Wombat v sunglasses and one mad parrot.

Oh dear, trying to open the bottom drawer where the pots and pans were kept, the handle refused to release the catch and try as we might the drawer remained stubbornly closed. It happened last night as I was cooking dinner. In a way it was a good job it was after I had removed the frying pan and saucepan, but the colander was still inside, as was the lid to the saucepan so straining the veg became a bit of a challenge. How that was achieved was for Ian to hold a plate over the top and for me to tip the pan.

The lovely clear night sky and the bright moon got me trying out the camera settings.

 Monday 9th was a bank holiday. I was amazed to hear it called the 'eight hour day.' Officially it is Labour Day and commemorates the granting of the eight-hour working day for Australians. What this did mean was some closed shops and we did wonder if we would have a hunt on our hands for bread and booze. We did find an IGA supermarket open so the bread was okay but no supermarket over here in Oz sells booze. We managed to find a bottle shop only to discover it had closed not 10 minutes before we arrived. Could end up with rationing the last bottle of wine tonight!

  On the way to Triabunna, we came across a sign showing Bonorong wildlife park With time on our hands we took a detour. At first glance, it seemed a bit run down but once through the gates, we realised very quickly that the animal welfare was very much its main purpose. The aim of this small wildlife park was to get healthy animals back to the wild. There is a hospital to treat the sick and injured and 24-hour rescue service. Unfortunately, some will never be returned to the wild and the Tasmanian Devils were a just some of them. Their mum suffered from the awful facial tumour disease (DFTD) a transmissible cancer that affects the Devils. The disease is spread by biting and causes the appearance of tumours on the face or inside the mouth and inevitably it causes death. Although the young Devils on-site didn't have the disease all had problems with eyesight which meant that release was not possible.

Took about an hour to go around the park and although both of us hate to see animals in captivity, Borong is doing a sterling job helping the endangered species.

This made me smile. A lady leant over the wall to take a photo and lost her sunglasses. She was most concerned the Wombat was going to run off with them.

Tawny Frogmouth

Tiger Snake

This was one mad Galah! Saw itself in the lens of my camera and decided I was a rival.

Whilst at the park Ian phoned Crusin hire company. Explaining our situation the advice was to bring the motorhome back to them to repair the handle. Luckily we were about 30 minutes from Hobart and within 10 minutes of leaving the motorhome with them, we got the nod it was fixed. Amazing what a screwdriver and drill will do!

Arrived at Triabunna and booked into a proper site. Laundry and showers yet again (well we were starting to smell a bit) but the main reason was it paid to be early at the car park for boarding the ferry to Maria Island tomorrow.

And wildlife,

Eastern Rosella

Bees made their home in a nesting box.

White-faced Herons