26th June – Friday
We awoke to a beautiful clear morning after the cloud of yesterday. Not quite as warm today, just a pleasant 23-24 degrees.
As the sun was shining, we decided to head for Standley Chasm, which must be seen at noon. I think every tourist within a 100 km radius made the same decision – there were more people than flies! The chasm is on private property, so the owners charge a “small” admission fee. As poor pensioners, we only had to pay $7.50 each! The admission fee certainly isn’t used on track maintenance or upgrading. It was a quite rough walk along a creek bed to get to Standley Chasm and the colours of the walls were incredible. The light is so strong here that it makes the shadows very intense – and photos can be quite interesting with the play of light and shade. We waited until the sun had reached its zenith, but being mid-winter, we weren’t lucky enough for both walls of the canyon to be sunlit at the same time.
When we returned to the car park, we noticed another Tasmanian vehicle (lots of them here!) with Vietnam ribbons on the back window. Turns out the bloke did basic training with Les at Kapooka and they were in the same platoon! Then spent time together at Enoggera in the same company. Some time was spent reminiscing and chasing flies.
Then it was back to Simpsons Gap, where there were more flies than tourists. This was a lovely spot, with a large sandy river bed, just like a beach, and only a short walk to the actual gap and another waterhole. This is also home to the black-footed rock wallaby and one actually decided he wanted his photo taken, posing very prettily on a rock with his feet stuck out in front of him. We returned to the carpark to be met by another Tasmanian couple – Mr Morse senior of Morse’s Coaches in Devonport and an acquaintance of Dot and Ken. Such a small world today.
In case you haven’t heard – Michael Jackson died today.
We awoke to a beautiful clear morning after the cloud of yesterday. Not quite as warm today, just a pleasant 23-24 degrees.
As the sun was shining, we decided to head for Standley Chasm, which must be seen at noon. I think every tourist within a 100 km radius made the same decision – there were more people than flies! The chasm is on private property, so the owners charge a “small” admission fee. As poor pensioners, we only had to pay $7.50 each! The admission fee certainly isn’t used on track maintenance or upgrading. It was a quite rough walk along a creek bed to get to Standley Chasm and the colours of the walls were incredible. The light is so strong here that it makes the shadows very intense – and photos can be quite interesting with the play of light and shade. We waited until the sun had reached its zenith, but being mid-winter, we weren’t lucky enough for both walls of the canyon to be sunlit at the same time.
When we returned to the car park, we noticed another Tasmanian vehicle (lots of them here!) with Vietnam ribbons on the back window. Turns out the bloke did basic training with Les at Kapooka and they were in the same platoon! Then spent time together at Enoggera in the same company. Some time was spent reminiscing and chasing flies.
Then it was back to Simpsons Gap, where there were more flies than tourists. This was a lovely spot, with a large sandy river bed, just like a beach, and only a short walk to the actual gap and another waterhole. This is also home to the black-footed rock wallaby and one actually decided he wanted his photo taken, posing very prettily on a rock with his feet stuck out in front of him. We returned to the carpark to be met by another Tasmanian couple – Mr Morse senior of Morse’s Coaches in Devonport and an acquaintance of Dot and Ken. Such a small world today.
In case you haven’t heard – Michael Jackson died today.
1 comment:
In case you haven't heard - it's still raining but made it to 10 degrees here today :(
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