Day 2. Devonport to Stanley

Sunday, March 15, 2015
Stanley, Tasmania, Australia
IT WAS ROUGH!!!!
I turned on the light because I felt the bed drop to one side, it was just after 10. 00 and we were in Bass Strait. For the next two hours sleep eluded us as we moved from one side of the bed to the other listening to the bangs as the waves pounded the ship. Must have fallen asleep as at 5.15am this shrill little voice told us to get up. Decided not to shower, just as well as 10 minutes later he was calling people with cars on decks 3 and 5 to go to their cars and prepare to start their engines. We were the last to be called and we were off the ship by 6.20. It was pit black, but there were hundreds of cars and caravans waiting to board. On in 3 hours, off in 20 minutes.
We drove into Devonport and had Maccas for breakfast. The disembarked were the only people around this early on a Sunday morning. Nothing to see so we drove west to the little town of Penguin. It was a bright clear chilly morning. Some background. My two times great grandfather, Robert Dicker, was transported to Tasmania for 10 years for stealing a sheep. He was pardoned after 8 years and ended up settling near Penguin, in a valley which he cleared and then farmed. He was married twice and had 20 children. My relation was the first of his children. We found the Heritage Cemetery and his grave without too much trouble. I was very happy. We then set off to find where he had settled. I knew it was now called Camena but there is no township there now so we drove through it before realising, so had to backtrack. Stopped the car beside a local called Clarke. Yes he said, the Dickers and the Clarkes settled this whole valley and even intermarried. He knew more about the second lot of children of course and would have happily talked on and on if we were prepared to listen. But we moved on after taking some photos.
Next was Burnie and then Wynyard but both had little to offer on a Sunday afternoon.
We stopped at Boat Harbour Beach and had some hot chips while looking out over this picture postcard beach. Lovely on this bright warm day.
Finally we drove into the historic port village of Stanley snuggled under the shadow of The Nut. Our overnight accommodation is wonderful. The total top floor of the old Post Office. It sleeps five, has a small kitchen and compact lounge area with flat screen TV. Went for a walk around town, but decided against taking the chair lift up the nut. Edie is catching up on some sleep and I am off to the shower as soon as I have sent this. Looking forward to a quiet night in front of the telly.
Tomorrow we head to Cradle Mountain.

Comments

Glenda
2015-03-15

Pics look great, good you found the grave OK.

Chris
2015-03-17

The grave looks in remarkably good condition - glad you found it ok-- lovely to see these places -as I didn't get down that side of Tassie as it was July and was told not advisable!!!.

2025-02-14

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