Sunday in Launceston

While home in Launceston I have been busy helping my parents with things around their home that need attention which due to aging they are not able to do. Sundays however are spent much the same as I would spend them in Texas, South Sudan or Uganda. I go to church in the morning. This past Sunday was no different.

This is St. Johns Anglican church. It was built in the mid to late 1800's. The stained glass windows are magnificent.

 It was not my church home as I grew up but I have felt very welcomed here over the last several years. In 2005 I was living here for 6 months and I became involved with the congregation.

After lunch out with my parents, my mum and I decided to enjoy the beautiful, mild autumn weather and visit one of my favorite places around town and that is the Cataract Gorge.



This photo does not even come close to doing the place justice but it's all I have for now. I took this photo standing in the middle of a swinging suspension bridge. If you stand on the bridge as I am and look left you see this.

If you look right, you see what is known as the First Basin. In the foreground you can just see a swimming pool. I used to swim there often during my late teenage years on warm, summer days.

 Of course I was keen on getting a tan back in those days, that was before we all learned of the risks of skin cancer.
 The lawn space was where I spent many hours in primary school during sports day participating in a sack race, three legged race and the like.

After crossing the suspension bridge and walking up a short path you are surrounded by all kinds of flora and fauna.
We stopped at a cafe which a popular place for tourists, but the local peacocks like it too. There are many peacocks that make their home here and have done for many years. I have fun memories of my children running among them and almost getting their fingers bitten when offering food to them. This little guy was eyeing my ice cream.
Their feathers are magnificent.

Some of my favorite flowers are hydrangeas. About a month ago these would have been in full bloom. They range in colors of lavender to deep purple and varying shades of pinks and blues. They are all part of the garden that sits just below the cafe.
It is such a relaxing and lovely place to visit.

Okay don't be fooled as I was, but look carefully. On top of the rock you see in the center is what looks like another rock, but it's actually a seal!
 We were walking over the suspension bridge when another person drew our attention to it. In all my years of living here and then visiting I have never seen a seal.
Well I hope you have enjoyed your virtual visit to one of the best tourist spots ion Launceston.

Trip to Hobart

I think my last blog post I said to check back in a few days for an update, well, a few days has actually turned into a few weeks. If you were waiting with bated breath, I am sorry :-)

If you are not sure exactly where I am let me fill you in a bit. I am from the city of Launceston in northern Tasmania. I have been asked many times if Tasmania is part of Australia and let me make it clear now, it definitely is a state of Australia. It is an island state, just like Hawaii. Not that I am biased or anything but Tasmania is known for it's beautiful, unspoiled scenery, unique animals and more laid back lifestyle that almost always involves outdoor activities.

Last Wednesday my mum and I drove to Hobart to see my aunt. I remember when I was a little girl this journey seemed like it took forever. Now it's just over a 2 hour drive if you go straight through. One of our favorite stops has always been the historic town of Ross. There is a bakery here that serves the best vanilla slice in the country. This is s popular treat to have with a cup of tea or coffee.

The town of Ross is steeped in colonial history. Most of the town's original buildings were constructed in sandstone between 1820-1870.
Ross bridge is one of the oldest and most beautiful in Australia. It was built by two convict stone masons who were granted freedom for their work. It's hard to see at this distance but there are 186 panels, each decorated differently with Celtic symbols, animals and faces of notable people carved into the sandstone.

As we neared Hobart, which is the capital of Tasmania, we could see Mt. Wellington which  towers over the city and surrounding areas. My aunt lives just above where I took this photo. The actual city is just beyond the bridge.

The River Derwent flows out to the Tasman Sea. If you keep going south you would wind up in Antarctica and to the east is New Zealand.

My son is familiar with this view as he graduated from the University of Tasmania.

  

We picked my auntie (she has the orange jacket)  up from her self contained unit at a nursing home and took her to lunch. My aunt is 94 and my mum is 92. I felt so young this day!

We enjoyed views of the river and mountain while we ate. Lots of fresh fish on the menu including prawns or shrimp, scallops and Trevially. Since Tasmania is an island, fish is abundant and so good. Of course there are many not so good fish like Great White Sharks lurking in the waters that surround us.

The drive from Launceston to Hobart is down the Midlands Highway. There are gently rolling hills and lots of sheep. Did you know there are more sheep in Australia than people?

There is is an annual meeting for people all over the world that come to class the wool and arrange for exporting the sheep and the valuable wool. Japan is one on the biggest buyers.
I am a sheep collector. I wonder how that happened?

As we made our way home we were treated to an extraordinary sunset. It was the perfect ending to a lovely day.