Travels on the East Coast

I’ve had a fun day.

It started in a very leisurely fashion, since the rain had started up again overnight thus reducing my sense of urgency for heading off. The rain was accompanied by low grey clouds, which meant that my planned ascent of St Patricks* Head—the main reason for my visit to St Marys*—had to be abandoned unattempted. It was just too risky to do a steep climb in the wet … and rather pointless, given that one of the main reasons for climbing it is because of the spectacular view. I shall have to return (although I have no idea when).

Instead, I had an enjoyable, relaxed breakfast and lengthy chat to my hosts at the B&B where I stayed (Addlestone House in St Marys — I can thoroughly recommend it). It was nearly mid-morning (and relatively late in the day for me!) before I headed out to the coast and gradually worked my way up to St Helens*, using geocaches and the occasional burst of whim-and-fancy as my reasons for stopping and seeing things.

Thus it was that I stopped in Falmouth for a nice walk around the coast, over shelly beaches and along rocky shorelines, watching a gentle swell rolling in as the rain eased off, leaving mist and clouds on the nearby hills. Then I headed up into the hills where there is a lovely river reserve, where I spotted a poor lone duckling paddling its little heart out and twittering furiously as it headed downstream. Unfortunately it didn’t get close enough for a better photo.

I also got to really test the Suby’s 4WD capabilities, engaging low range for the first time since it has been in my possession and keeping my fingers crossed as I headed up a rather steep, bouncy, rocky washed out road (it’s okay, Mum, I cased the joint before heading up … and, look: I’m obviously back down again safe and sound). That’s me and the Suby at the top at Skyline Tier lookout; the photo is lopsided because the tripod was balancing precariously on top of a stump. Some of this area is full of logged and unlogged pine plantations, which is not my preferred bush experience, although I did come across an eerie forest of older pines liberally bedecked with old man’s beard lichen, as if there had been a recent light fall of pale green snow.

I headed back to the coast, and did some caches out among the dunes at St Helens Point. There were some great views to be enjoyed, and most places were pretty much deserted. The wildflowers were in bloom: the boobyallas in their bright cheerful yellow and the one in the photo above had a lovely aroma (I feel I should know its name, but its smell was redolent of prickly box or jasmine). Apart from thwarting me at St Patricks Head, the weather was actually quite good. When I looked southward it seems that it had kept raining down south at St Marys, but in the afternoon it had stopped where I was travelling, which was nice. It remained overcast most of the time, however, but every so often the sun would break through the clouds and create dramatic lighting effects. The photo on the right, below, was taken at Beer Barrel beach just as the sun lit up the far end. I took quite a few photos, and some extras can be found by clicking here.

So, nothing too spectacular, but peaceful, beautiful and relaxing … and appreciated.

* The Tasmanian nomenclature board doesn’t do apostrophes. Some of you will know how twitchy this is likely to make me, except that it is much worse this time: the pedant wants to put the apostrophes in, and the compliant, protocol-abiding citizen insists on leaving them out!