 SOME FOLKS THINK THE TASMANIA TIGER IS EXTINCT BUT WE SAW THIS ONE EYEING A CHICKEN UP.
 TASMANIA WOULD NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT ITS TASMANIAN DEVILS. THESE CREATURES ARE MAINLY SHY, BUT IF FRIGHTENED,CORNERED OR FIGHTING FOR FOOD, THEY CAN GIVE A VERY NASTY NIP. FOR THERE JAWS ARE PROBERLY THE STRONGEST IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, AND THINK NOTHING OF CRUSHING BONE AS IF IT WERE MADE OF PLASTIC.
Friday 27th.Febuary 2004 to Wednesday 17th March 2004
FERRY – MELBOURNE TO DAVENPORT.
DRIVE OUR MOTORHOME TO –
 WE DECIDED TO TRY SOME OFF ROADING EXPERIENCES,BUT WITH A WHEEL OFF THE GROUND & THE BACK HAVING A MIND OF ITS OWN WE NEEDED HELP.
 AS WE WERE A BIT TIED UP AND GOING NOWHERE, WE DECIDED TO HANG ABOUT A BIT.
 THANKS TO ALL THE LADS WITH THEIR FOUR WHEELS DRIVES & THE BIG WINCHING TOW TRUCK ,WHO PUT US BACK ON OUR TRAVELS WITHOUT DAMAGE, APART FROM THE DRIVERS PRIDE.
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS THAT WE WILL NOT FORGET.
 Marvellous where these big trucks can get, I don't think we will bother camping out there again especially how it rained during the night. I think the ENGLISH WEATHER followed us here.
LAKE BARRINGTON
 TASMANIA
Friday 27th. February 2004 sailed from Melbourne to Devonport a 10-hour crossing on THE SPIRIT OF TASMANIA FERRY.
 I HEAR A TRAIN A COMIN, YES ITS ME I'M STILL ON TRACK AND STILL FULL OF STEAM, SOMETIMES I GET CARRAGES AWAY FROM ANYWHERE.
 THIS IS ONLY ONE EXAMPLE OF THE MANY FIGURES SCATTERED ALL AROUND THE TOWN OF DELOAINE.
SHEFFIELD 1ST. MARCH 2004 Slept overnight we were awoken next morning by three cockatoo’s feeding outside the motor home. Walking around the village it soon became apparent we had stopped in the right location as murals depicting village life was painted on many buildings and the local map made sure none were missed.
Followed by a brisk walk along ALUM GORGE the views were breathtaking. Moving on to DELORAINE, cast figures on posts lined the street leading us to a full sized locomotive from a bygone past, which made us feel king-size as we took the controls.
LAUNCESTON 2ND. MARCH 2004
A brisk 10 min. leisurely walk according to Dennis, turned out to be a 3hour mountain track, which frightened the life out of us, but the views from the top were unbelievable. We decided to descend by a different route, which ended crossing a very shaky suspension bridge before returning to our mobile home.
BASS FOREST 3RD. MARCH 2004
We set off in the direction of SCOTSDALE but the very steep winding, mountain, road slowed our progress so by the time we reached SPRINGFIELD it was already dark, we decided to stop the night.
SPRINGFIELD 4TH. MARCH 2004
Waking next morning to beautiful sunshine, we were literally at the top of the would even though we are down under, for looking over the pine & gum trees far in the distance were numerous mountain ranges which looked like no man had ever disturbed.
DERBY 4TH. MARCH 2004
Home from home by name only, this quaint tin mining village had surprises in stall, with Tasmania’s oldest wooden bank, a number of miners shacks a clear river, and a amenity site with toilets, picnic benches & barbeque facilities we decided to stop the night.
 THIS IS ANOTHER PLACE THAT IS FREQUENLY VISITED.
 Next day THURSDAY 4TH.MARCH we visited COLUMBA FALLS
 On the way up we came across a double trailer which was helping to repair the dirt track road when he had trouble turning round taking a number of small trees with him.
 We then made our way to the BAY OF FIRES situated between EDDYSTONE POINT and BINALONG BAY named after Tobias Furneaux in 1773 because of the many Aboriginal fires seen across the coast. The area is rich in Aboriginal heritage, there are brilliant white beaches and emerald coloured waters,lagoons,wildflowers,fishing swimming and lichen covered granite rocks.
 AS THE TIDES COME IN THEY FORM PART OF AN ESTUARY WHICH EVENTUALY BECOMES A RIVER OF WILDLIFE AND A HAVEN FOR EXPLORERS LIKE US.
Saturday 6th. march 2004
We left the BAY OF FIRES and headed back into ST. HELENS where we refurbished our stocks, food, water, and petrol for the generater were loaded on board, before setting off to a proper campsite at SCRAMANDER, so that we could stop, and fully recharge our house batteries via a 240v service plug.
 TIME TO RELAX DECIDED TO STOP FOR THREE DAYS TO FULLY RECHARGE.
 DENNIS IN DEEP THOUGHT.
 BERYL IN DEEP CONCENTRATION Talking to family and friends over the computer.
 Stopped at BICHENO we were most impressed with the geyser that was produced every time the tide came in. Dennis wanted a closer look and ended up with wet legs.
 This ship must have got caught up with the geyser as it was thrown onto land.
STILL IT IS FACING BACK OUT TO SEA.
Monday 8th. March 2004 We then moved on to SWANSEA where we spent the night
 Tuesday 9th. March went fishing for either flathead, stonefish, or shark caught kelp a delicacy somewhere in a far off land, but here nothing more than a nuisance that tangles your line and bait into knots.
 Decided to move on we stopped at SORREL, 25km. from HOBART, where we cooked a rogan josh and chips on an outside electric barbeque, due to having no fish.Then we stopped the night.
 Wednesday 10th. March we moved on to the FORESTIER PENINSULA calling at EAGLE HAWK NECK which used to have rows of vicious guards dogs keeping the convicts confined to this small island.Later we visited TASMAN BLOWHOLE,TASMAN ARCH and TASMAN DEVILS KITCHEN all with their spectacular views.
THIS IS THE TASMAN ARCH
 The views out to sea are breathtaking as the rock faces seem ready to crumble at any time as the waves lash at the shoreline.
 THE DEVILS KITCHEN formed by years of erosion by the tides causing sheer drops down to the ocean, i'm glad there's safety barriers stopping any one going to near the edge,even so it is still hair-raising.
 All around TASMAN are hidden caves and what is known as blow holes where the land has eroded and left tunnels which surface further on away from the sea,when the tide comes in, the force of the water channels until rising high in the sky giving a spectacular performance.
 As there is more to offer on this part of TASMANIA we decided to set up camp and stop the night.
 This is a friendly KANGAROO, I asked him to pose for this photo and he kindly obliged.
 WHERE THESE PAIR ARE TRYING TO IGNOR ME AND PRETENDING I AM NOT THERE.
Today Thursday 11th. March we travelled down to PORT ARTHUR and met up with some of the animals above before moving back to SORREL where we set up camp again.
 Friday 12th. March we saw Australia's biggest gum tree at TAHUNE FORREST. It stands at 87 metres but in time it will shrink to 84 metres because it is already dying, however two other trees are fast becomming a competitor for this big fella.
 This is part of FOREST AIR WALK at TAHUNE which you walk well above the tree tops even so some of the trees still tower above.
 This tree trunk is only a baby compaired to some we came across. It makes you wonder how deep and how far the roots go.
Having got a leaky valve on the passenger wheel on the way back, we changed to the spare so the first job tomorrow, will be a local garage for a repair.
 Saturday 13th.March with a new inertube fitted & the spare refixed at GEEVESTON we set off for HOBART this capital of Tasmania has a fine outdoor market which takes place every Saturday we just happen to have planned it to be there.IF ANYONE WANT'S ACCOMODATION THERE'S A CHEAP PLACE I CANNOT RECOMMEND.
Sunday 14th.March having visited another market at GLENORCHY which is more like our car boot markets back home only bigger,took up the full day.
 Monday 15th. March visited TARRAREAH TURBO DAM the water flowed through the hills for miles in 8'-0 dia. pipes before feeding a turbo powerstation.
 MILES OF TREES HAVE BEEN REMOVED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE ELECTRICAL PYLONS.
 THESE ARE GHOST GUM TREES AND CAN DROP THEIR BRANCHES WITHOUT WARNING, IT IS ADVISED NOT TO CAMP UNDERNIETH THESE TYPE OF TREES.
 AFTER VAST LOGGING HAS TAKEN PLACE THIS LONELY SPECIMEN IS THE ONLY ONE LEFT STANDING.
 We then moved onto HOBART stopping a short while at GLENORCHY & finaly stayed overnight at QUEENSTOWN, where we did a bit of prospecting for gold.
 THIS SMALL TRAIN ON ITS TURNTABLE RUNS UP STEEP INCLINES WITH A RACK AND STEAM DRIVEN PINNION.
 Tuesday 16th. March wen't through STRAHAN,ZEEHAN, ROSEBERY, before settling down at WARATAH with a nice waterwheel, which formed a fast flowing stream leading onto a waterfall before feeding down a gorge.
 THESE ROCKS ARE NATUALY FORMED TO MAKE AN IMPRESSIVE SITE.
 Wednesday 17th.March after sunbathing at a pretty place named PENQUIN, we returned to DAVENPORT to catch THE SPIRIT OF TASMANIA FERRY, back to Melourne arriving at 07-00 0n Thursday 18th. MARCH 2004
TOTAL 1,785km. = 1,116 miles in 19days touring TASMANIA and enjoyed every moment.
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