Eighty seven fires were started by lightning in the north east of Victoria in January 2003. Eight of these fires were unable to be contained — they joined together to form the largest fire in Victoria since the 1939 “Black Friday” bushfires. Burning for 59 days before being contained, the fires burnt over 1.3 million hectares (3.2 million acres).

This week after a 6 year absence I drove through this region and was amazed at the change in the landscape.  Because of the steepness and inaccessibility of the terrain the fire in the vicinity of Mt Hotham had been particularly fierce and most of the eucalypts — Alpine Ash and Snow Gums —were destroyed.  Previously blackened trees are now stark white and the landscape almost looks snow-capped.

This evening as the sun was setting, after the wind had died down, this trout fishermen appeared on the banks of Lake Dulverton, at Oatlands in Tasmania where I am freedom camping.

The east coast of Tasmania has many beautiful, wild beaches, here are just a few of them –

Swimcart Beach, Bay of Fires

Mayfield Bay looking over towards Freycinet Peninsula

Mayfield Bay looking south

Courtesy of Australia Post …

Whilst camped on the banks of the Murray River this happy couple were spotted perusing the Sunday papers.

Here’s to the crazy ones …

The misfits … The rebels … The troublemakers … The round pegs in the square holes … The ones who see things differently.

They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.

Because they change things.

They push the human race forward … And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world … are the ones who do

My motorhome is in for repairs at a really serious workshop……………….they are able to lift up to 30 tonne trucks on their hoists.