A Tasmanian Odyssey in Five Parts: Part 5

Part 5: The East Coast

We diverted off the main road to drive through the Wilangta  forest.  We stopped to do a short walk but unfortunately the sun was burning down making us hot and photographs difficult to take, as you can see by this photo.








However, I did like the wild foxgloves that we found...


... and, of course, I always like to capture a bird if possible.

On we drove until a sign informed us we had to take a detour. It was the best detour ever, as we had to drive along the coast, past farms, through light forest, until we came upon the delightful Spring Beach.

We drove through Orford and onwards to Triabunna where my friend Bunna Babe - BB - (aka Margaret) lives.

Here we met up with her husband Steve, and her Pharaoh dog Jill. It was a bit disconcerting having two Steves and two Jills in the one place and I visibly jumped when I heard the command 'Sit, Jill' until I realised it was aimed at Pharaoh dog Jill!

My Steve got acquainted with Pharoah dog Jill

I loved her Steve's chicken rolls.

We explored the town. BB showed us the new marina ...

... and the site of a recent archaeological dig and the Barracks (soon to be restored and offered as accommodation). 

We ventured north to Swansea and did the Waterloo Point walk where BB pointed out Schouten Island in the distance.

We then faced the camera for the first of inumerable photos of the two of us.

This sign related the sad tale of an 1850 shipwreck
 that saw six children from the one famiily drowned.
Perhaps we shouldn't be smiling.

The following day we drove north to the Devil's Corner Winery of which we had heard good reports. It was wonderful and we dined al fresco with the green rows of views sweeping before us and Freycinet National Park in the distance.

Closer to home we called in at the ruins of the Lisdillon saltworks at Little Swanport. You can just make them out on the far right of this photo, just above the line of grasses if you squint sufficiently.

The saltworks site is one of only two early salt manufacturing works in eastern Australia where substantial parts remain (the other one, so the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife site tells us, is on Norfolk Island). This one operated from the 1830s to 1841.

We needed a rest after all this exploring and photographing.

We left the next morning eager to move on but sad to leave.

We made three more stops at lovely historic villages:

Campbell Town where we gazed at the gorgeous  1838 convict-built bridge - known as the Red Bridge - and discovered a fantastic book store in the cellar of the 1833 Georgian coaching inn The Foxhunters Return.

An exuberant display of roses.

Longford had progressed from a sleepy village to a busy town but I managed to find a hidden house that reflected bygone days. (Well, Steve did - he had to rise onto his toes and peer over the hedge to get this shot.)

 And so to Evandale, our last stop.

More roses

Solomons Cottage built in 1838 as a bakery and general store.

So ended my pre-birthday holiday, a trip down memory lane for us as it had been 25 years since we had visited some of these places. Tasmania will always have a special place in my heart.