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We
arrived in Sydney in the morning and went to the seafood
market so we could relive one of our favorite memories from
2005, oysters on Ian's deck! Champagne, of course,
too.... |
Can
you imagine a better view? Looking out over the
Pacific Ocean/Tasman Sea from Ian's deck at sunrise.
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We
visited Oyster Bay National Park with friends from Adelaide
and Melbourne... |
...and
the cliffs, sand dunes and waves were wonderful.
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One
morning we got up early and took a long walk through the
park and got to see kangaroos, parrots, wallabies, emus and
a host of other flora and fauna.
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We
finished up back at Oyster Bay and walked back along the
dunes to our accommodations. |
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Our
first morning in Tasmania - visitors came calling (squawking
loudly, actually) at the railing.... |
We got
to see Russell Falls at Mt. Field National Park in the
sunlight, something we were not able to do during any of the
trips in 05/06! |
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Mary
Louise, Helen and Colin |
Horseshoe Falls above Russell Falls |
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We
then drove to the top of Mt. Field and hiked up to the Tarn
Shelf. |
Sunset
in Kingston with a cuppa. |
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During
our first week we drove up to Lake St. Clair for some hiking
(walking as they say in Oz) and found ourselves sharing the
highway.
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We
arrived shortly before noon, dropped our bags and headed out
on a trek up to Mt. Rufus. |
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We
walked through sclerophyll forest... |
...past pandanis higher than a man... |
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...up
above the forest to where the snow gums grow... |
...until we reached the top and could see land features far
away in all directions. |
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The
following day we hiked along Lake St. Clair on the Overland
Track, stopping to smell the leatherwood in full bloom at
every opportunity... |
...climbing over fallen giants.... |
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...sometimes on boardwalks.... |
...and
sometimes through the ferns. |
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Sometimes in the shadow of huge trees... |
...or
high peaks, walking through grasslands. It was a grand
walk, one of the best we've ever taken. When we get
back to Tasmania, we'll do the whole Overland Track.
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Our
second Saturday in Hobart after taking in the Salamanca
Market, we decided to take a walk down to Shipstern Bluff,
walking along part of the same path we'd walked a Saturday
fours years ago also after touring the market. |
That
trip we hiked to Cape Raoul, here seen across the water.
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When
we got down to the bluff, we found a petrified log... |
...and
tide pools... |
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We
relaxed... |
...and
took in the bluff. |
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During
our second week, we drove up to the NE and stayed at a small
B & B near Bridport. |
Typical crowded, Tasmanian beach.... |
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I
wasn't kidding! There are miles and miles of empty
beaches just like this.... |
We got
back to Hobart in time to see the fellows on the May
Queen... |
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...and
to go out with the Sailability crews for the evening race.
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We had
fun and didn't want to say goodbye, but we'll be back..... |
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The
vacation was over much too quickly... |
...
and we finished the last few thousand miles with a look at
the Rockies in full winter. |
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