March 7, 2016. On our own in Tasmania

To get the dogs more comfortable with us, just George and I took them for their morning walk.  The homeowners, Terry and Althea, were scurrying around completing  last-minute tasks.  They are lovely people.

They are very self-sufficient.  They have 4 chooks (chickens) that lay 3-5 eggs a day.  We will be eating lots of eggs!  They get unpasteurized milk from a farmer friend, and use the cream to make their own butter, whey for cooking, and delicious cheese.  They have lots of fruit and vegetables growing.  The heirloom tomatoes are at their peak, so we will be eating lots of dishes with tomatoes.  The runner beans are running all over the place.  The arbor is dripping with grapes, from which Terry will make wine.  Terry has made pies from their raspberries for us with homemade custard.  Did I mention homemade beer?  Ales, lagers and darks....and hard cider, too.  Animals fare well here, too.  The chickens get homemade stew (which will be George's responsibility while we are here), and the dogs eat a homemade meat stew each evening. 

We took Althea and Terry  to the ferry.  It goes twice daily.  We took the daytime one; they are on the overnight sailing.  

Back home on our own, we ate yummy pork pie that Terry had made for our dinner.  Then....Downton Abbey!  

March 6, 2016. A day at the Tasmanian beach

LOCATION:  House-sitting near Devonport in northern Tasmania, Australia

WEATHER:  Very nice.  Highs in 70s

Today was beach day.  On our way, our homeowners Terry and Althea, showed us around Devonport.  We stopped at the grocery.  I noticed kangaroo and wallaby meat for sale.  Can't wait to try!

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The dogs, especially Mitzi, love the beach.  She fetches sticks from the waves.

When we returned, it was bath time.  Both dogs like to be bathed, unlike any pets we ever had.

Althea and Terry are busy getting ready for their trip.  

After a nice dinner, we watched my favorite TV show, Call the Midwife, and Doc Marten.

March 5, 2016. Getting oriented in a Tasmania

We are starting our first housesit in Australia, this one near Devonpart, Tasmania.  See #1 mark  on map.....

Our charges here are 2 cute dogs.  Mitzi is a Maltese/Shitsu mix.  

 

Pepper is a chihuahua.

Ralphie is a galah bird...

And 4 chickens who lay eggs for us daily....

We took the dogs for a walk along beautiful trails in the village, and learned about their care.  

Terry fixed us some yummy curry for dinner.

March 4, 2016. On the ferry to Tasmania

We had breakfast at the guest house in Melbourne, hopped on a taxi and arrived at the ferry terminal for our 9:00 AM departure.  We will be traveling on the Spirit of Tasmania.  

 

  Unfortunately, the departure was delayed, partly due to the arrival of a cruise ship.

We watched lots and lots of cars, especially campers, load.

Finally, we left at 11:00.  The Melbourne skyline was beautiful.

We sailed on the Bass Strait for 9 hours. The ferry was the largest we have been on.  It was beautifully appointed, like a cruise ship.  There are 6 floors of garages, and 4 floors for passengers.  There were lots of activities, and 3 movie theaters.  We played Disco Bingo.  What fun!  I even won a prize.  We had sandwiches and sipped Tasmanian wine to pass the time.  We listened to a park ranger who gave a talk on the animals of Tasmania, including this Tasmanian Devil charmer.

We arrived at about 9:00 PM in Devonport, on the northern coast.  Terry and Althea, the homeowners for whom we are housesitting, picked us up.  Terry is a professional chef, and prepared us a gourmet dinner. Yum! 

March 3, 2016. Layover in Melbourne

After an early morning flight from Auckland of 4 hours due west, we arrived in Melbourne, Australia.  We had found a hotel online with directions on how to get there.  So, we caught the airport shuttle downtown, then a short 3-stop train ride to our destination.  Easy-peasy.  Nice that we only have backpacks.  Melbourne is supposed to be one of the world's most liveable cities.  The skyline is beautiful.

It seems very prosperous with building cranes everywhere.  

Our hotel is actually a hostel.  It is the only thing we could find <$100.  It was built in the 1860s.

 

It is very tidy with a real Victorian feel.  Nice front desk staff.  We have a private room and share a bathroom down the hall, which we seem to have to ourselves.  

It is in a funky part of town, with tons of cafés and chic shops.

We had drinks at this old church, now an Irish pub.

Melbourne is very cosmopolitan.  I hear all kinds of different languages spoken by good-looking people, carrying shopping bags from the boutiques.

We had sushi in an outdoor cafe for dinner.  After a few old British comedies on TV, we went to bed early.  Another early morning tomorrow.

March 2, 2016. On towards Australia

Today is our last day on New Zealand's South Island.  

We organized the campervan at the RV park in Christchurch, dropped it off, then flew out of Christchurch to Auckland, on the North Island.

We have spent the last month in New Zealand.  The first week was in Auckland with our friends, then 3 weeks traveling around the South Island in our rented campervan.   We started in Christchurch, traveled clockwise around the island perimeter 3500 kms (about 2000 miles) then ended in Christchurch.

We have really loved the trip.  These sheep were a constant sight as we traveled each day.

I will also remember the beautiful tall, groomed  hedges around farms....

But mostly, we will remember the kind people.  Whenever we looked a bit lost or confused, someone would approach us offering assistance.  People seem upbeat, polite and cultured.  We are even learning the language!  New Zealand is really set up well for travelers, especially those on a budget.  There are hundreds of inexpensive, tidy  backpackers' hotels, plenty of immaculate public toilets, and great signage, handily pointing out villages' libraries, all with free wifi.     

We arrived in Auckland and walked to a nearby hotel.  Ate a snack in the room, and went to bed early for an early morning flight to Australia.  

 

March 1, 2016. Devastated Christchurch

CAMPGROUND:  2nd night at Amber Kiwi

LOCATION:  Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on central east coast

WEATHER:  Chilly and cloudy. Highs in 50s

We visited the International Antaractic Center.  Christchurch is the closest supply station to the Antarctic, so there is a lot of interest in that continent here.  After watching the miniature penguin feeding, we went to the Antarctic wind experience.  We dressed in galoshes and heavy jackets and entered a space that looked like the South Pole.  Then, a storm was assimilated with fierce winds.  We watched the wind chill drop on a temperature gauge.  It was pretty authentic, but still didn't match downtown Rochester winds in the winter!

There were several interesting exhibits on the explorers and scientific research there.

Then, on to downtown, or should say, what is left of it.  It is so sad.  These boarded up buildings are everywhere.

We learned that 80% of the downtown buildings have been demolished or are slated for demolition.  The iconic church is propped up while they decide what to do with it...

 

We went to a very interesting exhibit called Quake City about the 2011 earthquake.  We listened to people's stories and looked at pictures of the destruction.  I had been thinking that they haven't done much recovery and rebuilding in these 5 years, until I saw what downtown looked like in February, 2011.

They are very optimistic and are building like crazy. New construction like this  is everywhere.

 

To bridge the gap until their replacements have been built, shops and cafés have created  a "container city".  Great idea, and full of people.

I really hope they are successful in their re-creation of Christchurch.  Personally, I don't know if I would risk rebuilding.  Just today, there have been 12 small earquakes here.  

DINNER:  Ramen using onion, broccoli and tuna.  Last dinner in New Zealand, but not very fancy!