Boxerworks.com

A couple of weeks ago I flew down to Tasmania (Launceston) to finalise an online bike purchase. If all went well I was going to catch up with an old friend, go for a little ride around some of the best bike roads in the country, then catch the boat back with my 'new' ride. Here's how it panned out...

The bike was a bit more worn than I'd hoped, but as i'd pretty much committed myself to the purchase i had to negotiate a better deal... after some wrangling I managed to get the seller to pay for my return trip on the boat (for those not in the know Tasmania is an island south of the mainland) - a not insubstantial $270.

The bike as advertised:
So I rang my friend (an ex girlfriend I hadn't seen for years) and arranged to catch up at Launceston - the bike was at Perth about 15ks south. From Lonnie the ~60min ride down to her place (at Derby) was uneventful but somewhat damp and in failing light - not the best riding conditions on a new-to-me 30yo bike. The road was up/down/around like most down in Tas. But we got there safely and in one piece, including the bike.

Woke the next day to frost but brilliant sunshine was pouring down the valley... should be a good day.
This was the view from her veranda. Derby is an old tin mining town with about 250 residents. Now their income mostly comes from timber getting (and growing weed, actually it seems there;s more money in weed than timber these days).
We went for a ride 'round the nearby district - mainly mixed farming and logging (not unlike most of Tas, I guess). Rode to Legerwood where these sculptures were carved with a chainsaw from a row of old trees that were going to be just cut down and removed. the trees were planted to commemorate some locals that died in WWI so the scuptor depicted them 'at war' and 'at home at work', ie as loggers, railway men, carpenters, farmers etc. I subsequently saw a couple of other examples of this sort of work in nearby towns and met an artist that reckons he had the original idea but the bloke that done the work at Legerwood somehow got the contract from the local council. I checked out this bloke's work and I've got to say it was much better (sorry no pics). He was philosophical about it but a little pissed off... can't blame him - there's little enough work in Tassie, let alone for an artist.
More to come (as can't attach more than three images, they say)...

Another shot of the tree sculptures...
From Legerwood rode short distance to Ringarooma in the hope of lunch/snack - no such luck, but the Boags Draught went down very well...
they're obviously into fishing at this pub - this was one big fish caught 'up the road' a bit in the 80's...

After a couple of days i'd worn out my welcome so it was time to get some riding done!

On leaving Derby i headed East to the coast...
Near St Helens, 4 Mile Creek. Sun shining, ~15c bike running nicely... life could be worse!

For some reason i recall this as overlooking Oyster Bay, now i'm not so sure... I think it's just a little south of Bicheno. A bunch of asian tourists also stopped here to take some pics. Can/t blame 'em really...
Stopped at Swansea for an over-priced over-cooked fisherman's basket at this fish & chip shop - unfortunately recommended by service station over the road. My ex tells me it's coz Swansea's a tourist trap.

Yeah, no worries Steve... give me a minute or two (or maybe a few more... )

From Swansea headed back north a little then west on to the legendary Lake Leake road - many big, fast open sweepers (unlike much of Tas which is tight, narrow and twisty)... t'was fun indeed!
Then across the midlands on (pretty good) back roads...
Stopping at a small nondescript town for a photo-op with some old bowsers...
Heading up to Deloraine and then Mole Creek for the night.

Mole Creek Hotel for the night - they let you park your bike in the ballroom – “what a pub aught’a be!”
The next morning was VERY frosty and the publican recommended to head north a bit before heading towards Cradle Mountain and up to the Bass coast.

The Mersey River a little north of Mole Creek... you pass through plenty of valleys like this in Tassie...
The ride from MC up to Sheffield was excellent - hairpin climbs up and down through mountain passes then bursting out into lush green dairy country. Bloody beaut!

From Sheffield you turn left and head towards Cradle Mountain NP. It started to drizzle going through the park but had to stop for the obligatory "highest point' shot.
Sure it was damp but that world famous RS fairing kept me mostly dry - didn't even stop to put on the wets. it came down for about 30k's so no biggie... btw the graf on the road reads: "Gunnersmainia: State of Slash, Slaughter, and Burn" (Gunnersons is a V BIG timber/wood chip company in Tas). To go to CM you have to turn off from the main road - i didn't.

Great stuff mate. Love the colour of the bike too.

thanks Ross... yeah, I don't know about the colour: sometimes i like it sometimes not, all depends on the light.

Now, back to the saga...

From CMNP you turn right to head up to the Bass coast, stopping at Hellyer River for a coupla piccies - there's plenty of photo-ops down here...
but there's riding to be done!
oops, photo-op... Old abandoned servo in Yolla... For the observant you'll see it's 102c a litre FOR LEADED, those were the days! Here, yesterday, it was 132.
Yolla's a little dairy farming town on the way north to Wynyard on the Bass coast.

Near Wynyard is the 'Winged house' - pretty cool...
check that out for a view! On a clear day you could almost see Geelong... well... it's only 300 odd ks i think.
And this is looking N/W from a lookout a few ks up the road.
Nice country...