incredible trees are mind blowing in size, both girth and height. Read the plaque below, double click to blow the image up. Yet again, the images it conjures up of the past that no longer exist.....

Day 224-225 Heading East

This is the beautiful green looking area before we came over the top into the valley where Queenstown is... the difference is remarkable...just compare above with below. Just shows you what mankind can do!!!
A combination of acid rain, fire and a huge need for vast quantities of timber creates this devastated landscape.

We went o to a place called Tarralea, another hydro town which is being converted into an adventure area. Situated in the Central Highlands they have gone with the Highland feel and even a few of these beauties.
Toby and Turtle follow the Hydro Pipeline...............shades of the Golden Pipeline.

Day 223-224 Strahan

Strahan that West Coast town that has the Gordon River Cruise and Sarah Island etc... we had done the cruise at Corinna so decided that we were not financial enough to do any more cruises..and then we could not even get into the caravan park..so off we went and did a $5 Park camp on Maquaire Heads..fabulous...had a great walk right out to the ocean, with fishing men, birds and even a dead Black Snake!
Not bad hey!!
Strahan itself was very pretty and we had seen it on a very bright day which apparently was a lucky thing...very picturesque fishing fleet and trawlers as well. 
The tourist information office came up trumps as well..they helped us to extend our time on Tasmania for another 6 days to the 7th March and they also had an exhibition 
From this one you can tell the effort they have put into the exhibition..not bad for $2 each.

Day 223 Zeehan Museum

This place is a marvel... it was once the third largest city in Tasmania... now almost a ghost town but still having one of the most comprehensive mining museums that we have ever seen. We had seen a short story on this place on one of our DVD's and had vowed to go there if the opportunity arose...it's a must if you can get there. The history of the area is incredible. With mining ,logging and eventually the education in mining within the walls of this great museum. The item above and the instructions below are actually one of the first computors... have a look, quite ingeniuos!
Although we have not got a picture, this museum housed one of the largest mineral collection that either of us had ever seen... it rivalled what I had seen in London!!
Then there was the entertainment area, this was the Gaiety Theatre which is still in use occasionally, and is famous throughout Tasmania.. there are other rooms attached for bars, billiards and right next door was the Police Station, Court House and cells.
Outside, there was something familiar.... remember the wires by the side of the Golden Pipeline.. the pipeline from Perth to Kalgoorlie... well here they were again, but in the original form.. nice to piece these things together... my comment to Stephen was that being a bit or a history buff... but not from here I am having a crash course in the Australian History on the way round....
There was also a collection of the old work horse for the train buffs..these were used both for mining and for logging.

Day 223 Leaving Corinna

Well this was an experience that I was not sure about! We had the option of going over on the ferry or going the long way round that meant an extra 100k's at least. We had telephoned ahead and been told that the situation could be overcome.... well that was until we wanted to leave and the tide was out!!!! An hour and a half later......
The space between the two off and on ramps was a total of 9.2 meter's we had 10.2 meter's!! They let us off the rear wheel on the caravan but still it was a juggling act balancing the wheels and weight.... They actually had to push us off the bank as the tide was still coming in... to all the cheers of the bystanders.
Gives you some idea of how close it was.
We were asked to remove the spare wheel from  below the van to get off, but that did not happen and all was well... the bank opposite was still cheering.
Onwards and upwards!!!!!!!!!!!