On the road in Tasmania - with Researcher & Presenter Lucy Nash
DAY 1 - Monday November 5, 2007
Departure Status: Ten checked luggage items, $120 in excess baggage, $3 carbon offset, one missing but shortly found Video Journalist and $12.60 in coffee - we were on the plane bound for Hobart.
Peak hour traffic on the tarmac at Sydney airport - one airline pitted against another. Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar, the clock was ticking, who would make the early break and have right of way? 30 minutes later ... and we still hadn't moved an inch. Despite inadvertently walking in on a fellow passenger whilst airborne, we did manage to pick up on the flight - a Tasmanian tour guide no less by the name of Brett. Brett kindly offered us his local knowledge and in turn we transported his cargo into town complete with plastic drums!
Offset the car with a $2 donation - who knew being green was so cheap?
We saw quite a few uniquely Tasmanian things along the way:
all in good fun of course!
Stop 1 - Australian Antarctic Division - not just for scientists but tradespeople as well.
By the end of the year, they will be flying people to Antarctica (instead of the usual 7 - 9 day boat ride) and we met the guy who's co-ordinating the creation of the blue ice runway!
As you can see, the boys did their best to fit in with the native wildlife with their best Penguin impersonation and we have already met many interesting characters along the way.
In fact, we have all decided to move to Antarctica - if only we had a trade skill!
DAY 2 - Tuesday November 6, 2007
We were off and running with no time for coffee this morning. We were late to school - Rosny College in Hobart that is. 
School sure has changed a lot since we went there, no uniforms, no bells, teachers and students who have a great rapport. As Michael Park commented, "It's like Degrassi Junior High!"
The envy continued throughout the day as we dined in their restaurant, witnessed their advanced camera equipment and met their automotive team.
John Young even found an alternative to his BMX.
Can you carbon neutralise a heater? It's freezing down here!
DAY 3 - Wednesday November 7, 2007
At a sprightly 7.45am, barely ten degrees, we headed full of enthusiasm for Tasmania's largest construction company - Hazell Bros. Is it Wednesday or Thursday today? Where are we again? - Uh oh, looks like the researcher (i.e me) got it wrong - Thursday for Hazell not Wednesday!
Disasters aside, we were warmly welcomed with fluorescent vests and sophisticated safety goggles. We met the automotive team who look after Hazell Bros large fleet of vehicles - everything from earthmovers to custom fitting trucks for roadside servicing.
The boys enjoyed it so much that they reluctantly gave back their vests...don't worry guys, we'll be back tomorrow to see more!
Continuing the theme of successful Tasmanian family businesses, our next stop was INCAT - wave piercing ferry builders.
Now when I think of a ferry, I think of rolling about in Sydney Harbour in a little green and gold number, so you can imagine my amazement to not only see these enormous vessels but also to meet the talented people who create them.
Tip for all - never look at welding...despite the pretty light...ah pretty light, so enchanting...careful Michael, you need those eyes!
DAY 4 - Thursday November 8, 2007
I'm feeling a little behind today, so I consider it necessary for my blog to be in reverse too.
Wild Horses could not carry me away from Darryl Braithwaite at the Australian Training Awards last night. It was the night of night for apprentices, training providers and employers and we even got Andrew Robb (Federal Minister for Vocational and Further Education) do to a "Go the Skillaroos!" as they were officially farewelled for Japan.
The rock continued with Hazell Bros - this time we were in the quarry surrounded by huge piles of raw material used to build Tasmania - Michael even got to take a bit home, by stepping in a large pile of mud.
And it all started off with a bit of jumping salmon as we cruised the Derwent River checking out Tassies's world famous salmon farming, fishy fishy fishy...
DAY 5 - Friday November 9, 2007
I figure I have enough clothes here to last me until at least December, and then if I just get my Mum to send down the rest...Tasmania, you're hooking me, this is dangerous, DANGEROUS!!
We packed up and departed sunny Hobart - bye bye Sandy Bay, bye bye Salamanca, bye bye beautiful boats - heading north for Freycinet National Park.
Now we're under 65 and we don't have a combi or a caravan but we felt it - the drive, the location, the scenery. We wanted to stop at almost every bend, every lookout, drive at 40km per hour like we were starting our retirement - we're late people! Late! But stop, stop, STOP THE CAR - there's an echidna walking across the road!
About three hours later, we arrived at the Freycinet Lodge, and as I sit here at breakfast, I'm still unable to completely, accurately describe the feeling of being here. In front of me there are at least six different shades of blue in the water and when I turn around, I see trees, hundreds of them and multicoloured rock which I just want to cling to.
And no, this isn't a Getaway special, and I didn't just put this story in because I wanted to see one of the world's top ten beaches (well maybe there was a little of that....), we're here to meet the people who wake
up to this every day of the year.
Laura, a first year apprentice chef who left her family in Launceston to finesse Freycinet's glutton free chocolate pudding, Vimal the Food & Beverage Manager who cooks on Wineglass Bay and Tara, perhaps the best job of all - she gets paid to drink Tasmanian wines.
We couldn't help but sample the local wine and produce which they'd been raving about all day - oysters, clams, mussels, prawns, abalone, salmon, blue eye cod, pinot gris, ice wine, even the green beans were amazing...Mum, my stuff, box it up!
DAY 6 - Saturday November 10, 2007
Technically a rest day but who could rest in a paradise like this? After various picture postcard happy snaps at Freycinet Lodge, we headed for a two and a half hour walk to Wineglass Bay - John even made some friends along the way.
And what a walk it was - trees, ocean, rock formations and wallabies aplenty. The trek to the bottom was well worth any pain which may have been endured along the way - and arriving at our pure, white sand destination, we rested and soaked up the sun.
One of our mates at Freycinet deserved a second crack at the spotlight so we settled in for another meal at the Lodge.
When the evening set in we departed for Bichano - home to the blow hole, an inescapable view of the stars and the numerous fairy (noisy, yes not dainty but extremely boisterous) penguins.
DAY 7 - Sunday November 11, 2007
After saying goodbye to the diamond seashore, we packed up for St Helens. The locals had recommended the Elephant Pass Pancake Parlour and really, who could resist a chilli con carne or a rocky road pancake? Not SkillsOne that's for sure. While we didn't see any elephants, the drive and pancakes sure were lovely.
We rolled out of the Parlour refreshed and ready for our instructional visit to meet some rare trade craypot makers - and what a couple of characters! Aussies to a tea!
Being true, friendly Taswegians, they welcomed us into their home and made us dinner - we accepted graciously and even managed to sample the famous Southern Rock Lobster which had been caught the day before (thanks Rodney!) - Delish!
In fact, the Tasmanian hospitality over the last few days has just been extraordinary - whether it was Vimal at Freycinet Lodge or Kate at Sunnysides - we've just felt so welcome.
I think we're all thinking about re-locating the SkillsOne production office very shortly...ah the wine...Pinot Grigio for me now.
DAY 8 - Monday November 12, 2007
Early start, departing another must see on the tourist trail - Binalong Bay (I assure you that we are working here...).
The three hour drive to Beauty Point was actually quite delightful - we mixed up the tunes to enhance the scenery including show stopping numbers from The Karate Kid and Top Gun (John's iPod is quite diverse).
So that you are well informed about Launceston - Beauty Point is not named after its stunning view but rather in memory of a cow named Beauty who drowned in the river.
Anyway we were there to check out some of the courses on offer at the Australian Maritime College (AMC) - they have heaps of different sized boats and an entire fire training campus. If I'd known about it earlier, I could have had a paid gap year working on tourist boats after just a seven-day-course!
Our sea legs steadied and we went to our new home for the week, The Arthouse Hostel. We chatted to co-owner Peter about why he's chosen to make the hostel carbon neutral and how he's making that happen.
Well it was quite a welcome to the progressive town of Lonnie (that's how the locals say Launceston)...we're down with it at SkillsOne...
DAY 9 - Tuesday November 13, 2007
We returned to the AMC (we're down with the jargon now) to check out a few more of their extensive facilities. We started in the Bridge Simulator room. I felt a little giddy and Michael managed to crash the tanker (I think he'll be keeping his VJ role).
In the afternoon we headed for the Survival Centre - I'm not going to give too much away other than to say:
Video footage and complete darkness don't mix
- One should not make girly squeals on camera
- Everyone should sign up for the coxswains course
- And when you do sign up - it's pronounced coxins
We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine...
DAY 10 - Wednesday November 14, 2007
I'm naming it the "These are a Few of My Favourite Things" day.
Accordingly, we started with John's favourite - a late, big breakfast with two coffees.Michael worked in a scenic photo shoot at the stunning Cataract Gorge.I got to carry home some true blue Tasmanian yoghurt from our mate Jose at Tamar Valley Dairy (informative and tasty at the same time).
And we all went for a picturesque drive to the Tamar Valley to visit the Bay of Fires Winery (there was even a fire on the way there - he he he). 
Our host Corey, gave us a guided tour of the vineyard (which used to be a dairy farm) and we even got to sample a couple of their fabulous wines. This is the life....
Oh and we also slipped in some serious work, seeing whether the average Lonny resident could Pick a Tradie - and I'm pleased to report they're not to bad at it at all!!
DAY 11 - Thursday November 15, 2007
Happy Birthday Michael - have we got a spectacular day install for you!!! 
Stop 1 - The World Famous Boags Brewery
Beer, beer, beer beer. beer, more beer, how much do we love beer?
Can you believe there's jobs here? - lots of them!! We met electricians, engineers and maintenance staff - who knew you could work with your passion?!!
Seriously though, how could we go to Boag's and not sample their fine beers... all in the name of quality research of course...thanks for showing us through Chris...
Stop 2 - Jovial and lively, we continued to Stillwater - the mill, the water, the people, the food, the wine - comparable to any restaurant in Sydney - go there, people go there!!
What was your favourite dish in the 6 course matching wine tasting plate?? Over to my celebrity writers on our final night in Lonny [or is it spelt Launie or Lonnie?]...
JOHN says - "I don't know" (quote by ‘Loosie')
The debut half hour feature came to the fine conclusion with each course out doing the previous and topped off with an amazing baklava with panacotta - would have been the icing on the cake if it were my birthday far from home.
All I can say is that Tasmania is my new favourite part of Australia!
Great people, great places, great scenery, great food, great wine, great beer and even better times throughout!
Van Diemen's Land, I'll be back very soon!
MICHAEL says - "what can I say, the taste of Tassy!"
Pictures, blurs, sun-roofs, truth and the mirror of television. You gotta love it
Hobart hard-core, East coast enlightenment and Lonnie leisure ... the SkillsOne experience.
LUCY says - In all seriousness, what a restaurant and what a fitting finale to our trip to Tasmania - one of the best meals we've ever had.
TASMANIA WE LOVE YOU!
