Sat, 10th Feb, 2024 Malcolm & Kerry’s place, Westbury to Malcolm & Kerry’s place, Scamander, Tas (Fingal Valley)

Up at 5.45 am for the 6.30am drive down to Kempton in the pilot vehicle so Malcolm can deliver a silo. Steve had gone with Malcolm before and he gave him instructions on distances etc so we should be good and it is straight down the highway too. . No little windy back roads like some places Malcolm has to deliver the silos to.

Fabulous sunrise as we headed down the road. Took a few photos as we aren’t normally up this early!

Onto the main road - Malcolm is behind us but we need to get ahead and be 400m in front.

Turned off onto Illawarra Road which took us past Longford and onto the Midland Highway which is much shorter than what we have been doing. Local knowledge helps.

The sun was not so nice though as it rose as it was right in our eyes. The clouds burnt away with the sun.

Stopped in Campbell Town for a cuppa and sausage roll from the bakery - delicious. A bit chilly here!

Continued southward no problems and then into the property near Kempton to drop off the silo. He had a load of grain to go in it so Malcolm and Steve got to work unloading. First they had to put the safety ladder on then raise it up. I stayed in the ute - out of the way!

Back onto the highway following Malcolm this time and home by 11.30am.

Had lunch then packed up and headed off towards Scamander for a few days with Malcolm & Kerry at their beach house. Down the Midland Highway again - we know it well now. Nice views across to the mountains in the east.

This time we turned off just past Cleveland onto the Esk Highway to head to the east coast. We hadn’t travelled this section to Fingal so I can’t mark it off on our map.

Rolling hills of grazing land as we travel along the valley with the South Esk River winding its way along over from the road and railway line.

Through Avoca (est 1834). Stopped to photograph the silo art on the water tower just out of town.

Continued on, lovely countryside.

Stopped for a cuppa at Fingal beside the Convict Cells.

We came through here in 2014/5 to go up to Evercreech Falls and Mathinna last time.

Continued on - we have turned away from the South Esk River now as it comes down another valley further over. We are now pushing into a strong head wind, again!

St Patrick’s Head comes into view, looks like a pyramid from here. Steve says it looks more like St Marys left breast and nipple as it is near the township of St Marys - one tract mind.

Passed the turn off to South Sister Lookout that we went up to before - amazing views.

Through the lovely town of St Marys (267m elevation) which means we go down hill to get to the coast. Onto the narrow ‘St Marys Pass’ - there is another way called Elephant Pass - it has more corner, we watched the cars race in the Targa Tasmania up that one.

Just as I took this photo I got a glimpse of the waves on the beach in the distance.

Down to the coast then north to Scamander. Across the Scamander River - land locked at the moment. The township was named Yarmouth (after an English port) and the river Borthwick but it was changed to Scamander by Tasmanian Governor, Sir John Franklin, who had a love of classic Greek culture. Scamander was the name of a river god in Greek mythology.

Along to Malcolm & Kerry’s house. Scamander is only a few streets wide but it goes on for a while.

Parked down the bottom of the block where it was flattest but still had to put one side up on high chocks - no rocking in there tonight!

Malcolm and Kerry have been busy fixing up the garden and adding decking etc.

The wind isn’t too bad but it is still chilly in the shade so enjoying warming up in the sunshine.

Great door mat - Barunah is their farm’s name.

Lovely view from up here. There is a walkway down to the beach a bit further along. Will check it out in the morning.

Kaylene sent photos from Annalise & Jon’s baby shower. Lucky I have her to be ‘proxy’ Granma for me.

Lovely evening chatting over dinner. Cooler evening - we will be lulled by the sound of the waves tonight.