Road Trip

With a long week end coming up, we were faced with another 3 days of working on number 3.  As much as we have enjoyed this year, spending weekends working on the bus and trying to get it finished, we really needed a break from it all to recharge our batteries, so we decided to take a road trip.  It had been a year exactly since we had gone away, so we were long overdue for a few days away.  Where will we go, what will we do?  We had in the past, discussed going down to the Huon Valley.  In the 8 1/2  years we have live in Tasmania, we have never really gone any further south than Hobart, so I got on google and had a look.  Yes, there was plenty of accommodation options, and some of them were pet friendly too, however, we decided to leave Horatio behind.  It would restrict us too much if we brought him along, he is not the sort of dog to sit quietly in the car while we go exploring places.  As it turns out, it was a good decision because it got quiet hot, and we wouldn't have been able to leave him in the car anyway.  So we got up Saturday morning to what was promising to be a lovely day, and got ready.  With the car finally packed, we set off on the approximate 4 1/2 hour drive at about 9.30a.m., later than what we had planned, but thats normal for us.  We never stick to a schedule.

Of course, when I say 4 1/2 hour trip, I mean if you don't stop.  But whats the point of that.  We had THE TRAVELLING BEANIE AUSTRALIA  https://www.facebook.com/groups/235449026485461/with us, so that meant we had to have lots of stops to take photos.  (Well, it was a good excuse to stop anyway.)
First stop was Campbeltown http://www.campbelltowntasmania.com/attractions.html

Most people don't realise there is more than one convict built bridge in Tasmania.  Richmond Bridge seems to be the one most people know.  I guess thats because it is Australia's oldest bridge.  Personally I like the Ross one best, but they are all very similar, and they all have a lot of history.  Speaking of Ross, that was our next stop.  I love Ross,  in fact, I love all these old towns along the Midlands Highway. (Heritage Highway)  I love the old buildings and the stories you read on the plaques.

http://www.discovertasmania.com/launceston_tamar_and_north/towns_and_places/ross

 After spending a bit of time walking through the town, we decided that it was time to move on, so back in the car and on to our next destination which was Oatlands.  http://www.discovertasmania.com/hobart_and_surrounds/towns_and_places/oatlands
We stopped here, had lunch, took a walk around the town and took some more photos.

By this stage, it was getting late, so we decided to head straight for Southport.  It was still a couple of hours drive away, and we weren't too sure of the road down there.  It was a good road, and we got there in plenty of time, so we kept going.  We drove down to the beach, and had a lovely walk on the white sand, and watched kids playing in the water.  Then we headed back and checked into the Southport Hotel.

The caravan park at Southport Hotel

http://www.farsouthtasmania.com/

What a lovely place it turned out to be.  It was clean and the staff were very friendly.  We really enjoyed our night there.  

Sunday morning arrived and it was another beautiful day.  The sun was shining and we were keen to set of for what I like to call the end of the world Cockle Creek.  It's not really the end of the world but it is the end of the road, literally.  It is Australia's most southern road.  There is a walking track after that, but it doesn't go too much further.                                                                                                                               

The Ida Bay Railway

http://idabayrailway.com.au/

There is plenty of free camping at Cockle Creek.  There were plenty of people there when we were there.  There were even a couple of busses. Terry said he would feel comfortable taking our bus down there, and we have a 40 foot bus.  Pets are allowed in the camp grounds, but not in the National Park.

http://www.discovertasmania.com/hobart_and_surrounds/towns_and_places/cockle_creek

After spending some time at the very south of Australia, it was time to head north again.  Today we also planned on stopping in Richmond.  

The Oldest School in Australia

The oldest Church

ttp://www.richmondvillage.com.au/

The Oldest Bridge

Richmond is a historic town with plenty to offer tourists.  Its so easy to loose track of time here, and thats fine, because there are plenty of places to spend the night if you find yourself enchanted by its beauty.  Reluctantly, we left Richmond and headed further north heading east towards Swansea on the East Coast.  

http://www.discovertasmania.com/east_coast/towns_and_places/swans

We spent the night in a cabin at the Caravan park, listening to the waves and were woken by the birds singing in the huge trees in the park.  ( Not sure I liked that bit though, because it was only about 4.30 a.m.)    The view from the beach was lovely.  After breakfast it was time to head off again.  

Swansea

http://www.discovertasmania.com/east_coast/towns_and_places/bicheno

Bicheno

Bicheno

http://www.discovertasmania.com/east_coast/towns_and_places/st_helens

For the best fish, head to St Helens.  

It was soon time to turn west and head away from the coast.  Unfortunately time didn't allow us to go further north.  The road to Scottsdale from Bicheno is long and windy, but there is some lovely scenery along the way.  There are several towns along the way.  The area is dotted with farms, mostly cattle and sheep  It's a total contrast to the blue ocean and white sand we just left behind.

http://www.discovertasmania.com/launceston_tamar_and_north/towns_and_places/scottsdale

If you have time, its well worth stopping and having a look around.  We continued our journey, heading north west and stopping in Bridport for the night.  We strolled along the beach before finding a place to stay for the night.  

http://www.discovertasmania.com/launceston_tamar_and_north/towns_and_places/bridport

Bridport

Low Head

By Tuesday morning the weather had changed and it was raining.  We were also tired and were looking forward to heading home again.  We set off from Bridport, and made our way to Low Head for a look around.    It was cold and windy, so we we didn't stay long.  We headed across the Batman bridge and made our way to Beaconsfield.  

Batman Bridge

Beaconsfield Mine

http://www.australiaforeveryone.com.au/icons_batmanbr.htm

http://www.discovertasmania.com/au/product_page?a=42224

By now, it was early afternoon, so after a look around, we decided that we were ready to head home again.
We had a busy 4 days, travelling just over 1200 kilometers in mostly perfect weather.  At every turn, there was something new to see, and we could have stayed so much longer.  Now we are back home, we are more determined than ever to finish the bus, and start travelling.  It will be so much easier if we don;t have deadlines, and don't have to pay for accommodation, and we will be so much more comfortable in the same bed every night.  We have decided that Tasmania is definitely the place we want to be.  We are still looking forward to our travels around Australia, but are looking forward to coming home again and spending time touring Tasmania at leisure.

                                                 

WE HAVE A DOOR

Well finally, after 10 months of working on number 3 every spare moment we had, we finally have a room. Yes followers, we have a bathroom, WITH A DOOR.  Wow, I can't believe it.  It doesn't seem that long ago that we didn't even have walls, and now well, shall I say it again, we have a door.  Mind you, we can't use the bathroom yet, Terry had to take everything out of it so we could get the lamipanel in, and we still have one sheet to go behind the shower, and there is no plumbing yet, so it's not even really a proper bathroom is it, but it has a door, and you can go in there, and close it and have total privacy.  It's dark in there, because there are no windows, but the lights work again, after that minor disaster we had a few weeks ago.

Door open

Door closed

Yes, the electrician came back and fixed the wire, and now the seats are in place, all welded and bolted down as they should be (we hope).  It's just a matter of getting the seat belts now and that part of the challenge will be over.  Except for the drivers seat, that is.  I think that will be one of the last things we do.  Everything is ready to go there, though, it's just a matter of putting it in.

The vanity unit

The shower area

The bathroom is so white, we are thinking of adding a coloured piece of lamipanel in the shower area.  What do you think.  We have purple behind the kitchen sink, the walls as you will all remember are green.  Any suggestions on a colour.  The other three colours we are using are blue, purple and red.  As you may remember, we have based our colours around a mug.

Once the electrician came back and fixed the wire that Terry had drilled through, it was pretty easy to get the seats back up at the table and bolted in.  Someone was meant to come and have a look at the set up and advise us how to best bolt the seat belts in, but as usual, they never turned up.  Really, how hard is to to actually do your job.  I mean, this man does this for a living, and he can't even be bothered not only turning up, but calling to say he couldn't make it.  They get away with this, because they are the only ones who do it.  Anyway, we will sort that out as we get closer to registration.  Speaking of registration, we found out last week we have to take Number 3 to Burnie to go over the pits and get registered.  That will be fun.  Burnie is about 50 kilometres away and much busier than Devonport.  We have no trouble driving there, but it will be a different story taking a bus through there.  You see, Terry has never driven Number 3.  In fact, the only time he has driven anything as big as it was the day he got his medium rigid licence.  That day, he met the instructor somewhere, I can't even remember where actually, and the instructor got him to get behind the wheel of the truck, and Terry drove to Stanley then turned around and drove back.  Highway most of the way, and very little traffic.  I know, he is going to have to get used to driving in traffic, but it would be so much easier if we could have the bus registered here in Devonport, at least we know the roads and where we would have to go here.  Might have to borrow a bus driver friend for that first trip I think.

The lounge, dining and kitchen area
bedroom in the background

The photo frames are finished and they look really good.  I can't wait to see them up on the walls, but what I am looking froward to more, is to see them filled with photos of our trip.  I think I may need to get a few more frames, and put some on Terry's computer desk.  I think the colours will also  look great up against the white. 

Some of the frames I have painted.

We still haven't slept in Number 3, but Grezette (our cat) is still using it as her own private bedroom.  She still loves to curl up on our bed and enjoy the warmth from the sun.  Horatio still follows us in there, but he follows us out again when we leave, but then again, he follows us everywhere, so thats nothing new.