28th April 2009
Camped in a caravan park at Port Sorell to freshen before the boat across the Strait. Last night we stayed at the west side of Lake Barrington at a camp site. A fresh -7 with some snow reported in the heights. Being only 50 odd k from Table Mountain we decided to go for a look, to see the after effects of some evening snow fall. There was snow on the high peaks and some left around the Table mountain area, pretty sights. We picked big crunchy fresh apples from the wild trees on the way.
Sort of forgot a few things on this trip like the key to open the door to turn the gas on for the van. That was ok for I had a small single burner Coleman stove that has proved faithful over the years as a backup. But, just like one backup is never enough on a computer, the Coleman choose this moment in time to give up. The moment was 6pm, camped at Lake Barrington, no facilities close. Well we did have a box of matches, so we gathered some chippings and other fire wood. The fuel was a little wet from rain earlier in the day but we had some paper from pamphlets etc . Your standard matchbox doesn’t keep to well now a days it seems as the striking of a match practically destroyed the box. Down to the last five matches, I stuck them all at once and the twigs and paper burst in to life. Well that saved me having to find a couple of fire sticks and time rubbing them together. We enjoyed a hot cup a soup and some steaming tea and coffee. Having depleted the match supply we moved on early in the morning, down to Sheffield and bought a gas burner stove, a Kookaburra for $20 bucks an $4 for a gas cylinder. Works well.