Cultural Adventures

How quickly the weather has changed.  From a pleasantly warm and calm day yesterday, overnight we have had 25mm of rain ---- and it's still raining.  But despite the dreary day there is always something beautiful to see --- right now there is a beautiful scarlet robin sitting on the bare tree branches outside the window where I am sitting. Such a lovely splash of colour.

 
One of the joys of this lovely garden at Greenslade is that since our arrival in the middle of June there has been a constant display of flowers -- roses, jonquil varieties, lavender, pink heath, violets, and many I don't know the name of - that seem to attract a lovely range of birds as well.  But I digress from the line of thought for my post today.
In my last post I gave you a small look at some of the local walks we have enjoyed.  Today I am going to share with you some of the 'cultural adventures' we have experienced since the beginning of July.

GRANDVEWE 'BLUE LOVERS' WEEKEND & HARTZVIEW WINERY - 7th July
A mere 15 minutes drive from here is the Grandvewe Cheesery.  The 'Blues' weekend gave us an opportunity to sample some organic sheep's milk cheese - all blue of course.
The cheese was lovely, but at $128 per kilo, we opted for two very small pieces.  However, they also make a delightful after dinner liqueur from the whey, so Mrs OGO bought a bottle - just for something different.  Oh, we also enjoyed a lovely hot drink (gluewein for me, coffee for the OGO) whilst listening to a great local Blues band.

Living quarters

Original grape press

Hartzview Cellar Door

Sleeping quarters - for 6!!

Pickers Huts

Typical pickers quarters

From Grandvewe it is just a short 10kms drive to the Hartzview Vineyard at Gardners Bay. Here we spent a little time exploring the heritage 'pickers huts' - after a little tasting of course. These little cottages accommodated families that were hired for grape picking in the early 1900s, and they certainly bring you down to earth when you see how those workers and families lived.


IDA BAY RAILWAY - 12 July

1940's loco & carriages

Ida Bay Railway Station

The Ida Bay Railway Station is located about 90 minutes drive from here at Lune River.  The railway is run by volunteers and receives no monetary support from Government, despite the fact that this is the most southerly railway line in Australia still operating. There are two 1940's war time locos in operation and several of the passenger carriages are built on bogie flat wagons built in the 1890's.

Deep Hole Bay Terminus

Late afternoon over Bay

1st Class Carriage

Picnic facility

Ida Bay from train

The area is rich in history and part of the 2 hour train trip stops at Ida Bay where the driver gives passengers an in-depth story of the events leading to the establishment of the railway. The train travels through beautiful forests and alongside the Lune river estuary, ending at Deep Hole and Elliott's Beach. Had we managed to catch the 10am train we could have stayed at the Beach for a picnic and caught the 2pm train back to Lune -maybe next time we visit Tasmania! This was one activity that we didn't mind spending $50 to experience.

Enough from me today.  However, the best is yet to come - at least I think so - with the 'surprise adventure' that the OGO gave me last Tuesday.