We rose early enough on Sunday morning and after showering, to a nice breakfast of bacon and eggs and toast cooked by our host T. It was clearly going to be another gorgeous day in Launceston.
Mea culpa. I knew I was not up to a steep walk in West Launceston, let alone R. T is super fit, and for the health of her transplanted heart maintains her super fitness. We are not fit at all. Our travelling companion A walks a lot and is fitter than us. R really struggled with coming up the steep slopes of Fraser Reserve. I am not sure if it was helpful, but A pushed him up with a hand to his back. Advice to all, judge the fitness levels of your guests and if you are the guest, be clear about your fitness levels. There are times to just say no.
Nevertheless, the walk was good and we saw much.
Smoke haze from bushfire fuel reduction burning.
So many toadstools in the pine forest.
With some recovery from the walk we headed out in T's motor car to drop off off a top for T to be embroidered, no doubt football related. Sports and football is her love and job. Then to a supermarket in Youngtown that T and her sister used to own, now an
IGA. Some things were bought. Eventually we arrived at City Park. By golly there are some nice buildings in Launceston.
The frame of a gasometer, that would have once produced coal gas for the citizens of Launceston. The street was under renovation.
Noice side view of whatever building.
Herbarium? Glasshouse? Hot house? I don't know. Bugger orf you young photo bomber.
Placid water with gentle water jet sprays.
So green.
Young chaps skilled at chess, belying the appalling rates of illiteracy and innumeracy in Tasmania.
The herbarium was simple and lovely.
I don't know what this is but there was also a rotunda which I thought we would get close to but we did not, so no photo.
The park is beautifully maintained.
Now, I am not sure about this at all, keeping Japanese monkeys in a small zoo. This is the breed of monkeys that bathe in hot springs in northern Japan.
There is a long history of animals being kept here, right back to the time of Tasmanian Tigers, that is
Thylacines. I instinctively did not like the little zoo, but the monkeys in their troop seemed happy enough. It is well managed and super clean. I am not sure why my photos are so bad. I think I need a new camera. The monkeys are doing better than Tasmanian Tigers, of which the last died as politicians discussed how they could be saved, having being shot out of existance.
On the rock almost centre is a baby monkey.
Maybe this fine house was once that of the superintendent of the park.
Nice.
To its credit, many industrial building are still in existence in Launceston.
The building at the entrance to City Park. Albert Hall?
Lunch was at the river front of the North Esk River. While our lunch was nice enough, the area looked very modern and cheap. While we never got to dine at Mud Bar, I am not really that sorry. I'll just say, needs work. Nevertheless, it is clearly a very popular area.
Mud, mud, glorious mud. Fine mud, ideal to be slapped on a body or face. While Launceston is many kilometres inland, the Tamar River and the first part of North Esk River are very tidal, with a three metre tide rise and fall.
T's abode is very close the dominating tower in the background. Yes, phone, tv and internet signals are strong.
Dearest Launceston, you are so nice and I do love your gorge.
A footbridge is being built across the river, but I am not sure why you would want to cross the river.
Perhaps to get to Silo Hotel, under construction. It is good that the silos are being kept and made into modern hotel accommodation.
Part 2 will be last Tassie post. The weather was perfect and we just loved Launceston.