Living in a hallway: Heading South

February 2

A bit of off-road exploring through some past and recent logging areas today. We didn't see another vehicle all day once we left the bitumen.

Modern logging

Broken Bridge

Lunch break

Missing Bridge.

Who killed the bridge?

February 3-February 5

As the weather was looking fairly ordinary further down south we decided to stay in the Huonville area for a few more days. We chose Cygnet as the place to stay as we had stayed there 20 years ago and had not fully explored the area. It was raining when we arrived and the caravan park was full of fruit pickers in cheap shitty tents and broken down cars. It was entertaining watching the amateurs in the rain. One person had a rooftop tent that was set up on the ground. :-(. There is a lady living here that wanders past frequently and gives us weather reports and pearls of information. We always say hello to get a smile from her. She did tell us that since she turned 59 she can now predict a full moon. We had a little chuckle.

We've spent the last couple of days here cruising around the coastline. There are lots of little bays to explore.

Salmon Farm

February 6-February 9

The last few days we have been very relaxed down at Cockle Creek in the Bolton Green Camp Ground which is in the Southwest National Park. Our days have been spent walking along the beach and bushwalking with some fishing thrown in.

It's relaxing falling asleep to the sound of waves lapping the beach.

In 1792 a French ship came into Recherche bay to do some scientific research and they had a dual purpose as they were also looking for a missing captain La Perouse. They were so impressed with the site they returned in 1793 to continue their research. They made friends with the local indigenous people but unfortunately, they infected the local population with European diseases like smallpox and scarlet fever virtually wiping them out.

Before this area became a National Park in 1976 it was a timber and whaling area. The sands on the beach are white and the water is clear. Australian Salmon is the fish that people are catching here. Ken managed to catch one but it was undersize and had to go back.

There are a few fishing shacks mixed in with the National Park that are privately owned.