Not A Mid Life Crisis, Just An Extended Tour (Part X)

 DAY 13

I did set an alarm today as I had a slightly ambitious schedule which was going to culminate in me flying home tonight for work. So I had the bike packed and was on the road just after 7am - the earliest start since waay back here on Day 3! I knew that Derby would be awake and planned on grabbing a bite to eat there. I wasn't disappointed, with the Two Doors Down cafe' doing a brisk trade. I perched myself out the front and chatted with some mtbers while downing a not-too-shabby coffee and toasty.

My destination for the morning was the lighthouse at Eddystone Point which I think might be the most easterly point in Tassie. There was going to be a bit of dirt involved, so, goodo!

Out of Derby and up that twisting climb again. The countryside just east of Derby is beautiful. I could easily live somewhere here. I took the B82 (Gladstone road) and trundled through Herrick, Pioneer, South Mt Cameron and Gladstone where I grabbed some fuel. I did stop briefly at "The Little Blue Lake" which is an old tin mining site where the water has been poisoned - so why not turn it into a tourist attraction....😐

North Anson road out to the lighthouse turnoff was excellent dirt. Once I turned in for the 13-ish kilometres to the point the road condition got a bit worse. Many corrugates, a loose sandy surface made me a bit more wary. But all in all, the dirt was still pretty good. When I arrived at the point the gate to the cottages and lighhouse was open and the sign said to walk or drive in. So, I rode right up to the light house. Not sure if you are supposed to but there was nobody around and I wasn't doing anything malicious...soooo...if a tree falls in the forest and nobody hears it.....

She be a mighty imposing structure. Sturdy and strong to be sure!

Tucked away around the back of the lighthouse are the access stairs and these couple of plaques.

There is a mini "lantern" just to the east of the lighthouse. Not sure what that is for though. it would hardly qualify as a back up.

I tried to get a picture of the surf pounding the granite rocks along the coastline but failed miserably. The rocks were coated in a bright orange/red lichen that almost seemed to glow.

Yeah, fail...

On the way back out the old light house keeper's cottages looked pretty cool. They are obviously rentable and would make a great location if you didn't want to be disturbed.

Back the way I came now, staright through Gladstone and heading west, I didn't stop. I didn't find this part of Tassie very interesting if I am being brutally honest. My love of the ocean and anything to do with it is pretty minimal. I only went to Eddystone Point to see the lighthouse. So, I didn't stop until Bridport. I did a lap of the main street then stepped off the bike for 30 seconds to take this photo at the wharf. 😴

Then back on the road continuing west. I got stuck behind two log trucks and several cars who weren't game to overtake said trucks for what seemed an eternity. Eventually as I neared Georgetown I spied the turn off to Bell Bay industrial area. I had an interest in a business that operated here ten-ish years ago so went for a look to see if I could pick where it had been. While I didn't discover anything conclusive, I did see where all those Tassie logs go to. 

I did a quick lap through Georgetown for a sandwich and a drink then headed south for Launny (in a round-about way).

I turned off the East Tamar highway for the Batman Bridge. I cruised down under it for a look as there were dirt tracks leading down to the river's edge. 

It was actually pretty cool to check out the structure from down here. There appears to be two maintenance cars that access right across the span from underneath. The car access is via two roller doors on the east bank.

Back up and onto the bridge, I took the first left as I exited to bridge. I had intended to take the West Tamar Highway which was a right turn a bit further along. I was now on the Deviot road?! This road went through Deviot 😕 and followed the Tamar River quite closely down to Gravelley Beach where it joined the highway again. The first few kilometres had just been resealed and the smell of fresh tar overwhelmed the senses along here. I was glad to get off Deviot road and back onto the highway. I went north for a wee bit to Exeter, then turned west on Frankford Road until the intersection with Birralee Road, which I took down to Westbury. Birralee road was a great little road and I'll do it again in the future.

I then meandered into Launceston to look for a car wash to give the bike a proper tub. I found one with card facilities (who has coins these days?) and spent 20 minutes lathering the beast up and knocking 5000 kilometres worth of bugs off. (The wash in Deloraine yesterday hadn't done much apart from clean the wheels up for the tyre change)

I had bought a can of Maixima SC-1 yesterday so the bike got a bit of a polish up as well. It not only smells great, it definitely helps stop the road kill from sticking to the bodywork. I then headed down to Longford as I wanted to try another back road down that way. The idea was to just chill for a while and catch up on emails etc while I whittled the time down to my flight departure. 

I enjoyed a great old fashioned milkshake in the vast Anglican Church gardens, from Sticky Beaks Pizza Cafe' which is located just across the road. 

Kicking off the boots and letting my socks dry was pure luxury! Did I mention how warm it had been this week in Tassie? I had been sweating in my riding gear all week and was keen for it to be over! (shout out for Aldi knee high motorcycle socks - they have not fallen down once on this 5000km trip)

The time eventually came to pack the beast away with her Twin. An Uber ride to the airport and I was soon on an "on time for a change" flight home to Brisbane.

Another 385 kilometres on the odometer and the north east of the state ticked off the list. I don't see a need to go back that way again when there is so much else on offer east, south and west. A reminder that the Ride With GPS maps attached to each post are the exact route I have taken each day. The red/white hashed roads are dirt. Yes, it shows sealed AND dirt roads so you can plan with much more accuracy and confidence! (and for free!) 😎

To be continued.......