Thurs, 25th Jan, 2024 Malcolm & Kerry’s place, Westbury to Mike & Anne’s place, Ansons Bay, Tas (exploring Westbury)

Min of 10.8 this morning though it was up to 14 by the time we got up at 7.30am. Clear blue sky. Hope they have a lovely clear day for the wedding in a week’s time.

Packed up the camper. Malcolm dug us up some fresh potatoes. Said bye for now as we will hopefully catch them at their beach house in Scamander after the wedding. Said bye to Phill and Daniel - hopefully will see them in WA again sometime. Michelle was having a nice sleep-in after watch the Aust Open tennis all night.

Into Westbury to have a wander as we didn’t get to walk around it last visit. Parked near the first silhouette of the Fitzpatrick sisters who ran the inn here.

I walked across the road for a better photo of the inn.

Continued down that side to a shed with a fabulous mural depicting the changes over time of the area. Found the Tassie Tiger too.

Found a great street library - stored in painted old refrigerators. Found two good books so went back to the camper for the ones we have read to leave in the library. Getting warmer now so ditched the jumper.

Behind it is Pearns Steam World. They were just opening up but we didn’t go in.

Continued along the street. A hedge of blackberries but not ripe yet. I remember our first visit we were warned not to eat the ones on the side of the roads as they were sprayed with poison as they are a pest - ok in your own yard of course.

At the cricket ground we found an information board. Westbury was founded as a village garrison in 1828 by Governor George Arthur.

Lots of lovely big trees.

One for the ‘big things’ collection - cricket stumps.

Another silhouette of cricketer, Jack Badcock.

Lots of lovely old buildings here. Interesting decorations on the top of the Westbury Hotel.

Next silhouette is at the Holy Trinity Church - Father James Hogan.

Beautiful church, est 1874. The gates were erected in memory of another person, James Quigley.

Lots of hedges around the properties but some need a bit of pruning. The next one is bare now after its prune. Hard to find that happy medium.

‘Mayberry’ - sadly the solar panels ruin the old world charm.

Across the road was The Willows, est 1837.

My camera battery went flat then. We were nearly at the Village Green so walked back to the camper and then drove down and parked. I had put the camera on charge - have to charge the battery in the camera which is a bit of a pain. The old battery was playing up so this one is a new battery but maybe there is another issue. Will just have to charge it more often.

Had a cuppa then sent a message to Mike and Anne to see what they were up to. Mike rang back and said they were heading to their place at Ansons Bay for the long weekend if we wanted to join them. Sounds like a good plan.

Continued with our walk. Another silhouette at the end of the Village Green about the Irish Exiles who ended up here before heading across to America.

Wandered along the street to another church, St Andrews. Another silhouette of Ellen Payne. Would have been lovely to go inside and see her carvings.

Very thick hedge.

Found some old history markers. Site of the Convict Station, built in 1842. Now a private residence.

Across the road is the RSL. The building was built in 1832. Another sign says it was the military barracks or they were near here.

Lovely home - Glen Ayr, built in 1860.

Through the village with various shops then along the road to the Gingerbread Cottages. They were original buildings (1850-1860), now used as accommodation.

End one says Servants Quarters. Should have picked up a walking guide! Getting slack, just like to walk and find.

Around the corner is the old Bakehouse and a small cottage beside that.

Further along was the Commercial Bank until 1887.

Across the road is the old Hospital (built about 1857).

Around the corner another old home.

Across the road is the White House (1846). There was a big bakery beside it on the left. Looks like stables etc on the other side.

Back in the truck then down the road to the Methodist Church for one more silhouette - Malcolm’s great grandfather, Sir Walter Lee.

Certainly a lovely little town. I think it would be great to be here for the Irish Festival in March - one day! Can’t do everything.

Back through town then onto the Bass Highway heading to Launceston. Steve wants to buy a spare fuel filter - better safe than sorry. Also his boost gauge is playing up again - already had a part replaced under warranty - looks like it is playing up again. Just can’t win at the moment with the things we buy.

Through open grazing country then over the narrow Liffey River then the wide South Esk River. The camera is charging so no photos!

Down the steep descent into Launceston. There is a great camp here so we parked the van and had a wonderful exploring Lonny as the locals call it.

Through town and across the Tamar River to the ARB Store. The chap said it was better we ring RedArc direct which we did and got a very helpful chap. He said it sounds like the interface box again so will arrange one to be sent over to us to Malcolm’s PO Box. When you buy something it comes with warranty but when they thing breaks and they replace it under warranty, that new bit doesn’t have any further warranty!

Back across the river to Supercheap for the fuel filter then headed out of town. Up the hill out of the ‘basin’ and onto the Tasman Highway which is really just a two lane road which is quite rough. Through natural scrub with pockets of farm land and pine plantations.

Saw a park on St Patrick’s River at Nunamarra on Wikicamps so turned off to have lunch there. Only a narrow track through the trees so we turned around and continued on. Pulled into Myrtle Park Recreation Reserve - also beside St Patrick’s River. Pulled into the car park near the kiosk and made lunch. A bit chilly in the shade but the sun burns when you are standing in it. Sat in the shade shelter which has a big fireplace at each end.

Went for a walk through the camp ground area and along the edge of the river. Well used over the Christmas period and more people now setting up for the long weekend. Lots of big open camp sites along the edge of the river. Beautiful big trees everywhere though the signs say not to camp under them.

Pretty flowers by the water.

Back to the sports ground area - more camp sites around the huge tree.

Back to the cricket pavilion that was built in 1951. Another old building behind it. No other information about why it was here but I suppose it was a meeting point for the local farmers and families.

Continued on up the windy roads. Lots of those over here. We are climbing around the edge of a mountain with views of natural forests and pine plantations through the trees.

Over the top and down to The Sideling. Pulled in to check out the view over Scottsdale etc. Not as clear as when the photo on the board was taken.

Down the other side through all the roadworks where they are widening the road - good idea. Through Springfield where I spotted a timber carving. They are so well done.

The old Eco Centre is getting some work done around it. Looks more like a space craft or half a silo!

Lovely views over green pastures on rolling hills as we head out of Scottsdale.

Passed the very popular free camp - we had a few days here in 2015. Great spot to head out and explore the region from.

It has been a windy day and now more clouds are coming over.

A carved tree shows the way to Legerwood which has more fabulous chainsaw carvings.

Stopped for a cuppa at Branxton which has a free camp by the Ringarooma River. There is even a pool - used to be a paid one when I looked up my old Camps Aust book.

Walked across the road and down to the big Platypus. There is a walk along the river edge so we followed it hoping to see a platypus.

I followed the steps down to the river edge - no platypus here as I made my way along the edge.

A huge bumble bee was flying around the flower below me.

Steve was on the bank above me but there was no way up so I went back to where I walked down then along to meet him. Continued along the high bank till we got to a hut and a sign about looking for platypus. Walked down the track but still none about.

Found a wombat hole.

Walked back to the road then along the bridge. Looking further downstream.

Continued on to Derby. The vegetation by the road has changed to drier climate trees and shrubs.

Into Derby - a nice town with great history. Cute Bank.

We enjoyed staying here. They were just building the mountain bike trails and we had walked on a few. Now it is the centre of the town’s tourism - there are bike shops everywhere and people on bikes all over the road too.

Even a new camping area nearer to the trails.

Across the Cascade River and up the hill with the big rock ‘fish’.

Up and down the hills - so many views to enjoy as we drive along - well I do, Steve has to watch the road.

We left the Tasman Highway and headed for Gladstone - so many town names are repeated in Australia.

Through Gladstone, Gateway to the Bays. Only a small place. Took the turn off to Ansons Bay. Across the Ringarooma River - shallow and sandy here. It flows to the north from here and empties into the Ringarooma Bay.

Onto a gravel road for the next 27km. Drier scrub and big flatter cattle grazing farms. Some parts are smoother than the bitumen we have travelled over!

Back on bitumen as we descend into Ansons Bay (Remote Paradise). No shops etc here - just shacks, holiday homes, fishing and water activities. There is a creek and narrow bay mouth out to the sea. We have stayed here before and also out at Policemans Point near the mouth.

Around to Mike and Anne’s place. They have a few levelled pads so we chose a different one this time and set up.

Three of their grandchildren are here for the long weekend - Maddie, Bella and Oakley. Their parents will join them here on Saturday. Their other daughter and grandkids are also here at another house so its a bit like Woodgate with the family around them.

The kids were playing Scrabble so I helped out. They are lovely kids and we all had a good time.

Mike got the fire pit going and we sat around it chatting with our drinks as it was getting a bit cool - well for us at least. The clouds have come back over.

Only limited phone reception here so no uploading of my blog yet.

Lots of little wrens flittering about and hundreds of dragonflies - they must have just hatched. Lovely flowers - very different.

Had dinner in the camper then joined them again around the fire for a cuppa. So great to see them again. We met Mike in Bendigo in 2014 as we headed south on our travels. Then we stayed with them here in early 2015.