Drron takes on the DPRT aka he's off to Tassie again.

[drron]

Where the track turns back to the arboretrum the bush is far from natural.
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A couple of possible crossings.
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And a cross between a pencil pine and a king billy pine.
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A banksia grove.
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[BCons]

My 5th week in Tassie was once again wet so my thoughts turned to food rather than exercise.I did sample a Crusty's scallop pie from Burnie and it wasn't bad.pastry a little thick and the sauce very mild but 8 nice sized scallops.
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Scallops were on special this week so 3 nights they featured for dinner.First honey,ginger and soy scallops.I let them marinate for an hour cooked in the sauce then removed from the pan and reduced the sauce until a nice sticky consistency.rather nice.Then scallops back in for a minute.
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Then I tried my own made up recipes.First some fresh red miso,some honey,garlic and sake with just a hint of chilli sauce.Nice.
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Next miso,honey,garlic,rice wine vinegar,small amount sweet soy sauce and a little more chilli sauce.my favourite.
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Of course I needed something to wash it down so some tassie pinot noirs.
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Good though not the best I have had.

Hmm, not happy with Spring Vale.. So how deep's your wallet ? Seek out some Sinapius pinot if you can find it, or Apsley tho thats rather burgundian, or even Tolpuddle. Problem is that we often select something a year older on the bottlo shelf thinking that will be better knitted together, when the younger 19 model is actually the more delicious - 19 Bay of Fires for eg. I hv an approx rule to drink them young or wait at least 3 years. Case in point tonight: 17 Jo Chromy pinot is drinking much better that 12 months ago

 

[drron]

I am trying the various Pinots in my time here.I bought the 2 vintages of Springvale just to compare.
My favourite Tassie pinot was a tip from @RooFlyer - Sailor Seeks Horse.Always buy a bottle if I see it.Usually that is in the Pinot shop in Launceston.

 

[drron]

In the 1800s a tramway ran through this property running to Melrose and later Upper Barrington.
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In the late 1890s the bridge over the Don River taking the line through this property was washed away.In 1916 BHP rebuilt the line on the other side of the river to Melrose where they had a series of limestone quarries.The limestone was shipped to Newcastle.They extended the line to Barrington in 1923 but closed that section in 1935.
BHP stopped shipping to Newcastle in 1947.The line finally closed in 1963.However the last part of the line still exists today as the Don river railway.

 

[drron]

Continuing along the way to the lake.
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The Don river runs through the property not far from the lake.
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I perfected my native hen call with this fellow.A little bemused when he couldn't find another native hen when he came out of the bushes.
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On the lake a family of black swans.
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[drron]

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[drron]

At the lake.
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Then I saw a platypus.It was headed straight for me.Unfortunately it came up obscured by grass.
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It then went out a little way and did a slow swim by.
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[drron]

One of the quarries on the property.
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A native hen with a lot more white than usual.
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More flowers.
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[drron]

The last of Saturday.
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The entry driveway lined by Dawn Redwoods.
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And a little out of Spreyton nice wisteria.
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[drron]

Sunday and again I decided not to go on my planned waterfall walks as the dirt track yesterday was still quite muddy.So I decided on another garden.This time the Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden.Some shots on the drive in from the main road.
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That is a lovely border of waratahs.
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When we have been before there has been a paddock with Highland Cows but sadly none seen this day.
Now the Garden.
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[drron]

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[drron]

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Possible future supplies for the tea rooms.
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One of the few magnolias still flowering.
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[drron]

They have extended the garden since our last visit and another section now being planted out.
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Great views over the farmlands.
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[drron]

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[drron]

I liked this conifer.
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[drron]

Overlooking the Chinese area.
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And from here you look over the Japanese section.
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[drron]

I do like wisteria.
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[drron]

I really like the Japanese section and spent some time here just contemplating.
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Nice reflections.
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[drron]

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[drron]

Continuing around the Japanese section.
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