Launceston (2017-03-04)

The drive into Launceston was the most challenging to date, but we survived it without resorting to online directions.  I had carefully written down all of the turns (from Google maps again), and knew that when we turned right from David Street to High Street, we then took the next left onto Howick Street, which was one of the few streets in the area that crossed the #1 highway.  The problem was that when we turned onto High street, the left lane went downhill at a sharp angle, and the right lane, continued on straight.  I chose the right lane, and later realized that the turn onto Howick could only be made from the left lane.  So things turned to custard very quickly, and with numerous one-way streets to contend with, it took us a while to get across the highway and into the Big 4 Holiday Park, where we were staying.  So we saw a little more of Launceston than we had planned.

 

Just a few kilometres from our accommodation is the Cataract Gorge, a major attraction in the city.  We started at First Basin, where there is a free outdoor swimming pool (although a lot of people where swimming in the basin itself), and crossed the river on a suspension bridge, rather than taking the longest single-span chairlift in the world.

 

First Basin

From there, we walked down the gorge to the King's Bridge, and then back up to First Basin.

 

King's Bridge from Cataract Gorge

 There were several peacocks roaming around First Basin, and one posed very nicely so I could take his photograph.

 

Peacock at First Basin

 Launceston is a mixture of architectural styles, and we did a self-guided walking tour that took in some of the more noteworthy buildings, but not necessarily the oldest buildings.

 

The Custom House, early 1800s

 

Victorian-style Backpackers

 In the afternoon we visited the historical town of Evandale, about 15 Km south of Launceston, for two family history purposes.  Firstly, the Anglican church in Evandale was where my Great Great Grandmother, Elizabeth Hemblin, married her first husband, James Elder, in 1844.  The church was crumbling and was rebuilt in 1871, so while we could not see the actual church in which they married, we were able to get a feel for the church grounds and Evandale in general.

 

Evandale Anglican Church, built 1871

 The second reason for our visit to Evandale was to meet a "new" cousin of Marlene's whose wife I had corresponded with last week regarding their shared DNA.  I had told Kim in an email that it would be some time before I would be able to look at the information that she sent me, as we were travelling in Tasmania, and she replied to say that they live just outside of Launceston ....it really is a small world.  Several emails later we setup a meet at a cafe in Evandale.  Kim and Michael have led very busy lives, with one being a long-time MP in the state legislature, and the other being the local Mayor, but despite us feeling somewhat "under-achieved", we had a good visit, and we will perhaps see them in Canada later in the year.

 

 We finished our afternoon with a historical walk around Evandale, before heading back into Launceston.

 

The next few days are going to include a lot of driving, and two one-night stops, as we head over to the far Northwest of the island and then to Cradle Mountain National Park, so blog postings may be delayed, abbreviated or unintelligible.  Only time will tell which.