20160304 Tas Gordon with Hal and Cath's

20160304 Reluctantly we left Randalls Bay heading to Gordon for an exciting few days with our dear friends Hal and Cath who live on the edge of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.

 

The history of Gordon started when in 2001 a Hal McNeale (a miner at the time) sailed to Tasmania to explore the Island and discovered on the south coast in a remote part of Tasmania some land, on the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, which he staked a claim.  On McNeale’s, last night in Tassie he decided to hit the town and to his dismay met the lustrous Cathy Vandersluys, and there love bloomed (all night).  The following morning McNeale left his maiden only to return a short time later, what are you doing back, said the maiden, I have returned, (on bended knees) to ask for your hand in marriage said McNeale.  Overwhelmed by this sudden and unexpected proposal she jumps into his arms and they were married on November 2001.

Mr & Mrs McNeale life began and they built there cabin overlooking the Channel where fishing was plentiful and there was much work.  Unfortunately there were to be no children (neither wanted the little horrors).

Life has been good to the McNeales as they sit on the front porch taken in the view of the sailing boats passing by.

The McNeale’s dressed in their work uniforms (check out the bus driver, isn’t he cute ) prepare for their working day, don’t forget the cigs, Cath.

A gathering of old friends at the Franken  home in 2016.

Things turned bad for the McNeale’s as they woke one morning to squatters taken over there land, Des and Leonie stake a claim on their block.

Des puts McNeale to work clearing the block.

McNeale runs a bath in the back yard for Lee as she takes in the view while cooking, and I mean cooking, the bath was bloody hot, I hopped out looking like a cooked lobster, 10 wips to McNeale for cooking the lustrous Lee.

As time rolled by Mr McNeale withdrew into his pants, he's a worry.

McNeale became a bit of a recluse spending most of his free time in his shed restoring old bikes.

As he keeps an eye on wondering trespassers.

Who remembers the old fridge from many of the McNeale’s shin digs at Cleveland, now the door hangs in Hall's shed as a reminder of those great times along with all his other crap, ha Hall.

07-03-2016 With both the McNeale's at work we vacated the claim leaving behind a large patch of diesel to remember us by, but not before Cath gave Des the third degree about returning before leaving Tassie. You will never do this trip again so I insist you return as she hands us her roster for the next month, we will see said Des with a big grin on his dial.

10-03-2016 We returned from Bruny Island and Cath meet us at the local Pub where we parked the van and hitched a ride into Hobart to get our usual yummy Salmon.

But first a quick stop at Helen's to check out there new cottage and I must say it is very cute.

Love the cow bell Helen

All stocked up with salmon we head home, so Cath jumped at the opportunity to con Desie into coming back for a few more days, I'm taken a sickie so we can spend the weekend together and to my disbelieve he agreed, well done Cath.

In 1975 at 9.27 pm disaster occurred when a bulk ore carrier, carrying 10,000 tonnes of zinc ore was travelling up the Derwent River collided with several pylons of the Tasman Bridge causing large sections of the bridge to collapse.  These two cars were fortunate to be left balancing on the edge and they managed to escape.

As Cath isn't working we take the opportunity to sit around the fire enjoying a few drinks (non alcoholic for Cath, of cause).

11-03-2016 We woke to a knock at the door and Cath yelling, Desmond, who eventually answered the door still half asleep and all I could here was Cath throwing all these chores at him. After she left poor Des was in such a dither, what time did I have to pick Hal up, what did I have to do with the demolishing scrap along with more chose and I just laid in bed laughing my head off, just a bit of an overload for Des, Cath.

We packed the Ute full then headed to the dump, $41 it cost to dump your rubbish in Tassie, shock overload.

Stopping at Middleton I noticed, 

The Bush Fire Commemorative Wall, which stands as a reminder to the 1967 bush fire which swept through southern Tasmania. In Middleton, many people including children were forced to stand in the water for hours while fires ragged all around them.  All the Churches, General Store, Community Hall and the Jetty were all destroyed as were many homes.

12-03-2016  I decided to make jaffels for dinner, something easy so off I go collecting the wood and setting up ready for a night around the fire, even Cath and Hal were staying up past 8 tonight Ye Ha.

Here we all are relaxing around the fire on a Saturday night waiting for Des to cook the Jaffles while enjoying a few drinks and many laughs.

Mount Gay, I've never herd of that drink before. 

Now just what is the maiden up to Mr McNeale.

I'm not sure if these cosy pair really know what there doing.

 Look everyone, Desies burning the Jaffles.

Well! I DON'T want mine burnt Desie.

That's OK Hall, we will give the burnt ones to the others, they wont know any difference.  

We were very excited to catch up with Helen, Cathy's sister.  Des and Helen have one thing  in common and that is, they both love chickens.
Great to catch up with you Helen.

See there he is again hiding in his shed, these McNeale boys really love their sheds.

 Stop! don't leave us.

We had a grand old time with these mad couple Hal and Cath, it's always great to catch up with good old mates, but don't FORGET you did say you would catch up with us before we leave.