ALONG THE TRACK…
Exploring urban seashores reveals much about local history and the changing priorities of the generations.
Once, this seashore was largely cleared of vegetation. Now, the coastal forest has come back to create a linear, bushy zone between shoreline and the houses along the top of the escarpment above, a product of recent generations’ valuing of nature.
An informal, unmaintained and in places rough track has been made over the years that takes walkers from the boat launching ramp at one end to the surfing beach some kilometres distant at the far end, connecting Lewisham to the coastal town of Dodges Ferry a full 40 kilometres distant from the state capital of Hobart, Tasmania.
Allow a few hours for the walk, whichever end you start at, and carry water as there is none available on the track. The walk is suitable for children and families as well as an easy walk for seasoned bushwalkers.
#Tasmania #DodgesFerry #LewishamTasmania #tracks #trails #bushwalking #hiking
HERE ON THE COAST…
Traipsing along, Fiona follows the local foreshore trail while I stop to make a photo.
The unmaintained trail takes you along the sometimes still, sometimes choppy waters of the bay. Follow it far enough eastwards and you end up at our local surfing beach where the water is now 12.7°C.
HERE ON THE COAST…
Disused boat shed at Dodges Ferry.
An adjacent and disused boat shed burned down last year. Boat sheds are found on several local beaches on the shore of the bay. This one is located just past the sandstone headland at the eastern end of Okines Beach.
#photography #tasmania #dodgesferry
#coasts #boatsheds #hobartandbeyond #tassiegram #landscapephotography
THE OUTDOOR MUSEUM…
Along the Lewisham to Dodges Ferry track, on the east bank of China Creek, stands an unfinished shack.
What were the builder's intentions with this structure? Whatever they were it is home now to a neglected and partially deflated dinghy and a Canadian canoe. The shack stands at the bottom of a steep slope below a house.
HERE ON THE COAST…
Took a walk along the foreshore on sunset last night.
The colours of the end of day tint land and water in colours bright and pastel. The bay is still. A water bird calls.
This is life here on the coast. I hope that yours’ is as colourful.
#tasmania #dodgesferry #coasts #sunsets #goldenhour #photography
THIS MORNING HERE ON THE COAST…
“Day comes with its golden eye”. The opening line of G Wayne Thomas’ song, Day Comes, from the 1971 film Morning of the Earth could just as well have been about this morning here on the coast.
From behind the wooded hills to the northeast the sun shone on a sky spotted with the clouds we know as Stratocumulus perlucidus, a layer made up of little puffs of cloud separated a little from each other that occur between 600m and 2000m altitude.
Before coming over the horizon we were treated to a pink and yellow promise of the coming day as the sky lit up with dawn’s early light.
Not bad, is it? This place on the coast.
IN TASMANIA…
China Creek flows into the estuary at Dodges Ferry on the coast of southeast Tasmania.
Low tide reveals extensive sand flats on this shallow side of the estuary through which waters flow into Pitt Water.
Tasmanians are fortunate in having small towns off the main highways where life is slower and quiet.
#tasmania #dodgesferry #landscapephotography #photography #coasts
Last night’s last light shines off the estuary as another summer’s day is done.
This—here on the coast—is the land of the speccy sunset. It was not one of those last night. It was something more subtle, a passing play of yellow light on water at the end of the long summer twilight.
It was there then it wasn’t. Light on water is like that, a passing reflection.
#sunsets #reflections #tasmania #dodgesferry #photography #naturephotography
Russ Grayson
Russ