Flat Tyre

Great start to the day..... NOT !
5:25am get on bike to go to work... Feels low...

Rear tyre flat as a tack... Look for puncture to repair... Can't see a thing.

OK pull rear wheel off to take to town.. Bloody bolts too tight

Thank heavens for BMW Assist

Truck is at Snug..... Looks like another coffee while I wait..

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Location:Lewisham Scenic Dr,Lewisham,Australia

Easter 2006 Trip

Port Arthur Part 2

Mainland Trip Nov - Dec 2005 9 Days 3500Klm

Panoramas to start with


Apollo Bay - VIC


A rather different view of the 12 Apostles


What it is supposed to look like



The Blue Lake - Mt Gambier SA
(Yes Gail this is the colour it is supposed to be...)


View from Tower Hill - Mt Gambier SA


Coastline SA

So the trip begins

All the bikes loaded and tied down... not too sure about this character
or the bloody BIG roller thing behind him (I hope they tied that down well)

Weekend 5 - 6 Nov 2005

Weekend started with a quick little ride to Launie and back !! to look at some new bikes....


The New R1200RT - Very Nice Starting at $30,000 Base Model

The K1200GT Hmmm.



R1150RT - Model before the R1200RT -- Nice

Decisions... Decisions... Wich one to Buy.... Hmmm *One Ponders*
I think Price will come into it... Just a little.

Sunday Ride was to Port Arthur.


Eagle Hawk Neck


Good Value
Day Pass (lasts for 2 days) $24.00
for an extra $6.00
You can get yourself a "Ticket of Leave"
Valid for 2 Years. Entry as many times as you like also includes Cruises and Guided Tours.

The Port Arthur penal settlement began life as a small timber station in 1830. Originally designed as a replacement for the recently closed timber camp at Birches Bay, Port Arthur quickly grew in importance within the penal system of the colonies.
The initial decade of settlement saw a penal station hacked from the bush, and the first manufactories - such as ship building, shoemaking, smithing, timber and brick making - established. The 1840s witnessed a consolidation of the industrial and penal nature of the settlement as the convict population reached over 1100. In 1842 a huge flour mill and granary (later the penitentiary) was begun, as well as the construction of a hospital. 1848 saw the first stone laid for the Separate Prison, the completion of which brought about a shift in punishment philosophy from physical to mental subjugation. Port Arthur also expanded geographically as the convicts pushed further into the encircling hills to extract the valuable timber.) was begun, as well as the construction of a hospital. 1848 saw the first stone laid for the Separate Prison, the completion of which brought about a shift in punishment philosophy from physical to mental subjugation. Port Arthur also expanded geographically as the convicts pushed further into the encircling hills to extract the valuable timber.

Panorama from the hill.


penitentiary


Inside the penitentiary


From the penitentiary looking towards the Isle of the Dead

Saltwater River - Sunday Ride

Saltwater River Fascinating penal colony ruin
- as interesting as Port Arthur 'Westward from Eaglehawk Neck and Woody Island lay the dreaded Coal Mines. Sixty of the 'marked men' were stationed here under a strong guard.
At the Coal Mines was the northernmost of those ingenious series of semaphores which rendered escape almost impossible', such was Marcus Clarke's description of the penal settlement at Saltwater River in his famous book For the Term of his Natural Life.

Located 106 km south east of Hobart and 23 km from Port Arthur, there is little doubt that Saltwater River is the hidden treasure of the Tasman Peninsula. It is certainly as interesting as Port Arthur and given that it is common to visit the ruins and be on your own for hours (something which never occurs at Port Arthur) it has a sense of desolation and isolation which makes the experience powerful and poignant.

Two penal outstations were established at Saltwater River. The first, which was a rather pleasant option, was an agricultural farm supplying food for Port Arthur and other outstations on the Peninsula. The second, the coal mine, was widely regarded as 'hell on earth'.














Not a lot of room at all !!!

A Dismal Swamp Ride...

Well Typical Show Weekend... Rain.. Rain... Rain....
So Logic tells me... (I know you don't need to say anything !!!)
If I'm going to get wet better get wet someplace interesting....

Left Hobart Friday arvo - Stopped in Launie at a mates place
(thanks FatGuts and Lizzy)
Departed Sat about 11am
Typical Northern weather - looking North from Launie

Two and ahalf hours later - Arrive Dismal Swamp
35K's West of Smithton.

Dismal Swamp is a 400 Acre Sink Hole (a bit like Launceston...)
Largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Largest Stand of Blackwood trees in the WORLD.

The Visitor Centre and the Start to "THE SLIDE"


The Start of the SLIDE.....
It drops 40 meters to the the floor of the sink hole....


Does not look too steep..... Ha Ha Ha....


Not until now and the Corner of DEATH... Holy Crap.....
*Terrified look on Face*



One of the local's Houses, Little Crayfish..















Scattered around are exhibits from artists...




















Now this is why it's called the Dismal Swamp
As when it was discovered they slept in the trees (only Dry place)
They could not even get a fire started and in their journal they said
it was the MOST Dismal Swampy place ever they has seen.



What a BIG tree you have there....





One last shot of "THE SLIDE"


On the way back - a few stops on the way.

The NUT - Stanley



Rocky Cape Lighthouse