Or as the Aussies say…..Laaaanceston….I must say that the accent does not sit easy in my ears! My hotel, the Clarion was really lovely and I had a great room- the only problem was that it was on the third floor of a really old building with no elevators and the steepest stairs ever. Getting my case up and down was a challenge indeed. Also I thought that breakfast was included. So each morning I was asked, and I said a hot breakfast, I literally had an egg, a slice of toast, 2 rashers of bacon, mushrooms and a slice of tomato. A glass of water each morning with breakfast. Then When I checked out, saw that breakfast was $35 per person. So yep my R350 egg on toast with some bacon was delicious thank you. Bah humbug! Hate being ripped off, I really don’t mind paying for quality.

Anyhoo, after a light, but expensive breakfast I went for a walk through the park and local neighbourhood. It really is a pretty place with some great old buildings circa 1880’s. Was a scorching hot day yesterday, so I shadow hopped most of the time. Unfortunately the wind was howling, so not fab conditions. It was clearly too far to do a day trip to Cradle Mountain….2.5 hour drive each way and then about 1.5 hours climbing and walking, it would have taken up the whole day. So instead I did a 2.5 hour river cruise, up the Tamar river and to the Cataract Gorge….all equally beautiful. Saw some awesome bird sights, including some hawks. I have not seen many birds of prey at all, quite surprisingly. We also saw pelicans, seagulls, black swans and others. The wind was so steong that the river was rocking a bit…not too much fun! But I made it, and I am glad, some great farmland scenery, past the oldest operating and licensed hotel in Australia, an old church, winelands, islands, marshes and plenty of incredible cloud formations to see.

Then a short trip up Cataract Gorge, a river gorge on the Esk River. Further upstream is the historic Duck Reach Power Station, which was commissioned by Launceston City Council in 1893, making it the largest hydro-electric scheme of its day. By 1895 it was lighting the city, the guide alleges that Launceston was the first city in the southern hemisphere to have electric lights, lots of this is the biggest, oldest, finest and bestest mentality….especially when comparing to the mainland. After the trip ended, I went back to my hotel to freshen up a bit and then went for a walk sxploring the old buildings in my area, the flour mill, Broag Brewery and many others. I went for a walk along the esplanade and then home to pack once more. I am staying with Keith and family in Newport(Sydney) one night and the. One night in the city and I fly to Perth on Sunday. In the home stretch now and chomping at the bit to get home.

i have finally realised why I am battling so much with falling asleep at night. Its clearly the melatonin thing…ie…it only gets dark at 9pm…so I am not sleepy until 1 or 2am in the mornings. Cant wait to go back onto my ‘medicinal compound…’ hahhaha remember the song Lily the pink…

We’ll drink a drink a drink
To lily the pink the pink the pink
The saviour of our human race
For she invented, medicinal compound
Most efficacious in every case

Mr freers had sticky out ears
And it made him awful shy
And so they gave him medicinal compound
And now he’s learning how to fly

Brother Tony was notably bony
He would never eat his meals
And so they gave him medicinal compound
Now they move him round on wheels

Okie dokie…chat again in Sydney..

First Salvation army building

Loved the broekie lace

This hairso slayed me

Pergola to mark Queen Victoria’s jubilee

Loved the buldings

And more

Church

Brewery

My hotel, the Clarion

Tamar river

The Gorge

Trevalla fiah dinner

Check this guys hair do

Brewery

They simply make up words here