Sunset Signals

The Mount Nelson Signal station was completed in 1811 and was the first semaphore station to be built in Tasmania. Initially used for reporting the arrival of shipping to Hobart it eventually became part of a chain of stations that connected Hobart and Port Arthur. A short message and reply would take around 15 minutes to deliver.

It was a fairly early start for us this morning to get out to the airport for our flights to Hobart. G was about half an hour behind me and by the time we collected our bags quite a queue had grown at the Avis rental desk. After a wee delay though we were on our way... that is after I found the parking brake! I eventually had to get the manual out since the wee button by the transmission was missing. Turns out this car has a humphing big pedal next to the brake pedal to engage and release the parking brake. Bloody automatics! ;-) Anyway, all warning lights out, we finally got underway. A late addition to the schedule was to stop off at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) just north of Hobart but I missed the small (OK, rather glaringly obvious) print on their website saying they were closed on Tuesday's! Oops!

A short drive and we were in Hobart and checked into our accommodation. After a wee cuppa to settle in we headed off into town for a bit of shopping and dinner. We decided to take a wee trip up the the signal house to watch the sunset over Hobart. We knew it would be behind us but it was lovely gazing over the Derwent river and Ralphs Bay as the sun dipped behind Mount Wellington and slowly shrouded the regional capital in darkness.

Another early start tomorrow. Off to cruise around Bruny Island but there's a two and a half hour bus ride to get there so hopefully I'll be able to catch up a little then.