A summer in Tasmania

[drron]

Memorial to the pioneers of the area.
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[drron]

I was sitting in the car waiting to do a U-turn when a convoy of old Holdend passed.
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That last mural is on the side of the building where I lunched.
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The Mountain Mumma cafe.A little alternate with books to read such as the Low fodmap diet cookbook.But the warm beef and pumpkin salad was very nice.Along with a Spreyton cider.
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[drron]

On one corner a good country store.In 1926 the owners were asked by a friend from Wilmot if they wanted to invest in his new company.they declined.He became famous their family still runs the store.the friend's name - G.J.Coles.
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Over the road is Bossini's Bakery.They make a good scallop pie.
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There was something about this business that didn't ring true.
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[drron]

Disaster.The marble shop has closed.
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[drron]

There are lots of murals.
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[drron]

The last of Sheffield.
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But I had some afternoon tea before I left.
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[drron]

So time to say goodbye to Sheffield and mt.Roland.
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And off to this place just outside Railton.
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So Sykes was a real eccentric.A fighter pilot in WW1.Married an Australian and came to Australia in 1947 eventually settling in Devonport.However he bought a 40 acre block outside Railton.After his wife died in 1953 he moved to the block and lived as a recluse.He cycled everywhere which is the road the sanctuary is in is marked by this.
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In 1977 he packed his possessions into a pram and left.He went to Melbourne where a son lived.He left the Block to the people of Railton. so as you walk in you see this.
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[drron]

After his death his son erected 2 memorials which are said to be the answer to life.They even mention DNA and RNA viruses.Must have been on to something.Though it is likely eccentricity is genetic.
so a little further on you come to another version of Sykes life plus the ancient theories put together by his son.
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So now you have all that is needed to find the meaning of life.

 

[drron]

And this is the monument.
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[drron]

You can picnic at the monument and other tables scattered around the park.A little neglected though.
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Different tracks all over the area.
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The Tasmanian trail runs alongside the sanctuary.
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[drron]

I walked around a few of the tracks.I thought I might have spotted some orchid leaves.
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A little further on I realised I was wide of the mark.this is what those leaves turned into.
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Now if you have been paying attention you might have noticed some native cherry trees.A nice little snack.
But then the wind sprung up.Some trees were moving large distances so time to leave.

However researching Norman Sykes I found another story of his last years however the date of his death doesn't match his son's monument.

Railton’s local legend still lives on | Photos

Norman Sykes was known as an eccentric, a gentleman and Tasmania's first greenie.

www.examiner.com.au

 

[drron]

Just after leaving the Sanctuary there is this figure.
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Looks like he is holding a dish of raspberries but the bushes under covers looked like blueberries.Maybe another failed tourist venture.
And some buildings of Railton.
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And the cement factory which first opened in 1923 so coming up to 100 years operating.
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[RooFlyer]

Re the Sheffield murals, not sure if you mentioned MuralFest:

Home

START YOUR MURAL JOURNEY IN SHEFFIELD International Mural Fest is both a mural art competition and festival held annually at Easter in Sheffield, Tasmania's 'Town of Murals'. The first of its kind in the world, the competition is held in Mural Park, a purpose-built

muralfest.com.au

And the cement factory which first opened in 1923 so coming up to 100 years operating.

... and uses good 'ol Tassie coal (from the east coast)

 

[drron]

I didn't mention MuralFest this time as i have reported on it previously.Indeed on one occasion I actually went there.It was like watching paint dry.

And the coal train from Fingal is one of the few Tassie trains that you can see during the day.It leaves Fingal Monday to Thursday at 1030 passing through Western junction just south of Launceston and late afternoon into Railton.

Where can I see a train?

 

[drron]

Back to the TR.Sunday was a nice pleasant day here in Latrobe so my plan was to first visit Devil's Gullet a lookout on the Central Plateau.Then on to do a part of the Rinadena Falls walk.The first part is along a road and then uphill alongside the Little Fisher river.The description is of delightful cascades and picturesque forest.The last part is steeper,rough and overgrown so I didn't intend to walk that section.

So again out through Sheffield and out towards Mt.Roland then turn onto C137 to Mole creek.You go through Paradise.From the hill overlooking Paradise good views of Mt.Roland.
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The drive is up and over the Gog range and through the Gog State forest.A pleasant though twisty drive.Then you turn right onto B12 before you get to Mole Creek.The road becomes C138 and called Mersey Forest road through the Mersey State forest.The road bifurcates and the continuation of Mersey forest road becomes C171.shortly afterwards a sign to Devils Gullet.

So 14Km of a good gravel road.
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Now the weather has been steadily deteriorating with more cloud and dropping temperature.When you reach the plateau the landscape changes.
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[drron]

When I reached the car park the car was telling me the temperature was 2C.When I stepped outside the wind was relentless.the real feel temperature was well and truly below zero.But off on the walk I go.A couple arrived just after me.
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And the lookout.
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Fortunately there were signs telling me what I might have seen.
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[drron]

The reality though was different.
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So I took a close up of Cradle Mountain or where it should have been.
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[drron]

The rocks surrounding the lookout are interesting.
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[drron]

Now one of the tourist guides has this in their description of Devil's Gullet.

"This is a simply awesome experience on a windy day, when the dolerite cliffs channel south westerly winds up into the gullet."

No this statement is simply wrong.And by now there was light rain with a few snowflakes mixed in.It was time to head back.
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As I headed back I passed 15 people heading out to the lookout.The car park was overflowing.
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And in the first 2Km going down another 6 cars were headed up.
Now there is another attraction a few Km past the lookout - Parson's Falls.But the climb down to the pool and the best view is described as difficult.Another adventure I have no intention of doing.Fortunately there was a picture at the viewing platform.
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Also off the Central Plateau on a fine day.
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[drron]

I decided that today was not the day to do more walking so headed back to Mole Creek to have lunch.First through the Mersey State forest.
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Then on B12.
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