While in Hobart we got a phone call from our friend Ralph back in WA. Chatting to him Michael remembered the story of the 'madcat scientist' who lived in Bothwell; he built the first radiotelescope, set up a sensing array in a Bothwell paddock and also built an electric car. He, like a lot of very clever people, didn't get on with 'the establishment' preferring to do his own thing.
Following the phone call we checked him out on the internet and found the "Grote Reber Museum" was just outside Hobart, at the Mt Pleasant Observatory in Cambridge.
So the next morning we arrived there!
We hadn't been able to get hold of anyone to book or arrange a visit so were pleasantly surprised to find the gates open and a car in the car park.
The equally surprised University of Tasmania fella who was there was very kind and enthusiastically opened up the museum for us. He ran a DVD on the man himself for us and even opened up the glass doors of the room housing 'Pixie' - the electric car, so that I wouldn't get glare in my photos.
We had a great time there and to think if we hadn't returned to MONA, if Ralph hadn't phoned when he did, we wouldn't have gone back to Hobart or would have driven straight past.
Cambridge is in the middle of a wine growing area and the drive from there up to Richmond was a very pleasant one. We then drove over the bridge in Richmond, (oldest in Aus).
Then we followed the route we'd taken before, up towards Perth and Launceston, but this time we stopped at Kempton for the night. Kempton is an old coaching town but now only has a Post Office (and gift shop) and in a back street, in his garden shed an old man operates "Kempton Old Books".
this is the main street on Saturday morning.
We carried on north, stopping in Campbell Town at a really good book shop - $53 later we left!
We drove up to Longford for the night. We'd stayed here in early January and I was right about peak season - the prices have dropped.
The Sunday morning we were off to "Tasmania's biggest car show".
We arrived at 9.30 (it had an advertised start time of 9.00) and couldn't see a sign for visitors parking or any organisers. We pulled into a nice car park, found a good spot and walked on down to the displayed cars.
As we approached it resembled a swapmeet carpark more than a show display. We were right, there was no suggestion of parking models or marques together, and I think we saw about 5 or 6 'old' vehicles. In one line there was a 1937 Chevy truck, a 1950s Morris Traveller, a lot of 1970s Holdens and nearby a Hyndai Elantra!! All up a shamozzle!!
We sent a quick text to Werner and Mary suggesting that they give the show a miss, and we left. By a twist of fate they read the text AFTER they'd entered the show.
(When we got back to our van we found that we'd been locked in, there was a chain across the gateway we'd entered, we were in the vineyard workers car park area. We had to drive along and exit the main vineyard entrance, much to the surprise of the marshall on the gate. They had by now put out the signs indicating the parking area across the road - it was only 9.50am).
Then we drove along the now familiar road to Deloraine, had lunch and then out to Mole Creek and 4kms beyond - the Mole Creek Caravan Park.
Mole Creek is so called because it flows part of the way underground.
We had just settled in when Mary and Werner pulled up alongside. It started to rain and continued through the night but next morning it was clear and dry, and the 4 of us settled down to a couple of days doing nothing.
The Mole Creek caravan park itself is on the banks of the Sassafras Creek. This creek's water level rises and falls due to the fluctuating temperatures in the caves upstream, changing pressure and affecting the creek. It's really noticeable, we thought maybe the hydro released water but the locals assured us that it's all because of the caves.
Werner was the most energetic and his efforts were rewarded with 2 beautiful trout. He then gave them to us for our dinner! What a lovely surprise and a lovely dinner too!!
Mary wanted one last look at Mt Roland in Sheffield so they took off back there for a day - they'd come back and drive into Launceston with us.
The caravan park had been almost full at the weekend but by Wednesday it was very quiet. I wandered down to the creek and SPLASH! I'd surprised a platypus!!!
I got Michael (but not the camera!!) and the two of us were treated to a 5 minute display of platypus antics - ducking, diving and floating. Absolutely delightful! The experts tell you that the best time to see them is early am or late pm on cloudy days - this was midday in sunshine.
So now we can tick platypus off the list - wombats and possums to go.
Werner and Mary were back the next morning and together we drove into Deloraine for fresh stores and then into Launceston and the rally.
And that dear friends is another blog!
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