An M day: monotremes and maritime * Sixtyexpress

Quieter day today we will drive to the Batman bridge . This is the first cable stayed bridge built in Australia and amongst the first built in the world.I did ask where is the Robin bridge? Funny but there was no answer….perhaps we will have to ask Mr Google.

The Tamar river swirls around it with lots of eddies and ripples.

Do you remember when there was an earthquake in Tasmania? It caused a mine to collapse and two men were trapped for two weeks.

Yes ,you are right. It was Beaconsfield.The original mine opened in 1904 as a gold mine. We are not going to the museum. It doesn’t open till 10 but there is lots to see outside.

Bedroom…look at the ceiling. It has canvas on it.

Kitchen . Mum might get some mending done.

Need to take the bus, get supplies like groceries or oil? Time to go to the shop run by Mrs Barbara Swan. She will help you.

The miner’s children need schooling. Sidmouth had a school to cater from Kindergarten to Year 7. All classes in one room.

Guess what? We are going to see platypus and echidnas! Sorry given up on seeing platypus in the wild. This way I am sure to see them in as natural as possible setting.

They were sooooooo cute. There is one male and 3 female platypus and 2 male and 1 female echidna. Did you enjoy watch the platypus snuffle along the bottom of the gravel looking for live yabbies, worms and fly larvae. Their bills sense the heartbeat of their prey as they have their eyes shut and ears closed.

Did you know a group of platypus are called a paddle and their babies are called puggles? Echidna babies are also called puggles but a group are called a parade, herd or flock. Eddie, Edwina and Thomas are not shy.

I think a short drive before we return to Georgetown.Coffee?

Apples…often these are covered with a canopy.

Beauty Point where one part of the Maritime University is located.

Bass and Flinders are famous for their exploration of Tasmania. In particular they proved it was an island separate from the mainland of Australia. Flinders accurately navigated and mapped the island. In Georgetown you can see a replica of the Norfolk. It is made of local timbers of Huon pine and cypress. This was the boat used by Flinders with his cat Trim. Bass and Flinders explored in a smaller boat called the Tom Thumb.

A beautiful boat made in a traditional method. No nails here

Can you imagine 10 men squashed in this boat for months? I couldn’t.
A fun saying-

Since it is not raining today, I think we should go back to the Low Head lighthouse. If we are lucky we might see inside the original cottage and the only operating diaphone air foghorn in Australia, Two families shared the 4 rooms in the cottage.