A fun photo for the day

[Andrew S.]

Here is a photo to brighten up everyone's day a little: 130m high transmission tower on Mt Wellington above Hobart, Tasmania. Replaced a steel one in 1997. Fairly hostile place to put one - winters up there are harsh.

To give scale - those are a couple folks walking around the bottom.

According to a technician who has worked at the tower, workers must only spend set amounts of time inside because the electromagnetic radiation levels are too high for safe prolonged exposure. Any repairs - they have to power it down.

And we think we have troubles - imagine a ratchet lift for 68m, then ladder climbing a hollow cylinder for the remaining 62m with nothing but air underneath. I can't imagine them being too worried about what power cable sounds best in that system....

 

[Andrew S.]

Today's photo was a brilliant sunset down the D'Entrecasteaux Channel in the middle of April. I'm afraid my iPhone doesn't do it justice.

It was taken out of Gordon - a very small settlement about 45 min south west of Hobart city. There is a pier, a boat ramp, some camping facilities, a sea break and little else.



D'Entrecasteaux Channel is broadly a channel of sea running between the main island of Tasmania and Bruny Island (famed for its oysters!). I have included a shot across the Channel that has the closest point to Bruny.

There is a car ferry that runs regularly between the two, weather depending, and it usually takes 30-40 minutes to get across including getting on and off. Bruny itself is quite small, and consists of two separate larger islands with a low lying isthmus between them. Not much goes on in Bruny!



We have little in the way of anything to our west, and the sunsets, and Aurora Australis (southern lights) can be stunning.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful day, wherever you may be.

 

[Lampie519]

Typical Dutch image (grist mill, 5 minutes walk for me)

 

[etunes]

just before sunrise

 

[PeterA]

Racing in fog



Looking East

 

[tima]

Racing in fog


Looking East

View attachment 78981

What is the name of the lighthouse ?

 

[PeterA]

What is the name of the lighthouse ?

Marblehead Light

 

[Big B]

*1

 

[Andrew S.]

Good evening one and all.

Hollybank Forest Reserve is a 20-minute drive from Launceston, Tasmania's second largest city . This picture was taken in December. We live around 3 - 3 1/2 hours away.

It is one of Tasmania's most popular picnic areas, and has a distinctly European flavour. In autumn, exotic deciduous trees are a colourful contrast to the natives.

A 40-minute walk passes through examples of Tasmania's major production forest types in a demonstration forest. This was part of the walk.

 

[tima]

Marblehead Light

Thanks for that. I was not aware of any skeletal light towers in New England, so I learned something new. 6th order Fresnel lens.

 

[Andrew S.]

Gosh what lovely photos.

I would comment individually, but it would be a never ending quest!

In the meantime, thank you for every single one. They brighten my day up no end.

 

[Andrew S.]

Marblehead Light

Thanks Peter - I read about it on Wiki - fascinating history. I had no idea what a Fresnel lens was - not having a nautical bone in my body - I learned something today.

Do you live close by, or is that where you moor?

 

[PeterA]

Thanks Peter - I read about it on Wiki - fascinating history.

Do yo live close by, or is that where you moor?

Both. I live one block from where I took the photo and we have two moorings in the harbor not far from the lighthouse.

 

[Andrew S.]

Both. I live one block from where I took the photo and we have two moorings in the harbor not far from the lighthouse.

How wonderful. You are blessed being a yachtsman. I didn't realise you were so far up. Winters must be brutal.

Enjoy your summer.

 

[Andrew S.]

Today's photo is of Mays Beach, approx 45 min out of Hobart.

This was taken at dusk a few weeks ago. It was unusually calm.

The traditional owners of the land, the Moomairremener people of the Oyster Bay Nation (Aboriginals) lived seasonally along the coast, prior to white settlement. The May family purchased property in 1874 and Mays Point, Mays Beach and Mays Hill are named after them. The family had orchards and grew apples, pears and cherries. A wharf at Mays Beach was used to ship the fruit to market.

Farmland surrounds the area, with many of the descendants of the May family still living and farming it.





The picture below is of farmland around 100m up from the beach along the coastal track, taken over summer.




The coastal strip is now public land. The beach itself is around 1.2km long.

This is a photo of the beach itself, again toward dusk. The sand is quite a bright yellow in full sunshine.



The point at the top right of the photos produces a small point break in certain swells and it is common to see surfers out there dodging the rocks.



The water is usually around 8-10 degrees in winter and 16 in summer (Celsius).

Sea Kayaks regularly visit, and in Frederick Henry Bay - in which May Beach sits - there are yacht races most Saturdays from Nov. to March. Mainly two man ones like Peter posted - although occasionally larger Catamarans - which fairly fly across, one keel out of the water and the other barely in.

I hope everyone is having a lovely evening, or day, as may be.

 

[Andrew S.]

Good morning. I hope this finds everyone well.

It has been a wet week here.

This morning's photo is a simple gum leaf with some droplets, taken by my wife yesterday in between the showers.




Wishing everyone a joyous rest of the weekend.

 

[Mark L]

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

 

[Mark L]

 

[AMR / iFi audio]