Tasmania 2023 – Week 2 Kermandie to Richmond
Day 13
As we set out this morning, the sun is out but there is light rain – not readily visible at first but there nonetheless. We head into Huonville, where we are to do the jet boat, and partake of breakfast at DS Coffee House. Well, what can I say. This place rocks. The coffee is fabulous, the team gorgeous and the food scrumptious. We while away a little time waiting for the jet boat and considering what we will need to do today as the car battery is having a hissy fit.
The jet boat is a really cool experience. I got to jet boat in NZ at Taupo some years ago – that was superb. This was pretty good – I don’t know whether my memories have enhanced themselves as to the experience. The boat can go over such a small depth of water. We are met with some rain as we set out and I can tell you, there is nothing like what feels like an icicle facial to start your day. The rain disappeared after a bit and the tranquillity, until we tore it up with the rather large engine on this dinky boat, was something else. The river, where we started out, was tidal. We went up about 8 rapids, climbing a little bit from our starting point. The 360 turns are a lot of fun if you just let go and hang on if that makes sense. Don’t judge, just enjoy. The skill of knowing the river and the boat is something to behold.
Our trusty motor was having a bit of a hard time today and she seriously reminded us of this as we started off from Huonville towards Hobart. Our planned stops at the Shot Tower and Mt Nelson Signal were forgone in exchange for a visit to the Skoda dealer and Marshall batteries, where we hollered for a Marshall. The service from Steve, at Marshall was brilliant. The battery was so beleaguered that when we parked, facing down thankfully, on the hill just up from the shop, she needed a rolling start to get into the work bay. Poor battery was very tired. So, having installed a new one, we were back on the road and heading for a vineyard – Frogmore Creek which is also 42 Degrees South. What a lovely set up, Edith was a fabulous taster overseer and the food was sublime. It was a gorgeous spot to take a moment, look out over the vines, gaze at the observatory dish which is just down the road – it changed direction as we were having lunch.
Back in the car, we head about 500m down the road to Coal River Farm and have a look at all the beautiful chocolates and other goodies in their windows. We refrain from acquiring anything here. Next stop is Wicked Cheese – cheese and a gin tasting, lemon myrtle gin, very tasty. We had intended stopping in at Every Man And His Dog, loving the name, but the closed sign had us continuing on our path to Richmond.
Having checked in at the Richmond Arms, we moseyed through Richmond, a gorgeous historical town, and went through the Gaol – humans can be so cruel. The preservation and conservation work has been fantastic. It is worth the modest entry fee of $12 to go through. A little shopping was in order then a refreshing beverage or 2 at the Richmond Arms with a mighty fine dinner.
Whilst we didn’t cover a lot today, we still managed about 150km. Unfortunately, when the battery was disconnected, we lost some of the electronic recordings the car does i.e. the long-term travel which was already over 3,900km. Thankfully, my fungi spotter had another app running which will have that information and in the notes I use to compile these posts, I have some notes about the distance travelled between refuels.
The countryside changes again. It is quite different, dry country. The town of Richmond is quite old, about 1820’s. It will be having its 100 year celebrations at the end of 2023. It is a mark of Australian development that we have towns like this and buildings which have remained, exteriorly, relatively unchanged. I love the Georgian style. I think the sandstone has a charm and warmth. For this area, the convict connection is high and there was a lot of slave labour that went into building the ground works for this fabulous nation we have today. For now, I rest easy in our accommodation in the “convict” room which is the reworked stables – with creat floorboards. It is necessary to remember to pay attention as one gets out of bed due to the positioning of the bed and the pitch of the roof. There is a real charm about these stones, the heartache and the subsequent love and planning that went into the preservation of times gone by. Here’s cheers to the past, which enables me to enjoy today.
