Watch Where You Step

Look what I found in the bathroom of my cottage in Marraweh!

Turns out there are scorpions in Tasmania, although apparently uncommon enough that many people don't even know it. Not to worry -- stings are painful but not fatal (apparently like a wasp sting).

You can see it better if you click on this to enlarge.

I found this one as I was doing my final search for forgotten items as I prepared to leave and head back to Launceston. His pincer was caught between the baseboard and the floor in the bathroom. I had actually noticed something there on the floor my first day but hadn't paid attention. I gently loosened him using a scrap of cardboard, and he thanked my by going into full attack mode.

Learn all about wood scorpions at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cercophonius_squama.

The Edge of the World

Head west from Tasmania and you won't hit land until you reach Argentina -- by some accounts, the largest uninterrupted expanse of ocean on the planet.

West Point State Reserve. At high tide, these rocks become an island.

Food for thought as I explored the west coast south from Marrawah all the way to the end of the road at Temma.

Spectacular, and like no ocean coast I have been to before. No good way to describe it -- I'll just post a bunch of pictures.

The gravel road follows the coast, but a fair ways inland. There are several side roads that branch off towards the water and I tried every one of them.

I was struck by the fact that in these huge expanses of land I saw no other people.

Weathered boulders protrude from the surrounding brush.

In places the vegetation is low-growing, maybe to protect it from the wind. If you turn your back to the ocean and look inland, you can almost make yourself believe you are back on the Central Plateau.

The beach at Bluff Hill Point.

Marker in the town of Arthur River.

Lots of Sports in Australia

Cricket is the big one right now. Australia lost the Ashes Cup Test series to England earlier this month, but is clobbering England in a rematch of sorts, the ODI series which started just about when I arrived. They are actually playing right now. All the matches are on TV and radio, although I'm watching a Pakistani video feed because there is no reception here in Marraweh. The Australian women just won their Ashes Cup Test seriies against England today. Local cricket continues too, but with disruptions coming from callups to the national team.

The Australian Open tennis tournament continues. Live radio and TV coverage here. Every business you enter always seems to have the Open showing on TV.

The Tour Down Under, kind of like Australia's Tour de France, just wrapped up. No live coverage I could find, but radio updates on the hour. Lance Armstrong's final international competition.

The National Basketball League is in full swing.

Australian Football League teams are in pre-season training right now. Some teams are doing flood cleanup as part of their training regimen -- moving sandbags, shoveling mud, etc.

The Socceroos are working their way through the Asian Cup. They killed Uzbekistan 6-0 today in the semi-finals. Too bad the games are on so early, because I have missed all of them so far. The A-League is well into its season.

Of course there is horse racing. Some radio stations carry all races live -- cutting from track to track to track across Australia as different races start. (This just in -- the Hanging Rock Cup raceday was postponed because kangaroos were grazing on track and wouldn't leave.)

And there has been a surprising amount of coverage of Sydney's 10km wheelchair race, and of the Australian team's performance in the International Paralympic Committee world athletics championships in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Happy Australia Day!

January 26, Australia Day. I guess you'd have to call it Australia's 4th of July. Except it's different. Where the 4th seems to be mostly an excuse to barbecue, drink and shoot off fireworks, Australia Day seems to truly be a celebration of of Australia itself -- and what it means to be Australian. 

Numerous local civic celebrations. The one in Sydney is being broadcast live on ABC (Australian Broadcast Corporation). Lots of stories about and interviews with Australians talking about their lives, their communities and their country. 

Lots of talk about the floods, but even with this the mood is upbeat. Not a lot of people feeling sorry about themselves, but rather a testimonial about Australians helping Australians.

Google's logo for Jan 26, in honor of Australia Day.

Mole Creek to Ann Bay (Marrawah)

Left Mole Creek for Marrawah this morning, but first a detour into Mole Creek Karst National Park. Once again out of farm country, up, up winding gravel roads to emerge on the top of an open plateau.

Pulled off at Devil's Gullet. From the small parking area a boardwalk trekked off into the bushes, emerging at a metal platform bolted onto the edge of a cliff staring into an abyss. Views back to the Central Plateau and off to Cradle Mountain.

Devil's Gullet

Backtracked down the mountain, then off on backroads through farmland and forest before emerging on the coast at Devonport.

Drove on to Burnie, where I stopped for groceries. Tomorrow is Australia Day -- big holiday and it sounds like some businesses will be closed. Not sure if restaurants or groceries will be open. Safest to just buy a few days' worth of food just in case.

Forecasts of rain turned out to be correct as I continued west along the coast. Nothing too heavy. I'd love to get enough to rinse the dust off of my poor car.

More of the view at Devil's Gullet

Just past the town of Marrawah, Ann Bay is beautiful. After winding through gentle hills the road falls down onto a green farmland plain, partitioned by hedges and small stands of trees and bounded by the ocean. My cabin sits slightly up the hill looking out over the green and blue.

Where else but here?

Closest yet to seeing a platypus.

First glimpse of Ann Bay.

Central Plateau to Mole Creek

My first stay in Launceston is at an end. I have to leave my house for three nights. So I am on the road. Today I took a round about route to Mole Creek, driving south from Launceston then back north across the Central Plateau.

The Central Plateau rises out of the farm lands.

Once you are up there, the terrain changes. Windy! And cold. Alpine vegetation.
Looking here at Pine Lake.

After dropping off the plateau again, you are now quickly into rain forest.

A really big tree.

I stayed at the Mole Creek Holiday Village. A great place! Here is my cabin.

It Turns Out Cricket Actually Makes Sense

I can't believe it, but I have become a cricket fan.

Good thing too, because it is everywhere around here. The Australian team is hosting a seven match series against England. Tasmania is closing in on the championship of the national domestic league. And Launceston fields a strong side in the local league.

David Hussey bats in the 30th over. He saved Australia's bacon with a 68 not out. 

I actually found myself RUSHING HOME FROM MY DAY TRIP YESTERDAY so that I could catch Australia's innings against England on TV.