Fri, 9th Feb, 2024 Blackburn Park, Campbell Town to Malcolm & Kerry’s place, Westbury, Tas

13.3 degrees min inside. Mackerel clouds. Lots of bird life around here, all making a racket this morning.

Overcast as we head northward. The sky starts to clear as we head up the Midland Highway through the roadworks - we skipped most of it on the way down by taking the Nile Road from Evandale.

No slowing down for the little village of Cleveland - 80kph through here so I just managed to get a photo of St Andrews Inn. It is one of the original coaching inns. Built by convict labour in 1845.

Turned off into Evandale to find the dump point but that one has closed so we have to go to Longford. I was following Wikicamps map and sent Steve along a road that doesn’t continue any more as they put a new section of the highway through which now bypasses the village of Perth - which is over 200 years old now.

Across the South Esk River and into Longford.

The dump point is in a caravan park so I rang to check we could us it. All good - nice park along the edge of the river.

Had a cuppa in the park trying to sit in the sun as the breeze is quite chilly. Watched young mums with their little ones and we both said that will be our kids soon.

Back to the highway and back toward Evandale as I wanted to take the old road (Hobart Road) that runs along the side of the Midland Highway. I had seen an old bridge. Found it - The Kerry Lodge Bridge - 1835. Info off Wikicamps.

We pulled off the road further along and walked back. Lots of blackberries and I think blueberries growing down in the gully between this road and the highway.

A little bit of history info.

Walked down through the grass to get a better view with the cars zooming along the highway beside us. Great builders back then as these bridges are still being used.

Very smelly though as there were 5 dead possums rotting on the edge of the bridge as we walked back over it.

We continued along to King Meadows to pop into Bunnings for Malcolm and then we topped up the diesel at the Tas Petrol place again ($199.9/L).

Back onto the highway then onto the Bass Highway to head to Westbury. Clear sky now and it has warmed up - supposed to be 27 today.

I had missed a photo of the old hotel on the turn-off to Malcolm’s place - the Old Clancy Hotel (1854) also known as the Great Western Hotel. It was built by George Clancy, a free settler and his former convict wife, Margaret to served a predominantly Irish community, comprising mainly of retired solider settlers. It is a triple brick Georgian building with the original slate roof. Initially unlicensed, it operated as The Clancy hotel. It was licensed as the Great Western Hotel in 1863. I only just got the sign.

Parked in our spot again at Malcolm & Kerry’s place. No breeze so it is definitely feeling like a summer day in Tassie. I got our washing done and Steve worked on another bracket for the exhaust since he had Malcolm’s shed to utilise.

Malcolm’s sister, Roz, was here for the wedding and she leaves tomorrow so all the family came for dinner. Good to see her again - we met her in Port Douglas with Malcolm and Kerry on one of their visits north. Mal’s mum, Anne came too - she is doing well after her husband’s recent passing.

Home-made pizza night which was great though I got one with anchovies so now I definitely know I don’t like them.

Bec and Tom put the photos up on the big TV from their wedding which was great to see. They had a perfect day and looks like a lot of fun too.