Travelling on.

Started early at Salamanca Markets in the heart of Hobart. These markets have been going for years and sell quality goods, produce and foods. At 8.00 it was bustling.

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Check out these beautiful locally grown flowers.

Bought these luscious Tassie cherries - $3.0 for 500g. Best I've had! Munched all day.

Many of the stall holders were upset that today was the last market - will close because of Corona-virus. Two cruise ships docked wouldn't let passengers land. Left to get on the road with coffee and donuts.

Traffic was light as I drove out of town heading for Lake St Clair. Autumn is on it's way: Hawthorn hedges are loaded with berries, and intertwined with glossy blackberries, Willows and Poplars are changing colour.

In the tiny town of Hamilton I had a quick lunch at the 1836 General store - town full of gorgeous stone cottages and flowers.

     Pink Icebergs and mellow sandstone.

After the strangely named Ouse the road left civilisation behind and began to move into forest then into the wilderness. There's something exciting about seeing the road stretch ahead, the Bush changing from Rainforest to Buttongrass plain and back and the mountains drawing in around, curtained in mist and rain. Again the palette of green changes every moment - Sassafras, Myrtle, Cypress,  Blackwood, Blue gum, Tree ferns and Brackens.

The central plateau, famous for its hydro-electricity features many lakes and dams making it popular fishing territory.

By the time I  reached Lake St Clair I had abandoned the idea of camping: 4 degrees and raining! A motel in Queenstown seemed a good idea.

At the Visitors Centre piles of packs outside and cold hikers huddled around the fire inside. Trails and tracks offered many different experiences from 30 minutes to multi-day trips.

I continued on - the road is quite slow because it is narrow with many bends and turns. Famous names like Frenchman's Cap NP pass by and lots of bee-hives take advantage of the flowering bushland.

                    Buttongrass plain

It rained all the way to Queenstown where denuded hills remind you of the damage years of mining has caused. The mountains are bare and rocky, Queenstown itself, full of older style cottages, some derelict and falling down and grey in the rain. It has warmed up - it's 8 degrees! I booked into a motel, I have the heater on high - AND - there's an electric blanket!