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

[drron]

So this Sunday I am off to Tassie again.This time it is for 8 weeks.And at the Mersey hospital in Latrobe just outside Devonport.
Things have changed a fair bit since my last trip down at the beginning of April.First change was that my Tassie Pass took 4 days to come through rather than 1 hour.

Second I don't need to self isolate for 14 days but need to have my temperature taken on arrival and answer a covid questionnaire.
Also mrsdrron could get an exemption to accompany me but would have to self isolate at the accommodation plus would have to stay all the time I am there.It is too cold for that.
but there is a definite hint of a thawing of DPRT's hard border.

But the forces of the DPRT have got wind of my arrival.The current Opposition Leader was personally campaigning against my arrival yesterday.

'We can't continue to rely on locums': Labor

Has COVID exposed the flaws in the Tasmanian health system?

www.theadvocate.com.au

Of course they are finding it hard to source locums at the present.They won't take anyone from Victoria or NSW.WA won't let any of their folks back in without quarantine so in practical terms it is only us Queenslanders that can help.Though if you live in Brisbane,Ipswich or the Gold Coast they won't grant you a quarantine exemption.They all know in northern Tasmania that I love the place so my agent was rung to see if I could do this stint.

I am not allowed to transit SYD or MEL but OK to fly grom BNE as long as I go straight there and make no other stops in Brisbane.So no long lunch with mrsdrron in brisbane before I fly out.Fortunately there is a direct BNE-LST flight on Sunday.It is JQ though.There are no DPO flights on the QF website.BWT is out as Rex fly there from MEL.And only now on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Monday's lunch may well be a scallop pie.Probably from Oliver's bakery in Latrobe.

 

[TheRealTMA]

So this Sunday I am off to Tassie again.This time it is for 8 weeks.And at the Mersey hospital in Latrobe just outside Devonport.
Things have changed a fair bit since my last trip down at the beginning of April.First change was that my Tassie Pass took 4 days to come through rather than 1 hour.

Second I don't need to self isolate for 14 days but need to have my temperature taken on arrival and answer a covid questionnaire.
Also mrsdrron could get an exemption to accompany me but would have to self isolate at the accommodation plus would have to stay all the time I am there.It is too cold for that.
but there is a definite hint of a thawing of DPRT's hard border.

But the forces of the DPRT have got wind of my arrival.The current Opposition Leader was personally campaigning against my arrival yesterday.

'We can't continue to rely on locums': Labor

Has COVID exposed the flaws in the Tasmanian health system?

www.theadvocate.com.au

Of course they are finding it hard to source locums at the present.They won't take anyone from Victoria or NSW.WA won't let any of their folks back in without quarantine so in practical terms it is only us Queenslanders that can help.Though if you live in Brisbane,Ipswich or the Gold Coast they won't grant you a quarantine exemption.They all know in northern Tasmania that I love the place so my agent was rung to see if I could do this stint.

I am not allowed to transit SYD or MEL but OK to fly grom BNE as long as I go straight there and make no other stops in Brisbane.So no long lunch with mrsdrron in brisbane before I fly out.Fortunately there is a direct BNE-LST flight on Sunday.It is JQ though.There are no DPO flights on the QF website.BWT is out as Rex fly there from MEL.And only now on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Monday's lunch may well be a scallop pie.Probably from Oliver's bakery in Latrobe.

Well done. BOL on JQ.

I guess some will do anything to escape the VFL final at the Gabba.

Are we permitted to submit Corvid questions so that they don’t raise your temperature?

 

[drron]

Well done. BOL on JQ.

I guess some will do anything to escape the VFL final at the Gabba.

Are we permitted to submit Corvid questions so that they don’t raise your temperature?

Only after Sunday.

 

[drron]

I do like Tassie in the spring except that it is often a bit cold.I was there last spring in Launceston and it was the coldest spring i have had there.Not helped that virtually the only weekends with good weather came on weekends when I was working.
So i will show you some of the things I like about Tassie spring and what some of you may be able to experience in 2021.

First you can go ballooning in Launceston.
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And the spring flowers are wonderful.
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[drron]

In spring it is also time for the Deloraine based Tasmanian craft Fair.It used to beevery 2 years but it has grown and is now on every year.However it has also outgrown some of it's charm and has become much more commercial.

Australia's largest working craft event | Oct 31 - Nov 2, 2025

Held annually in Deloraine, Northern Tasmania, talented artists and craftspeople exhibit and demonstrate their work as part of the Tasmanian Craft Fair.

www.tascraftfair.com.au

But mrsdrron was with me last year so off we went.On and off showers all day.She has decided she doesn't need to go again.
I took these for denali.later found out that this exhibit won the exhibitor of the year award.
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We also visited another place nearby which I believe Mr.Denali likes.you may recognise their contented cows.Amaze'd.
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[drron]

This artist impressed us.Fire and cardboard.Who would think.
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They do have a great selection of very good Tassie street food there.
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We went Japanese style.Yummy.

 

[drron]

When mrsdrron is there we indulge in some good food.When I first started in Tassie our favourite restaurant in the north was Stillwater in Launceston.It still is reasonable but they went all out for the Chinese market so much more spicy food and the service wasn't as good IOHO.
So we moved on to Novarros.A good Italian restaurant.However it was sold to new owners before last year's stint in lonnie.Same menu but just lacking a little.We always started with the scallops which really are good.
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On this occasion mrsdrron had the fish and i the lamb.
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so now we have moved on and our favourite is now geronimo's.Not everybodies cup of tea as shared plates.but the food is very good.
The scallops and the beetroot gnocchi are hard to go past for the small plates.
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and sweets are pretty good too.
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[drron]

But our favourite for a simple and quick meal is Kosaten.i often pop down for lunch as it is very close to the LGH.A sushi train type place.
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The oysters and the miso marinated eggplant are particular favourites.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'll come up at some stage and we can pig out on some scallops (but not take-away pies ...) Maybe @Steady and others would like to come too. Perhaps the first AFF event since COVID?

Edit: I'll have a new car by then and I can do a drron+mrsdrron or @JohnM and do a new car 'journey' - but tailored to Tasmania .. just the one day / 500 km ... .

 

[Major]

Don't forget the Tamar Valley to check out the latest wines

 

[drron]

Another thing I like to do in spring in Tasmania is looking for terrestial orchids.Last year it was in the Tom gibson reserve south of Launceston just off the Midland highway at Epping Forest.It was early in the season so lots of diuris-donkey orchids.
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Usually some noisy coughatoos who come to investigate the intruder.
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Another orchid about to flower but virtually all diuris at this stage.
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This trip it will be the Henry somerset Orchid reserve on the Latrobe-Railton road.Always something there.

Henry Somerset Orchid Reserve

Australia's only orchid reserve, this site is renowned for the diversity of native terrestrial orchids. Some of the orchids are listed as rare and endangered species. Some are not only endemic to the state of Tasmania, but to the local area.Take Railton Rd (B13) about 5 minutes' drive south from...

www.australias.guide

 

[drron]

When in Launceston we will at least once drive down the Tamar to Beauty Point and have lunch at the pub.Run by 3 women.the service is always with a smile,the seafood is fresh and good views.
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We often save some chips and have fun with the seagulls.
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[drron]

One Sunday I just had to get out.Was again cold,overcast and a few showers on the walk making it slippery in a couple of places.however the clouds would part at just the right time when overlooking the valley at Cash's Gorge and Ralph falls.

https://parks.tas.gov.au/things-to-do/60-great-short-walks/ralphs-falls

I drove there via Scottsdale.
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Scenery driving up Mt.Victoria.
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Some flora at the car park for the walk.
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Boggy in places so a boardwalk.
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[drron]

A Tasmanian native.
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[drron]

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nearing Cash's Gorge and an orchid.
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[drron]

Looking for orchids you do have to be observant.These are the leaves of an orchid.
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These fellows are often found near little streams.before too long a flowering plant.
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[drron]

Now on the spur track to Ralph Falls.Plus the road you drive up to get here.
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[drron]

Nearly there.
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[drron]

And back to the car park.
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[VPS]

Well done. BOL on JQ.

I guess some will do anything to escape the VFL final at the Gabba.

Are we permitted to submit Corvid questions so that they don’t raise your temperature?

My bolding - what have crows or ravens got to do with this