Port Arthur

Once again sunshine greeted us today as we got moving around 8:00am. Only 2-3hrs at most to Port Arthur so a relatively long day in the saddle in terms of comparing our recent history.

Our friend the Hema took us off the black top once again & through the Sandspit Forest Reserve which offered magnificent coastline views and mountainous lookouts over Marion Bay. As much of a pain as it is to let the tyres down these are the things we would miss from the road, so we appreciated it greatly.

The landscape continued to be deep green and no sheep looked underfed, nor did any cattle which I might add without knowing a thing about them, looked like quality breeds.....and we have seen many herds over the last 4.5 months.

Into Port Arthur and we made retreat at the only caravan park based on the need for washing and a camp kitchen given the clouds were threatening. After setting up the sun came through again & so we skid-addled downtown the Historic Site while we could.

This was a brilliant way to spend the afternoon. We really enjoyed it.

Zander couldn't understand why we had to look at all this old stuff, in fact said it was boring, but I am sure as he grows and learns of the history of the area, for various reasons, he will come back one day for a look.

Such a beautiful place. You could easily spend a day here if you wanted to see in and around absolutely everything. Extremely interesting and we wished the boys were a bit older and it was a bit warmer to extend their patience.

If you look at the picture of the front of the white Commandant's house which faces the water, you will see a window. On the roof there is a chimney directly above it, obviously this doesnt make sense, they don't mix....The window was just put there for aesthetic reasons only. An interesting fact we learnt, in the days of King William II there was window tax introduced. The more windows you had the more tax you paid. This is where the term "daylight robbery" came about. The Commandant just boarded up the window to avoid the tax but still was able to get the right look of the house. The house later turned into a hotel after the convict era when the township was renamed Carnarvon. One fact of thousands that you can find out about when you get here. Truly worth the $80 entry fee, which I thought was a bit steep when the butterflies flew out of my wallet at the time of exchanging the cash.
Sadly there is the memorial for the 35 that died at the hand of maniac with an automatic weapon. This is not the real reason to visit here, although it might be with what it unfortunately is most commonly associated. There is a memorial, no fanfare, and they have kept the skeleton of the cafe where 20 perished erected next to the water feature and cross. What a day that must have been & seeing the small township that this is, it must have been terrifying.

Back at camp we were treated to parrots basically eating out of our hands, bandicoots running around the trailer, and several wallaby type marsupials that I couldn't determine just sitting next to us while we watched them. Just great. The boys have compiled a list of animals they have seen on the journey that haven't resided in a zoo or enclosure, and let me tell you it is quite extensive.

We probably don't need another day here, although Nat & I could easily go back, so we will push on to Hobart.

Jase.