Rambling Around NW Tasmania.

[drron]

Setting off on Monday the sky was very grey.However it only started to rain as I got out of my car at the first stop.

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Fortunately it was only light rain and as soon as I was in the forest I was protected.This is a cool temperate rainforest of the callidendrous type.From the Greek,kalos-beautiful and dendron-tree.Tall trees with a park like understorey.

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A well formed pathway and just a beautiful walk.Once again a variety of fungi.

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And then down a few steps to the arch-

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[RooFlyer]

The view up to Cape Grim and Woolnorth.You can just make out the wind farm.

Cape Grim is of international significance. It is the site of one of one of the global 'sniffer stations' - the wind blowing off the southern ocean is relatively uncontaminated for thousands of miles, so its composition has been monitored for about 40 years as a baseline.

And of course with pure air comes pure water.

 

[drron]

So the arch comes into view as well as the sinkhole.

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So that is a wet sinkhole but adjacent to the path is a dry sinkhole.

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[drron]

Now the walk back to the car park.I really enjoyed this walk.

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So a recommended walk.Now just next to the reserve is a timber plantation.

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[drron]

I crossed over the Arthur River.

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A little further on another wet sinkhole beside the road.Lots of frog sounds.

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[OATEK]

Now the walk back to the car park.I really enjoyed this walk.

No snakes on this ramble? Reminds me of some tramping we did around the Gordon River as a kid.

 

[drron]

Definitely no snakes seen in the Tarkine.But they were probably watching me!
Next I crossed the Rapid River a tributary of the Arthur.

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A nice little picnic area there.

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There was a severe fire through the area in 2016 and a few places are still closed.Particularly Milkshake Hills and Wes Beckett Falls which are said to have nice walks.My next stop then was Dempster Plains lookout.Didn't have much success with lookouts.It rained at each one.

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The road in and out.In a downpour and a couple of minutes later after waiting for 3 cars to pass.

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No problems on this road apart from downed trees.But after about 500 metres on C218 I had to pull over to let a caravan pass.Coming back onto the bitumen it was obvious I had a flat tyre.Out of mobile range but a couple of older fellows stopped and helped.Fortunately the next couple of detours were on reasonable sealed roads.That next.

 

[drron]

Next stop was Lake Chisholm.Another really good and easy walk.Once again light rain but protected by the forest.Some absolutely magnificent trees.

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[drron]

You descend through the forest then this huge sinkhole appears-

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Evidence of past exploitation.

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[drron]

So on to another lookout.

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On cue the clouds came in and rain started.

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Next is the junction of C214 heading back to the coast and the continuation of C218 heading back to Smithton.C218 recrosses the Arthur River.

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I was going to go a little way down the road to the coast and the Balfour track.But with no spare tyre and the rain I decided to head home.
If you enjoy nature then this Tarkine drive is well worth it.
As I headed back to Burnie the further east I went the better the weather.Getting back to my office nature put on a show.

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[drron]

So that will be the last of longer walks for this trip.mrsdrron is with me this week so it will be food taking centre place.And I am on call all of Easter.May get some short walks in.
But mrsdrron arrived on friday and once again we had dinner at Camille in Devonport.This time the ordinary menu.A small selection but done beautifully.Mrsdrron began with the mussels.We have never seen mussels as large and they were beautiful.I had some really nice Tassie oysters.

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Mrsdrron then had the duckleg which she really enjoyed.

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And I had the chicken with cepes et frittes.

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Chicken juicy and tasty and the mushrooms great.

 

[drron]

Saturday and the Drrons and Steadys had dinner at El Perro in Penguin.

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Mrsdrron and I both started with the calamari.good but not the best we have had-

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I then had the pork belly on sweet potato mash.Again good but not outstanding.

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Mrsdrron had another small dish-garlic prawns and scallops.Once again good without being special.

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She then had the pannacotta which was ordinary.

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But my churros were excellent.

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[drron]

On sunday we thought we would go back to Latrobe having spent quite some time there.We went to the markets at the Axeman's Hall of Fame.This is undergoing a major change.There are now craft stalls open throughout the week rather than just a Sunday market.The restaurant is now a Thai restaurant which I believe was previously in Devonport.
At the market I did spy this which reminded me of Amaroo's Mexico.

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We then went to the cherry shed for lunch.This is under new owners from the times we were at Latrobe.Still popular with the locals but not quite as good as we remembered.I started with a very good mushroom soup.

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Mrsdrron had the calamari.Again good but not great.I forgot though to take pics until we had started.

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My burger though was enjoyable.

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[drron]

A few more pics of food with mrsdrron.First at our favourite Thai restaurant in Burnie-Thai Smile.We shared pepper and garlic prawns,honey and soy pork and chicken Pad Thai.All very nice.The vegetables were really good.

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Then a quick lunch at the Secret buddha's garden in a nursery very close to my office.Very popular with the locals but dishes are variable.Mrsdrron didn't enjoy her pumpkin and corn fritters but my pulled pork Texas sliders were very good.

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Last our final lunch back at Hellyers.I had the tasting plate-the pulled pork was average but the others were very good-hot smoked ocean trout,pumpkin frittata,mushroom bruchetta and risotto balls.Mrsdrron loved her warm chicken salad.

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[RooFlyer]

Yum. I see a road trip coming up.

Sorry about the weather Mrs.dr.ron, but we need the rain!