Bicheno and more

  

After a wet Friday drive...stopping at Campbell Town for a delicious dinner...we arrived in Bicheno around 8.30pm and wandered across the road from our accommodation to see the fairy penguins come ashore...lovely despite the rain..

Saturday was a perfect day and we enjoyed breakie on our rooftop veranda

 

 

We walk across  the beach and follow the rocks around to the blowhole....Thomas says this is his  idea of "paradise"..

The its back across the point and up the lookout track..

The afternoon is spent taking turns for a snooze while Tom swims, climbs rocks and plays board games. We read and rest til going for dinner at a local cafe..
Then we drive north to Redbill Beach so we can walk the sandy isthmus at low tide to reach Diamond Island... The evening light is magic..
Strolling back along the beach we pick up sea sponges for a medicine John hopes to prepare..
Tom climbs sand dunes and generally races about having a fabulous time.
At dusk we go down to see the Penguin parade again...a delightful mild evening and the Penguins arrive on schedule..

We pack up on Sunday after a slow start and make our way south to Coles Bay for a coffee.
Then over to the start of the Wineglass Bay walk. Tom is delighted to see a Wallaby hopping about in the carpark before we set out.

 

 Its a hot climb to the top and Tom takes a breather on the lounge provided..

 Great views of the Bay from the lookout..

 

 A long hot climb down and a walk along the beach finds us at a suitable swimming spot for Tom...no 'breakers'.. (Could be the Whitsundays...if the water temperature was about 20 degrees warmer)
Stunningly beautiful.

View from out shady picnic spot

We make our way back..its a hard climb for Tom...but once at the top...downhill all the way...and he still has the energy to climb a few rocks..
We head south stopping at Orford for a coffee break and a quick walk along the beach..then in the car again.. We stop at Bellerive for dinner at the Pub bistro on the boardwalk..a nice spot..
Then its home..unpack and prepare for bed. (Hannah and I watch a movie..before turning in)

The week begins well with a number of orders to do...and customers..
John and Tom make a Calendula cream..
We spend a few hours on Monday afternoon preparing Spongia tosta..
Sea sponges we collected at Bicheno...are 'toasted' in a pan (a slow process) ..then crumbled /ground into fine powder and set on to make a tincture..

 

Hannah and I have a walk around town after dinner..

 

Up early to fill and pack Calendula cream before heading to Community Garden for a couple of hours. There are few of us today as Liz and Laura are taking part in the Wooden Boat Festival "RaiD"..This RaiD through some of Tasmania’s wild and beautiful waterways commences in Recherche Bay January 30 2013 and ends on Hobart on Friday February 8 to meet up with the parade of sail which heralds the start of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.

They are rowing the  St Ayles skiff built by the Women on Water group at Franklin...quite a journey.

Hannah and I walk down to see some of the Wooden Boats that are part of the RaiD...stopping overnight in Cygnet.

 

 It promises to be a hot Wednesday..Tom's first day back..but the morning is cool and lovely

 

 John helps Tom pack his bag...adding a large rock for good measure..Tom is not amused.

 Glad to be heading back to school.

 Morning assembly in Carmel Hall by the looks..

 

Hannah goes to town to drop off CVs to Restaurants looking for work.

Tom comes home happy...had a great day. After afternoon tea we begin our homework plan...

It has been a really hot day for here...30 degrees...and the flat takes a while to cool off.

Hannah and I watch a series 'North and South' before bed.

 

Again the morning is hot on Thursday and there are fires burning north of Hobart.

 Morning reading session before school.....

By the afternoon there is a fire burning over at Franklin..the other side of the Huon...The smoke is blowing down here.

Hannah goes into Hobart for a work trial at a snazzy Restaurant called Rockwall. (We know Ben who is front of house manager...he used to work at Red Velvet)

 

Her trial goes well...and she has secured a job...Well done Hannah!!

I go up on the hill for a walk...stunning light

 Raspberries for dessert from our garden..

 

 

The week ends on a busy note..

Hannah flys out to Sydney for a friend's wedding.

Orders are prepared and dispatched...

Books are sold as we see more tourists around due to the Wooden Boat Festival this weekend...

 

We travel to Hobart on Saturday as John has an invite to go through more second hand books at 'The Barn' in North Hobart. Tom and I get dropped off in town and walk the bike track to North Hobart...via the Regatta Grounds...where its all happening!! Wooden Boat Festival , Navy Open Day, Regatta carnival.

It is so windy!!...Terrible news for the Firies fighting a big blaze at Molesworth northwest of Hobart.

At the Carnival ground we witness a huge inflatable worm wrenched from it's tethering ropes by the wild wind...people come running to catch it before the wind whips it away into the harbour.

 

 

A Navy helicopter has to make 3 attempts before being able to land...

 

 

 

 

We have a wonderful walk...although tiring walking into a headwind.

  

We meet John who is just about ready to go...

 

have a cuppa in town then pick up supplies at Officeworks before heading home... The smoke obscures Mount Wellington..

 

 

We rest then slowly prepare to go out to dinner at a dear customer's home at Glazier's Bay. Pat is late 70s/early 80 yo Scottish lady. She delights in our book shop and has given us some wonderful books for Thomas. Her partner Jim is in his 80's...and has worked all over the world.. Lovely people...we have a great evening  dining with them and their neighbours Max and Sue..