Todays plan:
Strahan…….🚗…….Queenstown🥞☕️……🚗……Horsetail Falls…..🚗…….Nelsons Falls……🚗………Hamilton…..🚗…….Hobart
It’s raining so no rush….hopefully the weather will improve so load up and we will head to Queenstown. The distance is only 45 km and we will have breakfast at Queenstown station so we can check out the tiny ( yes I said tiny) museum.
Hills surrounding Queenstown are almost naked of vegetation. Processing of and mining of Zinc in the early 1900’s caused plumes of sulphur to pollute the environment and destroyed the vegetation. Tree felling and fire finished off the vegetation.All that was left was the rocky outcrops. 
There are signs that the soils are building up and vegetation is returning in the crevices between the rocky outcrops. Mining and tourism have bought benefits to the community and the population have embraced this in a series of sculptures depicting events in the area.
The town has retained its country feel with the wide street and elaborate pub architecture. There is even an art deco theatre.
Mining has influenced all activities in the town and is linked to the railway. Before road transport was established, everything was transported from Strahan by train. 
It was the link for the people to the outside world. Distances in this area between settlements are still quite large and even now communication can be limited. For most of our time there wasn’t even mobile coverage. Fuel stations are infrequent and may not be manned. If telecommunications go down, you can’t get fuel because your credit card won’t work. There are few other traveller on the road. We could count a one hand the number of cars we passed.
Just out of Queenstown is Horsetail Falls. Following rain, you can see them from the highway….but we weren’t lazy were we ? ….We walked along the boardwalk to see them ,risking life and limb as it clings to the sides of the mountain. Did you like that drama? Well there is a considerable gap along the edge. 
Not far from the falls was once a thriving mining town called Linda. All that remains is a coffee shop , a few houses and the ruins of one of the three hotels. Gold ran out. There was a mining disaster where 42 men lost their lives and people started to leave.The coffee was great and the people lovely. They were happy to share the history and old photos which made it so real don’t you think.
More exercise…..you have been sitting for awhile. It says it’s an easy walk to the Nelson Falls. It was worth it , you have to admit.
Get settled, it’s a three hour drive from here to Hobart. You can enjoy the scenery and we may stop briefly in Hamilton. Did you now it has stone buildings that were paid for by making illegal liquor.
Look at that cloud hovering above the valley!
Well the rain has held off…mostly and here we are in Hobart. Get settled and tomorrow we will explore historical parts of Hobart.
I am glad they saved the river as it is so peaceful and beautiful. At the Heritage Landing, there is a list of trees you can identify. You know me and scavenger hunts….off we went and found all the trees. 
This changed in 1829 when a storm destroyed much of the infrastructure. Shipbuilding was started on the island and since there was a source of Huon pine and other timbers, it was successful. Convicts learnt skills and their conditions improved.
Heritage West Coast train trips are considered a must in this area. The train and line is being upgraded so sorry, you will have to come again. See I told you that you would have to come again and do the activities you missed this time. Afternoon tea? The scones are amazing.
It’s pouring rain. No bushwalking today……no cheering thank you…..it’s good for you. It may be museums or something else.
It is another windy day so even the birds were looking for a place to camp.
Beware of the bees and being blown away….but look at the view. It doesn’t disappoint.
Spectacular isn’t it? Were you blown away? I struggled to hold the camera to take a photo and Mike looked like he was going to lose his jacket.
Spot any? Me neither 🙁
I can see you are disappointed but we have to come back to ride the historical train in a year or two. You can go then…..if you would like. I was disappointed in the town. I thought it would be full of historical buildings but it wasn’t.
At last we’ve made it to Strahan, It is dinner time. You must be hungry, I am. Let’s book in and go to dinner. Tomorrow we are going up the Gordon River and need to be at the boat by 8.00am. Comfortable shoes and perhaps a jacket required…
Guess what you are doing! Nuts up on the “Nut”. It’s a bit like our drive on steroids,just at a 45 degree angle and half a kilometre…… but you can do it.
Sneakers might be good….
The Madrasah was a day school and one was for the wealthy only…..first private school? Now the Barack Khan Madrasah is a Quran museum. One book dates back to 644- 656 and was written by Caliph Oscan from the prophet Mohammad, and is considered one of the oldest in existence. The pages were thick and the writing large in a red coloured ink of pomegranate juice,ash and wool oil. It was very clear but of course I couldn’t read it. I don’t think you could either…..our early Arabic is a bit rusty .
Some of the hand embroidered textiles are magnificent. The stitches are so fine.
Ulugbek was one of Timur’s grandsons. He was a leader and scholar and built the 17th Century buildings.The middle building was never finished as Ulugbek , was killed. Both leaders believed in education in the sciences and maths as well as the Quran.All the buildings were designed as teaching and living sites for students. Students attended four days a week for 6 months at a time. Each course lasted 4 years and teachers were encouraged to adapt. 
Don’t get comfortable as the next stop is just a few kilometres away. It is an original mosque and teaching area. It ceiling is beautifully decorated with painted designs.
. The brick layer and his helper have no harnesses as they hang off the building.
During the Soviet period, the ‘hotel’ part of the complex was used to store crops so much of the structure has been gradually destroyed. The mosque and study area is original. Each compartment would have been used for 3 students.Obviously the inside of the fortress has lost the original buildings but caravan travellers of the Silk Road would have seen soldiers and animals as well as the official they needed to see. The bazaar would have occupied what is now the wedding walk area.
I did too but it is the ruins of the great city of Penjikent. Buildings were made of mud and straw.
Dust seems to hang in the air. That’s not bad photography, it is actually dust making the sky appear hazy. Excuse me…just got to blow my nose again…..,…..many of us now have hay fever. You seem okay.
