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Since I last posted we've been doing even more travelling--first to South Australia through a new route to us. We drove through central west Victoria, passing through Ballarat and the lovely little farming centre of Hamilton. On the way, I managed to snap an iconic Australian image:

Emus AND Kangaroos in the same field! There was only one kangaroo but about 25 emus (you can see some in the background).

After that it was on to beautiful Port Elliot, a historic village on beautiful Horseshoe Bay (NOT the one in West Vancouver!) Coincidentally (or not) a painting I did of Commodore Point, on Horseshoe Bay, is the March image on my 2012 calendar! I might have to paint some more of the local scenery--here's another shot of the pier near the beach.

There was a little surf carnival on at the time--look at the colourful outfits the kids were wearing!

We had a great weekend, reuniting and barbecueing with long-lost cousins, anday trip to historic Strathalbyn gave some artistic inspiration.

Then, after about 5 visits over the years to the town of Victor Harbour, I finally walked over the tramway/causeway to Granite Island, and around the island.

Along the way, we saw the things you'd hope and expect to see--seals, birds, lovely sea and coastal iew--and then some unexpected things--like this camel, waiting for someone to pay for a seaside ride!! Who'd have thought, in this area, to see that offering! Must be intending Victor Harbour to be the next Cable Beach!

After that it was on to Tasmania. First stop was MONA (The privately operated Museum of Old and New Art that just opened last year, to some controversy). A "must see" for anyone visiting Hobart--especially for an artist like me. My review--definitely confronting (most of the works were either death or sexually oriented displays), and a few I thought were disgusting--like the Cloaca Machine, and the x-rays of rats imitating the stations of the cross. I hesitate to callk them art, myself. I guess my preferences run more towards traditional, conformist or classical art. In the end I was quite disappointed--but don't let that stop you from going there to see what all the hubbub is about.

Next it was off to explore the wild west coast of Tassie--lots of rainforest and reservoirs and water, and not too many people about.

This is a photo of MacQuarrie Harbour, at Strahan, where we got a marvelous boat cruise around the harbour, to Sarah Island (the first convict prison in Australia, pre-dating Port Arthur), and up the Gordon River. It was a lovely west-coast day--a little reminiscent of BC's West Coast, and of New Zealand as well.

Distinctly Australian, however, with polarized views on the preservation of timber vs. jobs, the convict history and heritage, and the iconic woods with the famous Huon pine, Sassafras, King Billy Pine, myrtle and beech trees.

Pushing on to the north west coast, we enjoyed another walk up the Nut at Stanley (we had done it last year and were happy to do it again, for more training for Mount Kilimanjero), and a great lighthouse tour at Table Cape, and a 2 kilo crayfish meal for 4.

This is before, while he's still alive on the scales, all $156 of him!

Then it was on to another historic lighthouse at Low Head, near Devonport. I can feel more paintings in my "Lighthouse" series coming on--I love the symbolism, the settings, and the structures of the lighthouses around the world. I've seen some calendars of lighthouses and that gave me the idea of a series of paintings.

This is the museum at the Low Head Pilot Station, which is close to the lighthouse. It's a lovely old precinct with 45 heritage listed buildings sitting on a very large green. The lighthouse itself is about a kilometre away.

Then we were away south to the Tasman Peninsula which surrounds Port Arthur. We spent a wonderful week exploring more convict heritage sites like this one.

This is a ruin from the Coal Mines Historic Site about 15 km from Port Arthur. The worst of the prisoners were sent to it to mine coal, guarded by soldiers who had much better accommodation there.

It is a beautiful setting today but apparently the convicts were in fear of being sent there to work and often were kept in solitary cells with no windows, measuring 6 feet by 6 feet, totally lined with stone. Must have been hell in the winter.

We also visited Port Arthur again, a couple of times, as there is much more there to see than the two hours that we had last year.

The best part of the week was all the training we then did for hiking Mount Kilimanjero in 6 weeks--there are some beautiful coastal paths and we did three Cape walks and saw some remarkable formations including "Remarkable Cave".

This photos is on the way to Cape Hauy.

The next is from the Waterfall Bay to Fortescue Bay track, which took 6 1/2 hours and was the best hike we did, on Sunday with our

wonderful friends and hosts who had the knowledge of the area, and provided great company, food and beds at the end of each day. We were very spoiled! Hopefully we can handle the less stunning accommodation and beds we'll expect in Africa!

So many beautiful places, so much travel, and lots of photos and inspiration for future paintings. I haven't had my brushes out for over a month, and the infrequent sketching I've een fitting in hasn't been enough to make me happy. I could consider that I'm using photography as my art form at the moment, to capture the colours and beauty of my surroundings--but I hope to get a few things painting in the next month as our travelling pace slows a bit.

Three months of our adventure-filled hyear have flown by--and there are anther five to go feobre we start to settle in our new home after September. Still having too much fun!

I'll leave you with an image of our last night in Nubeena--a great ending to the Tasmanian saga. See you next time!