Tasmania

We've been tripping around doing a bit of Whipcracking (NSW, VIC and TAS titles)

these were at Deniliquin, Melbourne and Tasmania.

I don't really have any photos of Melbourne other than whipcracking as it was a really quick visit and I was (and still am) very sick with a head cold.  I took this one from the plane window as I left for Launceston.

We really only competed at the titles and I did many loads of washing in the hotel from hell- with parking 4 blocks away and very poor housekeeping. 

But it had a pretty reasonable laundromat- 3 washers and dryers at the ready for our grotty, muddy clothes. 

All our gear will still need a good mummy wash when we get home!! 

Plus we got a parking fine, 

so Melbourne was not nice to us and we were happy to get out of there!

I figured this must be where  the rest of the family were coming into Devonport on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry. I flew due to the motion sickness deal.

This was my piccie as we came in to land at Launceston.

I really liked the parks and gardens in Launceston. More about that later.

We didn't do a lot as I was so tired and ill.

But one thing we were sure to do was a ghost tour!

A slamming coffin in the old morgue

Grotesque tools in the corner, and there were chains on the walls.

 We were dragged to lots of old spooky places, an old morgue, several churches and dark back alleys, and told grotesque and scary stories.

In the dark alley, Itty bitty was standing next to me and then all of a sudden fell over when we were all looking at the ring around the moon. 

There were lots of ooohs and ahhhhs from the group that he'd been pushed over by a ghost. 

Hahahahaha he told me later that he had just probably lost his balance!

 We were told to look out for orbs (white or coloured circles) in our photos, there's one in this one- they are meant to signify some sort of spirit!

 Finally we were in an old stable, apparently where all the stables in Launceston had been.

 Ghost horses???

A broken barn door. Apparently the breakage had just mysteriously been done by a spirit.

My kids keep saying how funny it is that all those haunted places were in a 2 hour circular walk from the pub we started out from. 

I think they are fairly aware of keeping an open mind, and they can only form opinions on their own experiences, which have included their own spooky moments! 

Whipcracking titles

We've been tripping around with the kids competing in NSW, VIC and TAS state titles.

They've done really well. We've gathered a few trophies.

Deniliquin ute muster, NSW state Whipcracking titles.

He was pretty happy with his effort

 Smashing the accuracy cup!

Swinging the Bullock whip

Got the Pee Wee title and trophy.

 Got the Juvenile title and trophy and the perpetual trophy, probably meaning we have to go back again next year!! I hope it's better conditions then!

 Even dad had a go.

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Melbourne, Victorian state whipcracking titles.

I just loved how all the kids and adults got into a big circle and cracked mary had a little lamb and cutler's march and whatever they could it, was great!! Fabulous teamwork and good fun.

~

 Launceston, Tasmania, State titles

Itty Bitty got this one!

 This was a miss even though the cup came off it was only due to the whip's fall wrapping around the stand and knocking it off, there were no dents or marks on the cup. It was so close!

They're pretty happy. 

Even though Itty Bitty ran second place, he and the others had lots of fun, played lots of new whipcracking games and made new friends.

Kids having fun at Deni ute muster

After the kids had cracked in the NSW titles at Deni, we went for a wander in sideshow alley, this is what we saw.....

-People running and diving in the mud.

He was more than happy to pose with the kids. Itty Bitty and one of the big girls had fallen over already on the way in. Grots united.

These are my mud boots which I slopped around in for 3 days.

I'm not sure who was next to me

I think these were mr MDKs feet

Itty bitty went in with his dad, they were up to the ankles

Miss mdk got really stuck.

Gotta love all the grots fascinated with the dodgem cars.

About to go.

They looove bashing into each other. I think the 2 brothers just aim for each other.

I'm not sure about the safety of that electricity cable laying in the wet across a walkway!

The girls had their fun too.

Thank god they weren't doing this in the mud.

He COULD NOT get up or out, and no one would help him, not even his mates, they were laughing tooo hard.

Thank goodness I am used to mud and poop or I don't know how I would have reacted.

Lucky I have a mini laundromat at home and the best washers in the world to clean away all the stains!!

Thank you LG steam washer dryer!!!!!

There was a concert on each night, I think while we were up there it was guy Sebastian, and after him was icehouse, we didn't hang around for that one.

This is what itty bitty wore in the car to Melbourne. He looked a sight when he hopped out in the middle of Melbourne wearing a Jackie Howe singlet, tracky daks and holding a big long bullock whip.

As we left and went in the opposite direction to Deni, we passed all the utes going into town to leave or as we heard later, go through the car wash!

And once again the Conargo pub had plenty of patrons!

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