Kayaking with Frank

Took colleague Frank for a paddle on the Mersey recently. My favourite spot to go, and only a minute from where Ree lives. We paddled to the cormerand rock below the Bluff, past the Lighthouse, and back again past the Port side marker.  We paddled over the shipwreck which was completely covered by the tide. I went back the next day and took some photos.
I saw what looked like a plastic bag floating in the river and decided to pick it up. It turned out to be a floating rock! We also had a huge seagull dive 10m. in front of me into the water and come out with a fish. The fish darted out of its beak, somersaulted and landed back inside as the bird flew off. My camera was on my lap...

The shipwreck in the river is the G. Ward Cole, an iron twin-screw steam dredge, 431/196 tons. Built in Renfrew, Scotland, 1889 and registered in Melbourne in 1890. Lbd 146.5 x 32.2 x 11.3 ft. Whilst under the command of captain F. M. Calvert it parted from her cables in a heavy squall and grounded on the Mersey River breakwater on 29 October 1930. Damaged beyond economical repair, dismantled and abandoned.

Riding around the traps

Dean Saffron came to take photos of me for a CF project. Here he is at the Devonport Light house, a small side-trip from the cycle-path to the Don and back. Even though the 10 kilometer ride is very gentle, Dean felt it was enough!

Ride around the block

ANZAC day 2011 was a good day to cruise on the bikes. We rode to Deloraine for lunch, and returned via Mole Creek pub and the very windy Gog Range. Great relaxing day... Oh yes, and lest we forget.

Five Finger Feet!

Wanna try something completely different? These Vibram five finger shoes fit like a glove! You walk different on them, a much more natural 'the way God intended us' to walk and run. No interference of high tech soles to make us land on heels and roll on toes etc.. The end result is sore calves for the first few weeks. No more running injuries though.

Here is me pictured at my mother's local haunt in Canberra...

Squirm for me!

OK, ok ok guys, tell me I'm a fascist prick... But I did have fun! We all dressed up for Laser Skirmish and went bush. All was OK as we had daylight, wearing my prescription sunnies, but when the light went down and the glasses came off I couldn't tell the friendlies from the enemies. I killed one of my mates THREE times. To kill you need to get 5 shots into them.

Anyways, that got the aggression out of my system, back to my normal sensitive new-age guy life again, rekindle my feminine side again. [Slides HERE!].

Exemplary Behaviour

My favourite walk up Quamby Bluff!

Mouse was on exemplary behaviour, sticking to us like glue. Loving it all the way. Ree bravely fought the terrain until we got to the scree field where she hoisted her white flag. Low and behold we were standing on top of a geocache (Where Trees meet Rock). Both Mouse and Ree paid the price the next day.

Love this place!

Hamburglar in the NorthWest

Love it when someone with loads of energy comes along to visit. Young Hamburglar made the trip from Hobart and joined me on a ride, a hike, a run and a paddle on the Mersey. We had loads of fun. Gotta love Mount Roland as it is the most impressive and most commonly noted mountain in the NorthWest. Cycling part of the Tasmania Trail is just about a staple diet for anyone interested in riding a bicycle,.... just look at the pics above.

Fishing in the Mersey

Mate Richard came over from Canberra. Booked into the Gateway Hotel, hired a 4WD and had his mind set on fishing all week. Of course I tried to join him as much as possible. With the full moon we had very extreme tides, which meant fishing from the oyster covered shores along River Road.

Back to Strahan

Mate David came from Canberra to visit me. He had 4 weeks of boredom whilst letting his shoulder recover from surgery and needed entertainment to help see him through another 2 weeks of recovery. Took him to Burnie Hash in Port Sorell and Strahan on the West Coast of Tasmania.


Despite it just about being summer we had plenty of snow on the way home as we drove along the Cradle Link road.


I am the good looking dude, and the other one is David OK. All the photos are [here].

Kelly Basin

Last weekend friends from Hash drove out to Queenstown on the West Coast for a couple of nights. We walked to Pillinger, 6kms along an abandoned tram way following Bird River which was covered in mud and trees. It is one of the 60 Great Short Walks in Tasmania. Thanks to the trees and mud, it was a bigger effort than we remembered from past times. Great walk if ever you are in the Queenstown region.

Ulverstone bikepath

Eventually there will be a bicycle path connecting Port Sorrell and Devonport, Forth, Turners Beach and Ulverstone, and perhaps go to Penguin and Burnie as well! The Greens certainly have a great plan for a bikepath all the way to Smithton! At least we just officially opened the bit between Turners Beach and Ulverstone!

Cindy and I rode to Ulverstone for coffee and returned via the new cycleway, ending at the celebrations in Turners Beach. Lots of politicians blowing their horn, and so they should! Also met people from the North West Recreational Cycle group. They are not as initimidating as I had feared. Should ride with them one day!

Out and About with HOFT

Hashing Old Farts Trekking (HOFT) is part of the Hash House Harriers whenever anyone feels inclined to go for a mini adventure on a sunday. This time we went out along Little Fisher River, East of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, a couple of hours drive from Devonport. We walked up to the Rinadeena Falls (above).



Pleasant hike, not too far, easy walking. Nice day out! Photos -here-

Hashing in Port Moresby

OK, OK, It is not exactly in the NW of Tasmania, but Hashing is what I do at home in Turners Beach. Right now I am in PNG visiting my old mateAndrew I convinced him to go on a Hash. Sure enough by chance the run started in the hotel right next door to work!!

Words would't do it justice, so just watch the slides...

For the full sized slides click <here>

Back in the Press!

The Advocate 7 April 2010, page 2!

An eye for a spider

Even in Canberra we find cool spiders! This one just outside the Cork Plantation... or what will soon be the National Arboretum in Canberra!

And on top of Black Mountain... See how happy Lauren is to be on top of Telstra's phalic? The tower is now named Black Mountain Tower, as Telstra Tower was keeping the tourists away because of the sour taste people have about Telstra. Like my T3 shares from them...

Turners Beach Run

I figured out a really nice routine run from home. Just nice to have a low tide or else you run 2-3 kms on rocks!

Beach Worms

Circuit is about 5kms and includes a nice bit of beach, bit of road, along a river, and along the Berry patch.

Ride to Burnie

Sometimes it is just nice to relax, take a (motorbike) ride to Burnie on the motorbike, have some fish 'n chips and a Coopers Stout, take in the view and cruise home.

Steps in Penguin

Riding along the old coastal highway to Penguin you come to a set of stairs that takes you to our HHH friend 'Bastard'. Riding there is generally OK, except for the steps up to his house... His house is pretty much opposite them.

Good cross training...

Sunday ride...

Now that I have a motorbike I can join fellow Hashers on the occasional bike ride. You can see we ride modestly, as you can see by clicking on the details of the below map - giving you speed and altitude for a scenic portion of our ride. Great riding in Tassie!

Quamby Bluff - Jan 2010

Always love this walk. Plenty of variety to keep us entertained and a good little challenge too...