Richmond to Snug (in and around Hobart)

April 24th
A little glitch when trying to pack up today.  Couldn't get the kitchen to slide back into the trailer.  After a closer investigation, shining a torch through a small gap, we spotted the problem.  A cordless drill.  Before Mike started pulling panels off the camper, I rang KK to find out the easiest way in and  sure enough we pulled out the offending drill.  It must have been rattling around in there and finally lodged in the wrong place.

Some Tradie has lost his tool

After researching the closest southern caravan park to Hobart we decided on a place called Snug and drove straight there to drop off the camper before heading back into Hobart. 

We walked around the foreshore of Hobart CBD and visited Salamanca Place for a few hours.  Mike finally bought some walking boots from Kathmandu but in the process we discovered Hobart parking inspectors are not so generous.  On the way back to Snug we went to the top of a Shot Tower.  Have read about shot towers usually in Physics texts, but never really knew what they were about.  Very interesting!  Molten lead is dropped from varying heights into water to get the right size shot to fill gun cartridges.  This was how they did it in the 1870s.  Very chilly tonight, 6 degrees!!

Shot Tower

 

Looking down the centre of the Tower from the top

Autumn colours from the top of the Shot Tower

April 25th
Slow day today.  Domestic duties and maintenance!!  Was feeling a little guilty that we had not found an Anzac Service to attend but didn't need to worry.  While doing the laundry the service began alongside us on the town oval and we took a moment or two to remember!  Once the jobs were done we drove to Margate (where the hell is Margate?  Between Sandfly and Snug of course).  Then found a great place called 'The Beach' for a coffee.  Have seen a lot of picnic tables lately but have been wearing far too many clothes to even consider doing a squat or a pushup, so we headed for the Sandy Bay 'Anytime Fitness'.  It is interesting checking out what other gyms have to offer.  Arrived back at the camper to find our neighbour's a little worried as it was getting windy and our canvas was starting to flap.  Mike optioned up with more ropes and tent pegs!!

April 26th
Headed along the Huon Trail today, through the Huon Valley.  Called in at a place called Grandvewe with all sorts of products made from Sheep milk, in particular cheese.  The young woman we spoke to was very passionate about her craft and it was really fascinating stuff.  Very pretty countryside with lots of orchards and trees with autumn colours.  Also lots of Salmon farming with Tassal and Huon Salmon processing plants. 

Salmon Ponds

We drove and looked and looked and drove some more.  Bought a bag of apples from a roadside stall (because you must) and ate a couple and finished the day by visiting the Apple Museum in Grove and drinking some apple juice.  Had dinner at the Oyster Bay Inn.  A really warm night tonight and very, very windy!!

April 27th
Up early this morning because we wanted to be on the 7.45 am car ferry to Bruny Island.  Amazing sunrise over the bay in front of our camp, but the wind was still blowing.  Not much sleep last night as we were too busy worrying about whether we were going to stay intact and more rope and tent pegs have been put to work!  Snug s hardly turning out to be SNUG!

Sunrise at Snug

Wasn't particularly impressed by Bruny Island (my impression may have been influenced by the horrible weather and the fact that a number of places were closed), however, the Boat Tour we went on was amazing.  The coastline is breath-taking and the guys skippering the boat and doing the commentary obviously love their job.  The weather made it all the more interesting.  These are the hugest seas I have ever been in and at the southern most point where the Tasman Sea and Great Southern Ocean meet, it was wild.  I took a lot of really hopeless photos because I could not keep my bottom on the seat but managed to get a few good ones also.

Mike in his red suit

Lots of horses!

Our sister boat

Sea cliffs

Sea cave blowing

Arch

We came through this gap with the ocean boiling around us

We were worried about the camper, as the weather had become progressively worse all day and rightly so.  When we got back the tropical roof was on the ground and a fiberglass rib had snapped, canvas was flapping all over the place and a zip had pulled.  Decided the best thing to do was take down all the extra canvas before we did more damage and just deal with the basics for the night.  As we did this the weather seemed to be getting even worse so we packed the whole lot up, (by this time in the dark), and went and booked a park cabin for the night.  We were feeling a little guilty until about 9 pm, when it started to bucket down rain.  The gale force winds did not ease either.  Good decision!!  On the news they said that the winds were 90 km/hr with gusts up to 130 km.  Mike had the canvas all over the floor of the cabin assessing the damage and doing repairs.