A Short Break

I have been extremely busy these past few months……selling and buying houses; packing and unpacking and CLEANING! So when the opportunity arose last week to go away with a friend for a few days, I jumped at the chance. The big bonus was that we were going to Mt William National Park in the far North-East corner of the state - a place I'd never visited before. It's an area of coastal  vegetation and heathland with Mt William, a smallish hill with mountainous delusions at its centre and miles of beautiful, empty beaches, rocky outcrops and abundant wildlife.

Although you have to carry in drinking water, the camping is pleasant, close to the beach under she-oaks. It is car camping, so you can bring lots of comforts!

We had lovely warm weather, but I imagine it can sometimes be very windy here (There must be a good reason that one of Tasmania's two wind farms is located not too far away!)

We were able to have a campfire, which is no longer allowed in many national parks.

(Photo: Margaret Hoban)

Beach, sky, birds, animals and the endless crash of the surf onto the beach.

We made an ascent of Mt William - a smallish bump of a few hundred metres, but I was pleasantly surprised by the "miniature mountain" feel of it, complete with its rocky summit and views all around. Unfortunately, it was hazy from forestry burn-offs, so the Furneaux Islands weren't visible as they would be on a clear day and the distance views were limited. Areal eye-opener was all the different species of fungi that were abundant - I counted around thirty different kinds!

The walk was pleasant and easy on a good track and the reward is this view:

All in all, it was a perfect, rejuvenating break and it has given me a taste to go and spend more time in a place with such subtle charm and plenty to see and do.

A Few Short Walks………...

I am blessed that my new location is very near to quite a number of great short walks……the first is only a hundred metres or so from my front door: Woods Reserve. It is around 20 acres of remnant bush vegetation that looks out over the city of Launceston below. A little gem close to the city.

A little further away, but still within easy walking distance, is Duck Reach, the site of the first hydro-electric power station in the Southern Hemisphere - it brought power and light to the city of Launceston in 1895 until it was washed away in the monster flood of 1925. It was re-built some years later.

The power station is no longer used, but the building has been turned into a museum which highlights the foresight and ingenuity of Launceston's City Fathers in the C19th. From Duck Reach, you can explore numerous trails through the Cataract Gorge.

Update........

It's been a while since I posted anything.....lots happening in my life.
Last week I took myself up Ben Lomond alone on Bob's birthday (he would have been 64). It was such a beautiful magical day: warm and sunny considering it is mid-winter here. I walked to the top and just enjoyed the day.......put some stones on his cairn; breathed the pure air; felt the sun and wind on my face. Healing.

The Pavilion

Looking North

Bob's Cairn

Mountain Selfie

Icy path

And here are a few things that I have been working on:

A New Head

Rust-dyed Paper

A Little Tousle-headed Tot