Tassie “tigers” extinct?

What nonsense!  We came across about 50 of them today! Admittedly they were only little “tigers” … 5 years old to 8 years old … and they were from Blackman’s Bay School Services Vacation Care Unit. 

 

They all arrived by bus at one of Tasmania’s best known tourist destinations … the Salmon Ponds. 

It was an absolute mongrel day weather-wise.  Tasmania is currently experiencing freak Spring conditions … heavy snow falls blocking roads … unbelievably strong winds sweeping in from the Antarctic … and along the coast line, waves 17m high being recorded.  How would it be at sea, being confronted by waves as tall as 5-storey buildings?

Especially in weather like this, kids, with both parents working, need some way of safely getting through the current Tasmanian school holidays, 

and Bev Gibson is part of a team of jovial helpers who do a great job of keeping them entertained.

The Salmon Ponds (quoting straight off the hand-out leaflet) is the oldest trout hatchery in Australia.

 After a number of failed attempts to transport them, the first live salmon and a small number of trout eggs arrived at the ponds in May 1864 … almost 150 years ago for those not too good at simple arithmetic.

Today the Salmon Ponds supply over 1 million trout per year to re-stock Tasmania’s lakes and dams.

As well as feeding the fish, visitors can feed themselves 

at the famous “Pancakes by the Ponds” café … and aren’t those pancakes mouthwatering ,

especially when Sue Hutchings is in charge. What a character she is.

Between breaks in the rain, I was able to capture a  few good shots 

as Barbara flicked special fish feed pellets into six different ponds containing Rainbow Trout, Tiger Trout, Albino Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Atlantic Salmon and Brook Trout. 

Can you imagine the squeals of delight as the kids walked alongside the pools doing the same thing … with huge fish breaking the surface just meters away to gobble the food.

After spending several pleasant hours observing the activity in ponds and enjoying the beauty of the magnificent English gardens from the warmth and dryness of the café, we headed for another warm dry spot … the Hobart Bowls Centre. This is a magnificent indoor facilty, about 10 years old,

at Derwent Park, and is managed by the genial Shaun Woodward. 

He was able to organize a roll up for us against a couple of the local lads, Barry Young and Russell Spur. These boys really tested us and we had to produce our very best bowls to secure a win.

 Actually, Barbara and I felt a little guilty about the score line especially because of the cap Russell (on right) was wearing. Go the mighty Saints tomorrow night! Thanks Shaun, Barry and Russell … it was great to meet you and we will be urging our many lawn bowls playing friends to pay you visit when they are in Hobart.
On our way back to New Norfolk caravan park, we passed this enormous building across the Derwent River we will be inspecting tomorrow ...

... the Norske Skog paper mills.  This is one of the few photos we we will be able to show on the blog, as, for some reason, security is incredibly tight there, and no cameras or mobile phones are allowed on the tour.  Mind you, if we had to PAY for the tour, there is no way I would be going there ... but hey, I said I would stop carping about "The Wall" didn't I!

Before going to the van for dinner, we decided to call in and have beer at the historic Bush Inn just a short distance from the caravan park.  Australia wide, the Bush Inn is the oldest continually licensed hotel operating on the same site and in the same building. (Building 1815, license granted 29/9/1825).

We fronted the bar with a wonderful open fire blazing away behind us,

and ordered a couple of pots of Boag’s Draught. “We don’t sell Boag’s Draught, mate, only stubbies” was the gruff retort from the barman. “But you advertise draught out the front”, I meekly protested.  “Oh that’s only a sign mate” came the barman's reply. Now I ask you ... how classic Tasmanian is that!

Then I spotted the Guinness tap. We would much rather drink that anyway, and it’s not on tap at many Australian pubs.

Invited to stroll through the many rooms that comprise the inn, we came across some incredible antiques.  Barbara pointed out some delightful old brass light switches, 

 and what about the signs ... I just loved the “Ladies Toilet” sign pointing ladies directly to the “Sitting Room”.

But the highlight of our day was getting into conversation with a couple having a quiet beer in a room away from the main bar … a room dominated by a huge open fireplace.

In the coziness of this cloistered room and in the spellbinding hour that followed, we gained the most chilling insight into an individual known to all Tasmanians and to most Mainlanders.  One of them came into daily contact with this individual and what they were able to tell us was just so disquieting.  For privacy reasons I cannot write more or show photos, but for the rest of our lives, Barbara and I will carry in our minds knowledge possessed by very few other human beings.