Geelong to Devonport - 26 to 28/02/2024

Well, we’ve finally made it to the shores of Tasmania!

 

We made an early start around 0530 to get to the Port of Geelong. Check in commenced about 0600. We snagged pole position in the queue of our lane.

 

Our ship left the dock about 30 mins early at 0800.

We had a relatively smooth sail travelling at 30 knots (52kph) and arrived on time in Devonport at 1830.

 

We crossed paths with Spirit of Tasmania 1 along the way

Checked in at Abel Tasman Caravan Park close by the port.

We spent 2 nights in Devonport stocking up on supplies and getting our bearings and making a short term plan for ‘where to next?’

We also had a little explore around the surrounds.  We will return to Devonport in a bit in order to travel inland and southwards.  We also have to pick up Judy's coat which we left on board the ship in our haste to disembark.

Port Sorell

Mersey Bluff Lighthouse

The ships arrive and depart up the Mersey River just outside our Caravan Park

On the second night, we ventured out of town about 10km to Lillico Beach to see some penguins.  Under the cover of darkness, the adults come ashore to feed their young.  We were fortunate enough to see some before nightfall.

They strut around with their hands in their pockets - so cute!

We head West from Devonport to explore the NW area.  Stay tuned.

Geelong - 18 to 24/02/2024

Given our extended stay in Geelong, and awaiting our deferred embarkment on the Spirit of Tasmania on the 26th Feb, we've been marking time and getting out and about a bit on some short outings.  Met up with some long time friends and made some new friends.
We took a drive down to Portarlington one day with a few stops along the way.
Yesterday, we took a stroll along the waterfront precinct of Geelong.  The weather has lived up to its reputation with temperatures ranging from 10 degrees to 40 degrees - no rain though.  I think we've hauled the Townsville dome all the way down to Geelong!

A few images from the past week in Geelong...

Vivid sunset from our showgrounds site

Alan and Sheila - our neigbours at the showgrounds during my stint in hospital.  Wonderful support for Judy.

We met up with long time friends, Anne and Wayne for a cuppa and catch up!

Alexander Thompson Jetty, Geelong waterfront

Old jetty at Clifton Springs

Old jetty at Clifton Springs

 

Next blog will be from Tassie - yay!

Geelong - 06 to 17/02/2024

We arrived in Geelong almost a week early for our crossing on the 'Spirit of Tasmania'(SoT) on the 11th Feb.  The car was due for a service so I had previously booked it for 7th Feb way back before we left home.
We camped up at the Geelong Showgrounds which, at $30 a night, is a popular stopover spot close to the port for potential Tasmania travelers.
We did some day touring to the southwest so we could complete the section of Great Ocean Road we hadn't covered during our stay at Port Campbell.
We visited Torquay, Anglesea, Lorne, Bells Beach, Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff.

These are a few images from the day...

Bells Beach

Paragliders on Bells Beach

 

 

 

The Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is a temptation...

Point Lonsdale Lighthouse

Point Lonsdale Pier

Point Lonsdale Pier

Queenscliff South Pier

Fort Queenscliff Museum

Queenscliff - Lathanstowe

Split Point

Split Point

Split Point

That was Friday...
Then on Saturday, this happened...

A day out from boarding the SoT, I came down with what first appeared as a bit of a stomach cramp and within 20 minutes, the pain was unbearable.  Called 000 and was soon in transit to Geelong hospital.  After a couple of hours in the ED, it became evident, we weren't going to be sailing to Tasmania the next day as planned because they were talking about scans and subsequent surgery.
We jumped on line and changed out transit to 26th Feb.  As it turned out, we were fortunate to be able to jag a postponement booking so soon.

Geelong Showgrounds site

 

So here we are - post surgery - one gallbladder lighter and a couple of weeks to recuperate before we head on.  We tried to postpone our return transit to match but unfortunately, because we've already postponed our booking so much in the past, our booking has expired so we couldn't extend it any further.  So out of all that, we'll end up 2 weeks shorter duration in Tassie than we originally intended.

GPS: 38°10'11.73" S 144°22'35.05" E

 

 

Winchelsea - 04/02/2024

Today, we arrived in Winchelsea and parked up at a free camp in town at Barwon River Reserve.

After setting up, we headed out for a guided tour through Barwon Park Mansion which was only a short drive from camp.

Barwon Park Mansion - est 1871

 

Built in 1871 by Thomas and Elizabeth Austin at a cost of 10,000 pounds.  Thomas died 6 months after its completion.  His wife survived him by some 40 years and lived there until she died there in 1910.

The house was passed on to the Batson family who later bequeathed it to the National Trust in 1969.

The family played host to the Duke of Edinburgh in their modest homestead on the property.  So they wanted to build a house fit for royalty - and that they did.

Servants' bell

Tapestry by Elizabeth Austin

This is the bed slept in by Duke of Edinburgh

Servant's bedroom in the loft

Stables