3 Nights in Cygnet

We went for 1 night and stayed 3, thus slowing the pace down from 2-3 anchorages per day! Garry was orchestrating a whirlwind tour of his territory and we were all running out of puff.

The Port Cygnet Sailing Club entry statement.

A large area of moorings tether lots of local boats and a few visitors like ourselves too. To anchor, we'd have been a long way back from the Port Cygnet Sailing Club. We noticed various of the 'usual suspects' come and go off the moorings as they made a little visit to Cygnet too. The yacht club members were very hospitable and allowed us the use of their showering facilities in return for a gold coin donation. The prospect of being able to shower, wash and dry my hair was irresistible.

There is always a time in the day when it's calm.

A view to Port Cygnet.

Thank you to Clive for providing this image.

Having researched on-line what the town of Cygnet had to offer, we decided on a walk into town (approx 1.5km). We were thinking that a coffee would be a good reward. On the way we observed somewhere to buy cherries from a roadside stall (duly noted for the return trip), a formidable hedge and a local artist working on his 'Blue Horse'. Once in town we discovered that it was really quite a bit bigger than we'd expected. 2 Pubs, a bank, 2 supermarkets, 2 butchers, a hairdresser and even a laundromat (attached to the Newsagents) and adjacent to a library. We later learned that Cygnet is experiencing something of a Real Estate revival and has become a popular place to resettle and prices have risen as a consequence.

Already 3 months in the making, the artist was racing to complete his piece in time for the Folk Festival and a potential purchaser.

Magnificent Hedge!

This equally carefully curated hedge was clearly a bit longer in the making.

Roadside honour stalls selling Cherries, Raspberries, Jams and Apples when in season.

We headed to the School House Cafe for our coffee reward. The Velvet Lounge, also recommended by the locals, is temporarily closed due to a fire. Suddenly recalling the fate of the Port Arthur General Store we wondered if fires were particularly common in Tasmania. Completely out of character, the Bloke didn't even ask about a sausage roll. Is he sickening for something? The coffee was great, the scones less so.

We took so long we stopped in for more nourishment to the Pub which also has a coffee shop. I'm certain there is more money in coffee than beer. The proprietor was obviously keen on Dolls Houses and had a number of display cabinets with 'mini world' furniture and fittings.

I'd spotted a hairdresser and seeing an opportunity, ducked in hopeful of an appointment. Tomorrow lunchtime was the soonest. What the heck! My last hair cut was at Beauty Point, West Tamar (a place name, not a shop name) way back in October. By now I was in a complete funk about the state of my hair: I could just about manage to survive one more day! As it happened, I failed to communicate that a short hair cut did not need to be in the local style. I'm not looking exactly like a GI or Gomer Pyle but only because my Carmen Miranda loopy ear rings are helping soften the look!

We ambled back to the yacht club with a few shopping trophies in the form of meat for a BBQ, fresh fruit, veg and bread and were greeted on our return by Rick and Helve Murdoch's 'agents',  also from RYCT, sent down to check up on our well being. Clive and Christine have a property just out of Cygnet and happened to be around. We invited them to join us for our planned BBQ on the foreshore. It was a bit rainy by late afternoon so we were invited to convene up at their property instead.

A meal shared is always more fun.

Clive's hobby farm has been equipped with all the 'big blokes toys', much like Sandi and Hud's in Denmark and John and Julie's at Rosa Glen, WA.  There are 'X' head of cattle with pasture under cultivation to feed them; fencing and restorations under way. Ample work to fill a 'retirement'. (BTW Mark, the answer is YES to some use of Gripples!). Apart for the wonderful company, a highlight was the visit to look over the dam and watch Clive and Christine's resident Platypus. It entertained us for some time before it was too dark to see it anymore.

Clive in harvesting mode using one of his 'Toys'.

Thanks for the photo Clive.

Thursday is Model Boat race day at the Port Cygnet Sailing Club and judging by the turnout it's a popular passtime for the more senior sailors.

We  made one last trip into Cygnet on Friday morning to put a load of washing through and observed the influx of people arriving for the Cygnet Folk Festival. We were glad to be a little out of town and declined to participate in the experience. A trip up a river; the Huon, beckoned instead.

Cygnet getting ready for the Folk Festival.

When was the last time you saw a VW Beetle?