Walking and Wading in Tasmania's West Coast Rainforest

I was in our "overseas" state for 9 days last month and it rained every day! Though to give credit, the sun will sometimes break through at just the right moment for a good photo opportunity.

But as I say to tourists who complain about the weather: "You're in a cool temperate rainforest, and without the rain, you wouldn't see such an abundance of greenery!"

On the west coast, they learn to manage an umbrella very early in life!

Walking on the platform at Queenstown station

I greatly enjoy my tourist travels on the West Coast Wilderness Railway, which runs for about 35 kms between Regatta Point (Strahan station) and Queenstown. It is an Abt system rack and pinion railway, due to very steep grades in parts - 1:20 and 1:16 being extreme. (So glad that I didn't have to walk these tracks!) The system was designed by Ronald Abt (the name is sometimes written incorrectly in upper case), a Swiss locomotive engineer. The first use of this system was on the Harzbahn in Germany (opened in 1885); on the Mount Lyell railway, from 1893.

 

Plenty of walks along the route as the train stops at stations along the way. These photos were taken at Lower Landing. The wire netting laid on top of the wet wood makes walking a lot safer.

These are young Huon Pine trees growing along the King River view at Dubbil Barril.

Yes, that's the way to spell it!

The rain helps to keep the carriage windows very clean. I walked along the platform at Rinadeena and didn't realise that I'd also captured a wonderful reflection.

The carriages have been crafted and fitted out using Tasmanian native timbers

and are modelled on original carriages.

 

According to records, Abt locomotive No.1 steamed into Queenstown for the original railway's official opening on 18 March 1897. Here it is, carefully restored and well maintained, on the turntable at Queenstown in April this year, at the end of its daily commute between Strahan and Queenstown.

But the sun does shine in Queenstown at all the right times. I took this photo of the almost-deserted main street (Orr Street) on the morning of ANZAC day, while waiting for the crowds to gather for the annual march.

Luxembourg and Trier

This seems to be turning into a travelogue, but I've tried to stick to mainly including photos of places where I have walked. The shoes are still going strong and are very comfortable. 



This is one of the shopping streets in Luxembourg.

The country has a highly developed economy, reported to have the world's highest nominal GDP per capita.



Smooth pavement outside the National Library

Although what I saw looked "new" compared with the older towns we'd passed along the Rhine and Moselle rivers, Luxembourg's history and strategic importance date back to a Roman era fortress site and a Frankish Count's castle in the Early Middle Ages.

Guard in front of Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg.
No, I didn't dare walk in his footsteps.

The "political" stuff about Luxembourg is that it is a representative democracy with a constitutional monarch. It is ruled by a Grand Duke - hence the need for a palace! It is now the world's only remaining sovereign Grand Duchy.


And on to Germany's oldest town . . .





Walking along Simeonstrasse, looking back towards Porta Nigra, fortified Roman
gateway  to the old town. The building dates back to the 2nd century AD.





Looking the other way, towards the Market Square and the
Church of St. Gangolph.





In the Market Square, and still more of the bags that I left behind.



Walking on Water

The Misty-Magical Moselle

Apart from the magic of sailing from Budapest, under the brightly lit bridges, on the Danube, at night, to the haunting sounds of the Blue Danube Waltz - the Moselle is one of the most wonderful places I've travelled in recent years. The water was so smooth and the reflections so perfect, that you felt you could almost step off the ship and walk straight across golden vineyards to the towns along the route. Well, I have to say that, to have an excuse for adding these beautiful photos to my "footsteps" collections!

What a wonderful place to "row, row, row your boat" on a calm Sunday morning.

After a morning's very scenic and peaceful cruising, we reached Cochem and it was time to start walking again.

A short and sharply steep gangplank led down to the path
beside the river.

You can see where our ship is docked, and the path beside - I took this photo
from the bridge in the next photo. Why is it that when travelling, we seek security
in taking plenty of photos of "our home"?

There are many day tour boats plying the river to cater for the many tourists "unfortunate"
enough to not have their own floating hotel.



 I chose to cross the bridge by foot and the effort was well worthwhile. I took my time walking up this flight of steps; I think there were about 50 steps, but I lost count when I ran out of breath! I found a narrow cobblestone road winding down a little further along near some strategically-placed coffee shops and restaurants, which was much easier for me on the return.

One last steep pinch and I head for the coffee bar.

The following morning we woke up at Bernkastel-Kues. The Moselle River divides these two towns, but they have merged their municipal areas.

A big "thumbs down" to the company who decided that overnight cruising would be acceptable to passengers

in such a scenic area. You don't pay for those balconies and not make good use of them! But I have heard since, that the complaints have been well noted. 

Back to walking on cobblestones again, I took the guided walking tour through the streets of Bernkastel.

It is 8 AM on a Monday morning. The crowds have not yet arrived in the Town Square

 



Bärenbrunnen (Bear Fountain)



 

This area is in the midst of a well-known
wine growing area. We are on our way
towards an old wine-cellar gate.

These are some of the things that I didn't purchase,
though I really love those shoulder bags!

 


By 10 AM people had arrived from everywhere!
Our ship's docking place is right at the end of the car park area.



This is the bridge across the Moselle to Kues,
but one that I didn't walk across.



Gambling and Education

Still walking through Europe - Germany mainly. Looking for pictures that show where I have trodden, I find that it's not natural to take photos looking down at your feet! Bad composition.

On a cool morning in late October, we were driven by bus from our overnight landing place at Gambsheim, through light fog and mist, to Baden Baden, famous casino and spa town. The grass was a little damp for walking and fortunately there were many paths.

Here in the Casino, I walked on the thick carpet, reflecting on the many the "rich and famous" who would have had lost money here. With no active patrons, it was a quiet experience of grace and opulence.

The streets of Baden Baden are also graceful, with many expensive shops. So presumably not everyone loses everything at the Casino!

Heidelberg, a City of Education

A much clearer morning the next day, saw us in Mannheim and travelling in yet another bus to Heidelberg, known for its university, the oldest in Germany (founded in 1386).



Heidelberg is situated on the beautiful River Neckar.




Heidelberg Castle towers above the town



We were fortunate in that we didn't need to walk all the way up to the castle, but there was plenty of walking around the castle area, rewarded by spectacular views.



We had a hearty lunch at the Hotel Ritter in the Old Town, which gave plenty of energy and time to to wander around the shops and stalls in the Market Place.