To Penguin

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Wed 20 Jan 2016 22:57
To Penguin on the North
Coast
![]() Overnight the bushfire smoke cleared
and we got up to a bright morning. The plan – to
drive up to Beauty Point to do touristy things, then on to Penguin to free camp
overnight.
![]() ![]() ![]() When we arrived here yesterday the
couple next door looked as if they were in an ordinary trailer tent, we assumed
they had a car parked the other side. We got up this morning to see them all
packed up and all their stuff fitted into two
trailers behind their motorbikes. IPhones loaded onto front racks, communication wires plugged in and off
they went. Deep respect..........
![]() ![]() ![]() Out on the West Tamar Highway we see
a sign to Grindelwald, said in a higher pitched
voice. We pass pretty little chalet houses and then
a windmill, said almost in a shrill voice. On we went
beside the docks, marinas and out into the country.
![]() Today we would fit in a stop at the
Tamar Lookout, Batman Bridge, Beaconsfield Memorial
Park, Beaconsfield Gold Mine, Platypus House, Seahorse World and a bimble to see
the nests of the little penguins at our campsite.
![]() ![]() Fun to see Exeter and Devonport on the
sign. We entered the cherry growing region of Latrobe and saw massive cherries used to advertise the fact.
![]() ![]() ![]() Exeter High
Street complete with Animal Hospital and a
Chainsaw shop.
![]() All Saints
Church Exeter.
![]() We took a side road after we had been
over Batman Bridge and back to get a picture from down the river, here we saw a
lighthouse.
![]() Next to the lighthouse was the Auld Kirk, Sidmouth. The auld kirk is a well known historic
Presbyterian landmark in the Tamar Valley. Building was commenced early in 1843.
Built in freestone by convict and free labour.
![]() We could be at our River Tamar in Devon,England.
![]() Next significant reminder of home was
as we approached Devonport.
![]() As we crossed the river we could see
the Spirit of
Tasmania docked, she is the ferry service to the mainland.
![]() Back on the main road we saw our first sign to Penguin.
![]() Soon we were crossing the goods rail
line and there we were at our camp.
![]() ![]() The view from Mabel, tide out, time for a game or two before the penguins come
home. No sooner than the engine was off various campers came over for a chat and
told us where to look for the penguins and to use a torch with a yellow
tee-shirt over it.
![]() Mabel
parked happily in the bushes.
![]() ![]() ![]() Bear did some seagull whispering, I made some carbonara and the tide came in. Beyond the bushes our
neighbours, a potential ‘one careful owner’, with owners – if we ever
have a people category.
![]() ![]() Before dusk the bushfire smoke came
over us thick and fast giving everything a grey pink
tinge. Very soon we smelt like we had been tending a bonfire but off we
went to explore.
![]() This fine looking
beast parked away to our left was so comfortable to its users that they
bought it in England and had it shipped over.
![]() We learned more about the geology of the area.
![]() ![]() Hall Point, our camp is an important area, when we awoke the following morning
we found the rules and regulations under our windscreen wiper as the warden had
paid a visit to strictly uphold the forty eight hour rule. Next to the Hall
Point sign was a bird information board.
![]() ![]() Things became
pinker as we walked left from Mabel, turned right
down a little track to get to the Point.
![]() ![]() Some fairy
penguins, now known as little penguins come ashore in front of Mabel, many more
come in here and build their nests beyond the rocks and through the track that we had just
walked. A local told us to “simply look for the white
paint.”
![]() ![]() Tell-tale white paint, also known as poop and a
‘des res’.
![]() ![]() We still had an hour before dark so I
had time to engage in a bit of wave
watching.
![]() We bimbled back to Mabel and took a
cappuccino to watch events. Loads of people arrived from various camps and
motels. A lady appeared with a million candela torch with just the vaguest
yellow tinge that did nothing to blunt the floodlight effect or dazzle, we lost
our night vision and clambered into bed. It was my wish to hear the little
troopers not so much as see them. At three in the morning I woke Bear, I had
been muffling my giggles quite successfully but a full blown laugh escaped. One
of our little friends disturbed another – under or very near Mabel, the kafuffle
it set off was so comical. We both sat up laughing. The argument went on and by
the time they settled it was nearly half four and time for all the chaps to back
out to sea. What fun.
ALL IN ALL A VERY BUSY DAY
AND A FUN SKIP THROUGH THE COUNTIES
A GOOD JOURNEY IN CLEARER
SKIES |