Dan Will Travel

STANLEY & THE NUT

Stanley is a historic town on a spit on the northwest coast of Tasmania. It is unique geologically due to an ancient volcanic plug that occupies the end of the 6 mile long spit. The “nut” as it is called. The town is built around the base and has the feeling of a quaint New England fishing village.

With the help of Lonely Planet I found a totally cool accommodation, the @VDL which was a converted wool storehouse built in 1843. Only 3 rooms, keys in an envelope taped to the main door. Inside, it was all modern furnishings, but looking at historical sketches, the exterior is essentially unchanged since it was built 172 years ago.

I did climb the nut, and then purchased the tee shirt commemorating that. Yes, only a 400’ elevation gain, but damn near straight up.

Now, it is on to one of my planned trip highlights, 3 days in Cradle mountain National Park.

OK, this was pathetic. Lonely Planet wrote this up as fun, so I stopped. Ranger Dan (I did work for the National park service!) failed. I could not find the center and took about 45 minutes wandering around. To the point that the staff was worried when I finally appeared. Taking pity on me, and adding further embarrassment, in 2 minutes they took me to the spot. I meekly departed tail well between my legs.

Well, what would you expect if your town was named Penguin? In further creative Australian naming, the penguin that inhabits the area is the smallest of all penguins, so they very creatively named it little penguin. It is nocturnal, so I never saw one. But I have this statue instead. All decked out for Xmas, too!

Totally cute, huh?

“The nut,” in Stanley. A very extinct volcanic plug.

Downtown Stanley

My boutique hotel, the @VDL.

My room.

View from the top of the nut down to my hotel and the harbor.

Cliffs of the nut.

I liked the contrast here.

These were the convict barracks at Highfield. Instead of slaves, in Australia the British used convicts for the labor needed. To this day, an active working ranch.

Highfield manor house. From 1835. Nicely preserved.

The nut from Highfield.

Australian Santa!

Posted: December 15, 2015 by admin

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TASMANIA FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Wow, what a change after the desert of Uluru and Alice Springs. I landed in Launceston in full daylight at 8:30 PM, temperatures just like an early June day in Seattle. (i.e. be sure to take your jacket when you go out!)

Like much of Australia, this town was well developed by 1840 and has somehow managed to keep many of the structures in good use. Like a time warp to see most of the town’s buildings pre-dating 1900, and many from before 1850. They have done so much better at preserving their historical structures than we have done.

Tasmania is small. Launceston is north central, but the east coast was an easy day trip followed the next day by my trip to Stanley on the far north western coast.

Although it is just another Australia state, its island status makes it seem a bit like its own country. They are justifiably proud of all that they produce, from food of all types to cheese to wine and beer, always with clear notation that it is from Tasmania.

An official highway speed limit sign, dripping blood. I love their directness. For instance, where one would purchase cigarettes, we would have “Warning, the surgeon general blah blah blah.” They just have a large sign right over the display “SMOKING KILLS.”

The East coast of Tasmania.

A very typical view in this area. So pastoral.

They have temperate rain forests as well. That giant fern/palm like thing is actually a heath of some sort.

I saw this approaching a small town. I thought it was graffiti on the rocks, but then came to find out it was a fish! Pretty good rendition, I thought.

Posted: December 12, 2015 by admin

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LAST DAY IN THE DESERT (And yes, a ‘roo sighting)

I spent my last few days in the desert in the famous town of Alice Springs. One day I was to visit the West MacDonald ranges out of town, but it literally poured rain! To the point it was hard to drive. In the desert! What was amazing to see, and I think it shows in some photos is how quickly the desert greens up when it does get rain.

A much greener than normal desert a few hours after the rain.

Many of you have commented about my lack of kangaroo sighting proof. I totally agree, and travel Dan decided to resolve this once and for all. So, I visited the Desert Park “zoo.” Hey, as I said, it was raining, so hiking was out of the question and the place gets great reviews. And, on the long drive into it, a bunch of wild kangaroos crossed in front of me. Again, they were gone before the camera could be positioned, but they were there, promise! (Sure do miss the elephants and giraffes of Africa. They were large and did not run right away.)

But anyway, below you will see a pathetic kangaroo shot. I guess the most interesting thing about this zoo is that the people can open the gates and go into the enclosure with the animals. And I did and they were just there, staring at me. I felt so brave…….

OK, finally a ‘roo shot. I am right in there with them. Don’t they look fearful?

The spiny lizard, the “Animal of the month at Desert Park.” Seriously. Just sort of like the “employee of the month” award I guess. Pretty cute, though, huh? It is about 7″ long.

There are also some shots of a nice hike I did the following day in the East ranges. On this day, we were back to blazing sun and nearly 100 degrees so even the relatively short hike was challenging again.

Now, for a total change in environment, I am off to Tasmania!