We woke this morning to glorious sunshine. The sky was a perfect bright blue and not a cloud in sight. We packed up our stuff and went next door for brekkie. The menu said they had a plunger of coffee so we ordered a nice strong pot. It was so good but let's face it, anything would be good after all the instant we have been drinking. We are only driving about 100k to the south today, to the city of Launceston.

We actually headed a few kilometers to the north to check out the Redbill Point Conservation Area first. This was just a small park on a peninsula. There was a really nice beach we walked to. Mostly we just enjoyed the warmth of the sun. We hung out there for about a half hour and then started our trip south.

About half along our route today we stopped at Brady’s Lookout. This is a scenic little park named after the convict Mathew Brady. Matthew Brady (1799 – 4 May 1826) was a notorious bushranger who was sometimes known as the "Gentleman Bushranger" due to his good treatment and fine manners when robbing his victims. He was captured and sentenced to death in New South Wales. He escaped from Sarah Island with 13 others and made his way to Tasmania. Brady considered himself a gentleman, who never robbed or insulted women. The military considered him a dangerous bushranger.

After 21 months free in Tasmania, Brady and his gang captured a boat, intending to sail it to the Australian mainland. The boat was captured at the spot that is now known as Brady’s Lookout. Due to bad weather they were forced to turn back. Eventually, one of his gang members, an ex-convict name Cowan, betrayed him for a pardon. Brady escaped the ensuing gun battle with serious injuries, but was captured soon after by the famous bounty hunter John Batman. Now we know why the bridge in Tamar Valley is called The Batman Bridge.

Brady was hanged on 4 May 1826, at the old Hobart jail. Four other bushrangers were hanged with him, including Thomas Jeffries the cannibal. Brady complained bitterly at being hanged alongside Jeffries, who was, as Brady pointed out, an informer as well as a cannibal and mass murderer. Brady's cell had been filled with flowers from the ladies of Hobart Town, which tends to support his claim to be a "Gentleman Bushranger".

We pulled into Launceston and immediately drove a couple of kilometers to Cateract Gorge. This was a beautiful park and only 2k from city center. They had peacocks, gardens, the world’s longest single span chairlift, a river, a suspension bridge and hours of hiking trails. We walked around there for a few hours admiring the natural beauty and marveling that it was so close to town.

Next we went into the City Center to find a hotel. We found the Boags & Son Brewery and beer lovers tap room and chose to stay at The Clarion next door. This is one of the nicest Clarions ever. It is an historical site that was built by an ex-convict (are you seeing a pattern here?) in 1855. Jonathon Griffiths was convicted of larceny at the age of 15 and was transported to Tas to carry out his seven year sentence. He completed his sentence in 1795 and became a successful boat builder. In 1822 he moved to Lauceston and purchased a large amount of land. He built a flour mill and a four story grain warehouse and was responsible for the first wharves in the City. The original buildings have been redone into a hotel.

We got settled into our room and walked next door to the tap house. They were done with tours for the day and would not allow tastings without a tour. This was ok with us as Australia beer is all kind of the same and not quite as good as US beer. We looked through their Museum which was interesting. They have been brewing beer at the same location since 1881. We walked around town for a while and ended up at a city park not too far from the Clarion. The park was full of unique flower gardens.

We ended our day with dinner on a little deck just outside our room and relaxing in front of the tv. We enjoyed our sunny day in Tas. We here the weather is supposed to go back to cloudy and drizzly tomorrow.