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1-27-09

Zeehan to Hobart

I had spent the night in Zeehan and in the morning I rode down to Straham. It was Australia day, sort of like our fourth of July, I guess. Every thing was decked out with flags and they were setting up the park for a big barbeque. I made a run around the bay and came across this little steam train just getting started. My buddy Steamboat Jack should have been here. Jack works on the Virginia City, Nevada steam train now and then.

They only drove the train about three hundred feet and then everyone got off and I saw this photo op so I took the photo as well. The big guy in the suit came over to me and introduced himself as a politician…. I told him “buddy you are scratching at the wrong tree here, I am a Yank and can’t vote here.” He was really nice and hoped I would have a good visit. Jeez, just standing next to that big suit gave me the creeps. (Best not wear them Joe!)

There was this big photo of the little train going on its route and you can see that it has some sort of cog way to get up the steep hills. One of the train guys said that it was developed in Switzerland and brought over here.

I was actually laying down half under the train taking this picture of the cog wheel when that Suit guy came over and talked with me.

I headed off over the hill towards Queenstown which is the route the little train makes. Wow, what a wonderful ride on a bike. This is where all the bikes are in Australia evidently, as I am seeing them all over. Most are the crotch rocket type but quite a few GS’s and even several BMW’s in the mix.

This is coming down into Qeenstown and you might be able to make out the big smelter stack. I think this town and mine was for copper but maybe gold and silver too as they often go together.

Another round house at this end too. Someone said that this was the biggest day for this train. I know that they sell tickets to go from Straham to Queenstown and I was told it cost about a hundred bucks.

Here is a section of that cog track. That isn’t what they called it but you get the idea.

This must be a hard ride up some of those hills it takes cogs for the train to climb.

I took off going east over a most wonderful road.

They get rain and snow here so there is more water, even a water fall.

And beautiful lakes.

Wow, it got even better ride when I made it here.

At a rest stop these folks were giving out free coffee and promoting safe driving. This being a major holiday I guess some of the people out there were drinking and these folks were trying to save a few lives.

Here ya go boyz….Cactus Jack (pro River Guide) and Terry Hanson (common River Rat) and both gifted musicians, something for you to do next year.

A little walk over to see the river was a nice trail.

Looks like River Rat fun eh?

They use the water to make hydro electricity.

An interesting load of logs on this truck.

This is the main house where I am staying at the local YHA hostel in Hobart. I think this is the state capitol of Tasmania. It is a fairly good size city but the reception gal said it was not big with sky scrapers. It is a hell of a lot bigger than Billings, MT and that folks is BIG to me.

She did recommend that I take my bike up to Mount Wellington which is this big hill.

It turned out to be a really great ride up there. I think the summit is 1270meters so maybe about 4,000 ft from sea level where the town is. I saw quite a few bicycle guys on the hill and it is a though one for sure. At the top there is this little storm shelter that was built up there for protection from sever storms. This has been a favorite place for hikers to climb for over a hundred years.

They have been using it as a communications platform too.

OK Jack, here is a high altitude lizard. He was enjoying the nice sunny day on the rocks.

There are lots of tours stuff going on and here is one group that was taken to the top and then they get to ride down. that sounds like a lot better deal than having to ride up it. I talked to one guy up there who lives in Perth. He has been riding his bike all around the country. He said the kids moved out and he sold his big house and decided to do something like ride his bike around the country. sounds like a good plan I told him. I sold my farm……

This is where I intend to go tomorrow. I like the guard dog approach. I hope they have photos of the dogs. It is supposed to be a major tourist attraction, so I am hoping for the best.

The major part of town. There was lots of moisture in the air but probably as clear as it gets.

Down town in the old part of town I came across this wonderful wall.

See what I mean about being upside down here??? I noticed that I sure was a lot further south when I went to Terra Del Fuego in South America. New Zeeland is further south yet.

I have been having a problem with the big plastic tank on the Ozdog. I have tried several times to fix a small leak in the bottom of the tank. I tried several different methods and all of them failed after a time. I finally found a guy that would weld a patch on that plastic tank. Here is the dude welding it.

This was in a autobody shop and this guy was using a slide hammer to pop a dent out of this little van. It works on a spot welder principal. He puts that little pin on the car and then welds it to the dent. He then slided a weight on the shaft out and it will pull the dent out. In the old days they had a screw thread that you would screw in a hole and pull the dent out. This works much faster and doesn’t leave a hole and deformations.

Here he is with the finished tank. I haven’t filled the tank full yet but I think it will be ok.

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