Our Most Poetic Posting Up To This Point

In the Tasmania's town of Pyengana, there’s a pub in a paddock with two pigs, Pauline and PB, who enjoy pilsener.

So we bought them two (and split one between us).

Here are a couple of pics with photographic evidence of our porcine adventure.

 

Don't worry, for animal lovers like us, the pigs' brew is watered-down version that's approved by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. And besides, they live in one of the loveliest, greenest, most serene valleys we've ever seen. Sure beats winding up on someone's dinner table.

What a spectacular day. It started off with pouring rain and lightening that delayed our departure for the east coast of Tasmania, allowing us to enjoy our first home-cooked meal of our trip. Our hosts at Platypus Park provided a hamper of farm-fresh, free-range eggs, bacon slices that were the biggest in Tasmania's history and other goodies (like Vegemite) that were all enjoyed in front of roaring fire in a pot-belly stove. 


It was hard to leave such comfort, but we were lured by new adventures.

About three-quarters of our drive was in moderate to heavy rain. But then the rains stopped, the clouds lifted and the oh-so delicious scenery was gloriously revealed.

Instead of using words to describe the day, here are some pix:

Can you tell we're having fun yet?

Look! It’s a Kangaroo! No, it’s a Wallaby!

Today was our first full day in Tasmania, or “Tassie” as the locals call it. We started early in the morning with a stroll through quaint Launceston and then through Cataract Gorge, a lovely trail along the Tamar River.

The gorge is right on the city’s edge, and it’s a wonderfully preserved natural area. While there, we came upon what we thought was a kangaroo and excitedly snapped several photos to show people like you. So you can imagine our disappointment when some locals brushed it off with, “Ah, it’s just a wallaby.”

A what? A quick visit to Wikipedia says wallabies are smaller versions of kangaroos. In some parts of Australia, they’re considered pests. Regardless, it’s not something we see every day in Newbury Park ... and besides, check out her little Joey in the pouch.

We then headed for the Tamar Valley wine region, a journey that was capped with a delightful chat with Shane Holloway, the owner and winemaker at Dalemere Winery. Too bad it’s so cost prohibitive to ship wine home from here ... or we’d be sending pallets.

We’re now relaxing in our home for the night on at Platypus Park Country Retreat, on a farm in Bridport on the north coast. Our hostess Gina Scott has been warm and wonderful.

A few other pix from the day ...

The Cataract Gorge on the edge of Launceston

The view outside Jansz Winery

The view inside Jansz Winery

Bad News ... Good News

The bad news: Our fish and chips tonight cost $36.

The good news: It was the best fish and chips we've had. Ever. In our lives.

And topping it all off was the fact we had the corner table overlooking the Tamar and Esk rivers in Launceston, Tasmania. It was at dusk as the lights on the nearby hill were coming on. In short, it was a memorable Thanksgiving meal.

We've seen some great sights the past couple of days ... here are a few of them.

The longest jetty we've ever seen ... it's in Beachport

A beacon for hikers at Shipwreck Beach ... it's the biggest cairn we've ever seen

The view from the highest canopy walk in the world

Giant ferns on the rainforest floor, taken from the canopy walk

Can you tell we're having a good time?

A close call

For Your Bucket List: The Great Ocean Road

It's called the Great Ocean Road ... and it should be on your Bucket List.

No further commentary.

 

From the Barossa Valley to the South Coast ... and a Kangaroo in Between

We started today with an early bicycle ride in the Barossa Valley ... from Tununda to Nariupta and back again ... with stops for breakfast and tastings at Penfolds and Langmeil.

Then we beelined it to Robe on the south coast, just in time for sunset and a lobster dinner.

Here are the high points:

Eat your hearts out, wine lovers!

She can smile and ride at the same time

The Barossa Valley ... no traffic, no tasting fees, no worries

Our first wild kangaroo siting ... but the li'l feller wouldn't hop for us

There was no one else on our beach in Robe

Tomorrow is the photo-rich Great Ocean Road ... hope you check back.

Our First Day in Australia's Wine Country

We're so thankful for the little graces that are bestowed upon on us from time to time. (OK, always bestowed upon us.)

Like the kind lady at the Wine Institute in Adelaide who said a trip to the local wine region  would not be complete without a visit to the Clare Valley.

So we now have some new favorite wines. Particularly the local rieslings.

Here are some pix. (The light rains we encountered may have dampened some of the colors ... but you'll get the idea).

Our first stop ... at Crabtree Winery ... there's that smile again

 

  

Second stop ... at Kilikinoon

The perfect lunch

The view from Paulet Winery's patio

Impressions of Sydney

While the sights and sounds of Sydney are certainly incredible, it's the friendly and outgoing people who really make it sparkle.

Like Annette and Nick. They didn't know us, but they opened their beautiful home to us and let us swim in their ocean, eat at their wonderful restaurants and simply enjoy their sweet corner of Paradise.

On the patio overlooking Freshwater Beach: Karen and Annette

After leaving Annette and Nick's, we ferried back to Sydney for a day of fun. Instead of writing about it, here are some pix.

We climbed the girders all the way up to the flags. At night. REALLY!

We were like this. Only at dusk

The Southern Hemisphere's largest seafood market

 

Did we tell you we climbed it? This is from our hotel rooftop in The Rocks.

Mesmerizing

 

This was after a glass of wine at the Wine Odyssey

Did we tell you we climbed it?

Leaving our hotel on the way to Adelaide and the Clare and Barossa valleys