Warbo's Blog: The ‘Squires’ Magical Mystery Tour of Tasmania . October 22nd-November 4th.

Reporting live from the Olde Tudor Hotel in Launceston, Tassie.

I am away touring Tasmania with the Chrysler Restorers Car Club on our 2023 Spring Tour here in the magnificent Apple

isle.

Where do I begin!!

We departed the Geelong Port in Victoria the Captain of our ship the ‘Spirit of Tasmania’ announced over the P.A system that he had an announcement to make that would not make all of his passengers too happy.

The voyage would be very, very rough with 4 - 5 meter swells with huge winds for our crossing to Devonport. He suggested that if you get sea sick it would be advisable to take your medication immediately because we were in for a bumpy ride.

Wait until you read this yarn from the ‘Squire’.

It takes approximately 3 hours to leave the Port before we sail out through the heads into the open seas & then the fun will begin.

Everything was as smooth as a baby’s bum until we ventured out into the open seas, I had my dinner & a few schooners before retiring to exclusive Captain’s cabin at around 10 pm. My cabin was midships on the 8th deck (best place to be) trust me. Most of the other Car Club members were located up towards the bow or towards the aft of the vessel. I thought to myself, good luck.

By the time I put my jammies on the ship was starting to really rock and roll, I could hear the propellers cavitating as we went up and down the huge swells, when I looked out my port hole window there was water being sprayed up all over my port hole on the 8th deck, that’s how big the seas were.

To cut to the chase.

I decided it was time for me to hit the fart sack, I set my alarm for 5 am because I wanted to be on deck for arrival into Devonport at 6.30 in the morning.

Guess what, my alarm went off at 5 am I jumped out of bed, jumped into the shower, got dressed, packed my bag and proceeded upstairs to our meeting point before disembarkation.

I ran into most of my fellow Car Club members that were waiting to get off the Ship.

WELL! You should have heard the stories. They told me these horrific tales that some of them had been thrown out of bed during the night, their cabin stools were thrown around the cabin along with their suit cases and hardly any of them had slept during the night.

Guess what!! The ‘Squire’ from the Shire slept through all this upheaval during the night and absolutely knew nothing about what had eventuated during the evening.

This is a true story, God’s honour.

We arrived on time at Devonport at 6.30 am to be greeted by a glorious day, blue skies, no wind, plenty of sunshine 23C or 74F. (see photos) and I was none the wiser of what the others had experienced over night.

Onwards and upwards, I drove my 1964 Plymouth/Valiant sedan off the ‘Spirit’ and commenced my road trip towards Launceston in absolutely glorious weather.

The back roads that I drove on for 75 kms or 47 miles towards Beaconsfield Mine and heritage centre was just spectacular.

I am sure the organisers of the annual Targa Tasmania would have used this section of road in one of their Targa Rally’s.

My 1964 Plymouth /Valiant 2 door sedan performed gallantly, I was using the apex of the corners like Shane Van Gisbergen at Bathurst.

All I could think of was ‘If only’ I was pedalling my 911 on this road I would be in heaven OR dead.

For all my Rev. head and petrol

head friends this island is awesome for driving off the main roads, for just a few moments I thought of how Juan Manuel Fangio’s must have felt in his prime. (stretching the imagination just a little, don’t you think ‘Squire’).

After all that excitement it was now time for what I had actually come to the island for, sightseeing. We spent many hours at the famous or infamous Beaconsfield Mine and heritage Centre (see photos) then later in the arvo visited the Cataract Gorge here in Launceston. The weather is still superb as I type this story 15c or 50f at 10 pm, no wind, what’s more.

Day 2: Highlights:

* National Automobile Museum of Tasmania.

* Launceston Planetarium.

* Penny Royal Adventure Park.

I hope that you all have enjoyed my 1st day adventures here in Tassie and my overnight voyage on board the ‘Spirit of Tasmania’.

Stay tuned, I still have another 13 days of my Magical Mystery Tour to go.

Stay safe.

Cheers for now.

Warbo