Friday 2^nd March, 2012

We soon left Perth and followed the highway towards the south. We wanted to go to the sea. After passing big industrial facilities we came to Rockingham. A bit ahead of the town we stopped and enjoyed a walk along the sea. From there we could see a grain terminal where grain was pumped into big cargo vessels. In Rockingham we soon went to the tourist information to find out about accommodation possibilities. We got a list and the information that it might be a bit difficult as in Western Australia there is a long weekend due to Labour Day. First we walked to a nearby Motel and asked, but without success. We called different places, all booked out. But the first Bed&Breakfast we called had still some free accommodation. With the certainty of having a bed in Rockingham we went to the quay of the ferry to Penguin Island. Here we booked a tour for tomorrow. More I do not want to tell yet. As it was only early afternoon, we walked around Lake Richmond. It look a bit far, but after 40 minutes we were around. In the lake there were many pelicans, some were also flying. At the lake there were also thromolites. They are algae and bacteria which together grow to kind of rock (living rocks). At one point at the shore there were many information panels explaining the landscape and its formation. Also the animals living here were introduced. I realised that the snakes here can get up to two metres long. As we checked-in to the B&B we saw the same white parrots as yesterday. I was astonished that they also could raise their head feathers like cockatoos. We drove to Peron Point to watch the sunset. Unfortunately there were clouds hiding the sun, so we thought that there is no sunset, but just before it touched the sea, there was a hole in the clouds and so we still got to see a nice sunset.

Thursday 1^st March, 2012

I was walking for 30 minutes with my big backpack on my back and a smaller one in my front. The destination was the car hire company where I had hired a car. The fist thing I did was start up my navigation system to find a way out of the City. At the time I had no idea where I should go and so I drove in the direction of Armandale. Used to the green countryside in Tasmania I saw here only dryness and red soil. Till I arrived Amandal I found nowhere to stop. My fist thing in Amandale was shopping and after I drove to the tourist information. I asked what I could see here and the lady gave me some information. I droved to Churchman Brook Dam because the lady in the office had told me it would be nice there. I walked there and ate my lunch. After that I droved without a destination and at last I drove back to Armandale. I was walking in the garden and spent some time reading. I also looked at the ducks in the pond, the ibises and the white and pink parrots. There were many parrots in the garden and it was funny to observe them playing together. At 5.30 p.m. I started to drive because at 11.00 p.m. Konrad was arriving here and we were staying close to the airport. I had to get used to early sunsets in the west. In exchange I could look at the stars.

Friday 24^th February, 2012

Punctually at um 8:30am I entered the time machine which brought me to the year 1830. Tasmania was still called Van Diemen's Land and in Port Arthur logger camps were build where convicts had to work. Starting 1833 repeat offenders from all Australia were moved here. At 1840 more than 2000 convicts, soldiers and civil employees lived in Port Arthur. After the transport of convicts to Van Diemen's Land ended in 1853, mainly convicts with psychical or physical illnesses stayed here. 1877 the camp was closed and many building abolished or destroyed by bush fires. A few houses got sold and a small town named Carnarvon developed. The stories told about this place led to the first tourists coming at around 1920 to see the ruins. Hotels and shops opened in the area and the place got renamed again to Port Arthur. End of April 1996 another tragic chapter was added to this historical place. A spree killer shot 35 people and another 19 got hurt. Next to the ruin at the place of the massacre there is a water filled block. I examined the compound in detail and is it was imposing what all happened here. After the visiting all the buildings I drove towards Remarkable Cave. According to two maps there should be a gravel road, but it was paved until the end. What did I learn: do not always believe the map! I wend down to the caves and could see how a bit of water flushed back and forth. It was beautiful, even if it just was low tide. Then I continued to White Beach. Here I made a long walk along the beach and enjoyed the turquoise water. I visited the coal mines as I did not yet have enough Tasmanian history. Here the convicts had to mine coal and also here there were ruins to visit. On the way to the mines I saw an old friend: a black and yellow bird. As I later learned this is a cockatoo. Konrad and I saw already one in the Wilson Promontory National Park. My way led to Taranna. Here is the first animal park in Australia to give the visitors an understanding of the Tasmanian devil. As I reached the park the local birds got introduced. Soon the eastern quolls got fed. Eastern quolls look like cats, but are related to the Tasmanian devil. It was funny how fast they found their hidden food. There was still some time until the feeding of the Tasmanian devils which I was waiting for. The park also has kangaroos and wallabies, but those I did not visit as I like them more outside in the wild. The feeding was rough, they get the meat and fought about their food. That is the reason for their name.

Thursday 23^rd February, 2012

When I brought back the key of the caravan, the lady at the reception apologized for not entering my name to the booking table. Now my trip continues further southwards. In Richmond I stopped, there are a few things to see. I visited St. John, the oldest and still used catholic church in in Australia. Directly below the church is the oldest bridge in Australia. It was constructed between 1823 and 1825 by convicts. In Richmond there is also the oldest prison of Australia. I visited the buildings. In such a cell I would get claustrophobia. I continued after getting food for myself and petrol for the car in Sorell. At Dunalley I had to stop as the bridge was turned away to let a ship pass. Then I drove to Tessellated Pavement. Here the sea salt broke the rock and so created slabs. Further I visited the natural rock arch Tamar Arch. From here I hiked to Devil Kitchen, a formation of heavily fragmented rocks. When walking along the road I met a huge lizard. Back at the parking I drove to Port Arthur and visited the ruins of the prison. The compound is very big and there are 30 historical buildings to see. I started with a small boat ride to the Isle of the Dead. Still on the sea it started to rain and there was a strong wind. As it was already late afternoon, I decided to go to the accommodation. The entry is valid for two days and so I will come back tomorrow. In the evening I observed parrots breaking nuts. That looks quite funny. A short walk on the beach ended my programme for today.

Wednesday 22^nd February, 2012

Today I had to go early to the harbour as the boat had to ship a group of seniors to the island. First we collected the group and then we went directly to the island, where we day tourists left the boat. I took my bicycle and started cycling. First along the coast and then a bit to the interior. The way was a bit hilly and the road not bad. Sometimes I had to walk if there was much sand on the road and I did not manage to pass. Often parrots flew out of the trees or somewhere a wallaby jumped away. Then and when I could take a picture from an animal, but I took also many pictures from the landscape. I never saw so many shades of green and blue like here. It was a magnificent to explore the landscape with two wheels. To get back to Darlington I used the same way. Cycling a bit, take a picture and walk sometimes as my knee started to ache. Back on the mainland I saw that there is a message in my voicemail. I learned that it was the camping asking why I did not bring back the key for the caravan. Back in the reception I explained to the receptionist that I paid for another night. The lady from yesterday did not note it! The gentleman believed me and I could sleep once more here.